Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Blake
I have always been instructed to use baking soda to neutralize the acid wash on Damascus barrels, but the soda itself is too abrasive on the finish when I rub the barrels down, in my experience. Could I dissolve the baking soda in a tub of water and wash the barrels in that after rubbing the barrels with OOOO steel wool? Would it accomplish the same thing?
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This was discussed a few years back on the doublegunshop site. I may have asked the same question back then as I was developing a damascus coloring process from Dr Gaddy's artcle in DGJ and other posts on the doublegunshop site. Around that time, it appears that there were a good number of members of that site that went forward with all the information and successfully resurrected/developed the process. Some of them were concerned about neutralizing the ferric chloride.
I believe I raised the question about using baking soda for this. Some said it should work fine. The thought in mind was to make a solution in a tank and let the barrels sit in it for some length of time like 10 minutes, while agitating to ensure it gets inbetween the ribs. I didn't think direct application and carding with baking soda was necessary.
However, soaps are bases too. Some members were using soapy water rinses and clear rinses, if I recall. That's what I did.
If you're using a strong acid to etch the iron lower than the steel, I think it's an incorrect finish for Parkers. There's a lot on original Parker damascus (and other guns) finish in DGJ and over on the doublegunshop site.
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