Laser etching

[Busterlongtime]

Anyone know any tricks to get the laser etching on a blade dark again?

[Suredan]

Nothing short of another laser. That’s my honest take on it.

[btrwtr]

Ferric chloride may darken it but it may also darken everything else you don't want darkened. It would help to have a picture of the knife you are talking about and to know the type of steel.

[stockman]

Cold gun blue???

Harold

[Mumbleypeg]

I copied this from a 2015 post by hardman (he’s a member here) that he made on the Case Collector’s Club Forum. He posted pictures of the knife, which looked great. He subsequently posted two more knives on which he successfully applied the process. One had blue etch, the other was black. Maybe he will see this and comment.

Remember that what follows only works on DEEP BLADE etches. If you try what follows on the more modern surface "etch," I suspect you will do MUCH more harm than good.

As the color I was trying to replace was gold, I purchased a product called Liquid Leaf from Plaid. It is described as a one step leafing paint to create a metallic finish on any surface. I cleaned my test blade thoroughly using first mineral spirits and then alcohol. Then I vigorously shook the Liquid Leaf as the product has a tendency to settle and separate very quickly. Using a fine tipped artist's brush (cheaper the better), I painted over the letters of the deep blade etch with the Liquid Leaf. I did not so much paint the letters as over them. It is important that you completely cover the etch and the area around it. At first, the design of the deep etch becomes hidden under the Liquid Leaf. Then, you wait. You need to let it dry completely. Hours, not minutes. As it dries, you will see that the Liquid Leaf actually dries flat to the knife blade and the deep etch again becomes visible through the Liquid Leaf. Finally, using a single edged razor blade, I carefully laid the sharp edge of the razor blade very, very flat on the knife blade. Applying pressure to the center of the razor blade, I slowly and carefully pulled the razor blade along the length of the knife blade. They razor scrapes the Liquid Leaf off of the entire knife blade, with the exception of the Liquid Leaf that fills the subsurface areas of your blade etch. It may take a couple of passes to get it all. And, that's it. The blade etch is once again color filled.

Whether or not you can duplicate what Gary (hardman) was able to do, or if your etch is as described in his post, is on you. I’m simply re-posting what he said. YMMV. Hope you find it useful.

Ken