Posted by John Mistretta on November 22, 2024, 8:19 am
Does anyone have a section of a damascus barrel they would be willing to give up.? I’m trying to work out an etching solution and it would be a lot easier on a piece than a full barrel set. Thanks.
Re: Etching Damascus
Posted by David Williamson on November 22, 2024, 2:19 pm, in reply to "Etching Damascus"
John, it all depends on what finish you are looking for. I did Damascus barrels on my guns and never over did them because the rest of the gun didn't warrant the barrels to be stand out. I would rust blue 2-3 times before carding with old denim patches and rust again maybe 4-6 times depending on he finish I wanted, then boil them for 10 minutes, card again to see finish, then dip them in the etchant tank for 5 seconds take them out and run them under cold water and wipe clean. I used a 4"x 36" PVC pipe with a welded bottom and a screw cap. I used Laurel Mountain Forge bluing and Radio Shack etchant (15%) about a 1/3+ of a bottle and the rest distilled water (I have used my well water also) Make sure you mark the fill line on the PVC by using a 32" barrel then fill with water to get your fill line or else if you don't mark it you might be short or spill over if too much is added. For a final coat I use old motor oil, heat the barrels slightly and apply the oil on a rag, helps protect them but gives then a slight sheen.
If you are looking for a factory type finish, L.C. Smith guns had a matte finish and many barrels you see that were done by most gunsmiths are shinny, looks nice but not right
correction to above
Posted by David Williamson on November 22, 2024, 2:43 pm, in reply to "Etching Damascus"
I went from memory on the above procedure and found my file and this is what I did and used. Dr. Oscar Gaddy is the one whose procedure I followed, but the etchant he use is different. The PVC tank is 3" in diameter still 36" tall but the fill mark is at 31".
Radio Shack Etching Solution 16 ozs. Container is 3” dia. x 31” high equals 121.42 ounces or .95 gal. (volume) Add 16 ozs. of etching to container for a 15% mix of solution to distilled water for a 5 second etch then rinse immediately in water and card. Repeat rusting and etching to your desired finish. 121 ounces minus 16 ounces equals 105 ounces. 105 ounces of distilled water is needed together with the 16 ounces of solution to bring mixture to level of 31”. This gives a ratio of 15.75 ounces of solution rounded up to 16 ounces 15% (.15) x 105 = 15.75 ounces)
Make sure you put rubber stoppers or wooded plugs in chamber side and rubber stoppers with bent copper tubing in choke side when boiling and not just rubber stoppers in or else they will blow out and you will rust the inside of the barrels. In etching you stoppers in both ends.
Sorry for the mistake
Re: Etching Damascus
Posted by John Mistretta on November 22, 2024, 3:40 pm, in reply to "Etching Damascus"
Thanks for the info. What I ‘m trying to work out is the proper dilution of a ferric oxide solution I have and need to get right on the etching end of it. The radio shack product is no longer available as far as I can tell. Just would be easier experimenting with just a hunk of barrel rather than putting a good barrel set through the trauma. All else I’m good on. Thanks so much for you response.
