Baking soda
I just completed my first attempt at restoring damascus on this set of G grade barrels that have their fair share of dings and certainly don't qualify as collectible. I followed the instructions in the articles and threads referenced above. If the Radio Shack etchant solution is about 30% as is claimed in some on-line articles, I found that I had to cut it down to about 2% before it stopped stripping off all the black even after just a second or two in the bath. The baking soda worked well for me after I learned that I had to rub (under running water) with the finger tips far more gently than I instinctively wanted to. Once I got that part down, it progressed fairly well. I did not do the logwood crystal boil, as some restorers apparently don't, and after over 15 rust, boil, card and etch sessions, I was ready to call my first attempt done. If you are taking off too much black with a gentle baking soda rub under running water, perhaps your etchant solution is too stout. I believe that was the primary problem that I was having at first.
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