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-----How to smoothly etch stainless steel materials
Q. I want to get a hold of a formula for a smooth chemical etching of 431 stainless steel and ph 17-4 stainless steel. I have tried several different solutions however their attack is not consistent and leave an uneven surface. I need to have a smooth finish. It doesn't have to be bright, just smooth.
Never use HF anywhere unless trained!
If you do, you MUST have the antidote gel on hand for instant use!
Calcium Gluconate
for HF acid burns
on Amazon or eBay
(affil link)
- San Diego, California
2001
A. Normally a Nitric acid / hydrofluoric acid is best.
About 30 to 40% nitric by volume and 3 to 4% Hydrofluoric acid remainder water.
Fume extraction is required and great precautions in the handling of HF. Breathing fumes is very toxic and the acid must be treated with great care.
Should give you a smooth surface if etch is restricted to say 5 minutes
Bernard Irving- United Kingdom
2001
Q. Hi Bernard, how are you?
I used HF and nitric mixture, but at 10 percent the HF was super fast cutting and in lower it was very slow. Is there a catch in this that we have to wait for nitric and HF to react then put in the pieces?
- Delhi, India
December 26, 2024
This is a meeting place for camaraderie & sharing, not a free consultancy. So some readers don't engage with anonymous posters.
A. Hi Shobhit,
Bernard's posting was from decades ago. We'll try to reach him and request a reply but it's not likely.
The two acids certainly must mix before you put the metal in, but I may be misunderstanding your question.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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adv.
There is another option: electropolishing in salts, but special equipment is required.
Anna Berkovich
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
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