My experience was that when I was not getting any contrast, my etch solution was too strong.
I was taking electronics circuit board etch which is approx 40% Ferric Chloride, diluting it between 6 to 8 parts water to 1 part circuit board etch. When I used it, the etching was still pretty fast. I was etching for 10 seconds with 8 parts water and it was a very fast operation. I think a 10 part water, 1 part circuit board etch would be a good place to start with a 10 second submersion followed by water flooding and wet carding.
On a Parker, the finish was black and white (silver), not brown/silver. Boiling after each rust is how I got the blue/black finish, then the etch removed the black from the steel ribbons.
My testing showed I could get a pattern quickly by doing several rusts/boiling/dry carding before the first etch and wet carding. This gave a all blued barrel first, then the first etch gave good contrast. Then a few rusts/boils/dry cards followed by another etch/wet card. This process gave me a quick pattern with good contrast.
Last edited by Chuck H; 12/10/13 07:31 PM.
