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I am working on my first try at damascus browning i am using ferric cloride at 10% i checked the ph of the solutionand it has a ph of one is it the acid that does the work and if so could you use another acid like oxalic to get the same results thanks guys

You are into the wrong chemical. FeCl4 is used for etching generally and or removing the browning from the steel layer as the process continues.. You need to review Dr. Gaddys articles in DGJ for a start and Probably start with something like Laurel Mountain or Mark Lee's barrel browning solution to start.

I am using pilkington to rust and ferric to etch just woundering if it is the acid or some other chemical that does the etching in the ferric

What ever it is, it works, so I don't worry about it. There's an old saying - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. A while back Craig posted about useing Pilkington to rust and had great results. Good luck - Paul

I might be corrected but ferric chloride is hydrochloric acid / muriatic acid (same animal) with iron added to "wanted" consentration. The iron takes the bite out of the acid but it is the remianing active acid that does the etching and in a very dilute solution can be used to brown barrels. Boiling the barrels after browning will produce black "browning". --- John Can.

Jon is correct, Pilkintons is usually used with a damp box however.

i have been getting good results here with out a box I am a taxidermist and tan my skins with oxalic acid so I checked the ph my feric is 10% and I am soaking for 15 seconds think i will try 10 this time 15 removes to much color for me it seams to take me back to the same point each time

I've had good results with Pilkingtons. A 10% ferric chloride solution works well when you boil the barrels to do a black/white finish, but when browning, I think that the rust is easier to remove than after it's been boiled. With that being said, I have been using a solution of about 3-5% for etching a brown barrel, and only etching about every three rusts.

Here are the results. Good luck with your barrels... Craig

So how would you get to a 10% ferric cloride (or for that matter a 5 % solution). Pardon my ignorance but I am new to the concept of Damascus refinishing and was no star in high school chemistry. Many thanks!

I also diluted the Ferric Chloride to about 5 %, for etching and usually I do it once after boiling for Black, but 2-3 times for Brown. I have a Pharmacy degree also, so any chemistry questions I can usually answer.