Etching Stainless Steels

Looking for a good reliable way to etch various types of stainless steel. Tryed various solutions but having mixed results....sometimes they etch...sometimes they dont. Bought an electro polisher and etcher and still having the same results. All I want to see is grain structure. Types of steels i'm looking at are the following: 304, 308, 309, 409 & 18crcb. Have tryed villias regent, 30% nitric & A2 solution for the polishing step. Would also like to have something somewhat user friendly...not to wild about using picric acid. thanks kam

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10-10- 01:24

Use Aqua Regia - the mixture is 2 parts HCl to 1 part HNO3. You'll have to mix it fresh for the day you want to use it. Starts breaking down and getting weak if you try to keep it premixed for more than a few days.

Marty

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10-11- 10:54

Good Question. Now my question is where does one obtain such chemicals, and is there some book available to instruct in all of the etching process. Thanks, Wesley

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10-16- 19:30

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Where to by the chem's. try Cole-Parmer. As for the different etchants, look in annex G of the AWS D1.6- stainless code book. Might help.

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10-18- 18:24

10% Oxalic Acid in water electrolytic is the best for 300 series stainless. 10g oxalic acid / 100 Ml of water. Etch at 6 -10V until desired structure is present.

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10-18- 19:47

Mr. Rogerio Lopes da Silva, Metallurgical Lab. Technician of Mackenzie University at Sao Paulo, recommends the following etching solution: a mixture of 10 milliliters of nitric acid, 10 milliliters of acetic acid, 15 milliliters of hydrochloric acid, all of them concentrated, plus two drops of glycerine.
The following precautions should be taken when preparing and using it:
Use fresh, never store for a long time (that's why you should prepare a small quantity).
Discard when it takes an orange color.
Use with care, if possible under a ventilated hood.
Add the nitric acid last.
Inmerse the coupon for a few seconds to one minute maximum.
Sorry, I don't know where those reagents can be bought in the U.S.A.

Giovanni S. Crisi
Sao Paulo - Brazil

hand-forged knives and want to etch designs into the blades. All I need now are small wildlife patterns as my freehand is not great."

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"Great help. Years ago, I was taught how to etch steel and I've forgotten the details. I make custom

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