aquafortis?

For the record. The reason I quit using nitric acid is because it raises the grain and that is bad around or on carving. If you raise the grain on carving you have to smooth it all out again and that takes off the crispness of the carving. It's a real pain. The leather dye is almost pure alcohol and doesn't raise the grain so bad. Besides you can do touchup a lot esier. It penetrates very deep.

:thumbsup: That's why I used the alcohol instead of water for the AF, the grain didn't seem to raise. And the color was better with alcohol vs the water mixture. (at least on my piece of wood)

I would advise anybody to investigate what you end up with when you mix nitric acid and alcohol.
It's either ethyl nitrate or Methyl nitrate. Nitric acid can make a explosive out of a lot of stuff. Ever heard of gun cotton? I really don;t know but it would worry me some.

From the net I got this--------------Nital is a solution of alcohol and nitric acid commonly used for routine etching of metals. It is especially suitable for revealing the microstructure of carbon steels. The alcohol can be methanol, ethanol or methylated spirits.

Mixtures of ethanol and nitric acid are potentially explosive. This commonly occurs by gas evolution, although ethyl nitrate can also be formed. Methanol is not liable to explosion but it is toxic.

A solution of ethanol and nitric acid will become explosive if the concentration of nitric acid reaches over 10% (by weight). Solutions above 5% should not be stored in closed containers. Nitric acid will continue to act as an oxidant in dilute and cold conditions.

:thumbsup: Great info.

That's also why I did some asking around prior to trying it. (not bubba down the block but a chemist).

I need to try leather stain next time. I like the results I'm seeing.

Jerry
What was being disscused was disolveing Ferric Nitrate crystals in alchohol which is safe.Link When you make aqua-fortis you are basically makeing Ferric Nitrate in spent acid solution.By buying the Ferric Nitrate crystals you eliminate the problem of your stain being acidic and by disolveing the Ferric Nitrate crystals in alcohol you decrease the problem of raising the grain.

In response to tallbear

Anything with nitric acid in it is a nitrate. Nitrates can be dangerous. Treat it with caution. Just don't get the idea that it is totally safe cause it isn’t. Furthermore if you get in on rags they can be explosive or highly flammable, like gunpowder.
http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/3469
Any strong oxidizer can cause explosions if it comes in contact with the wrong material. http://www.mallbaker.com/americas/msds/english/F1244_msds_us...
I'm just saying be careful. Why do you think it's shipped as hazardous material???

Edited by jerry huddleston on 11/19/10 04:06 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.



http://www.mallbaker.com/americas/msds/english/F1244_msds_us_Default.pdf
I'm just saying be carefull.

Jerry is rigth. Fertilizers containing nitrates have been used to make bombs by terroists.
I use vinegar/iron stains. They are nontoxic, safe and give the same results as aquafortis.

Best regards
Rolfkt

Nice!! I like the inlay. Thanks for sharing your info. :bow:

Thanks, it's one of the pair of silver kentucky pistols I'm building.

Best regards

Rolf

Rolf said:

I use vinegar/iron stains. They are nontoxic, safe and give the same results as aquafortis.

Click to expand...

I have played with the vinegroon but to date have found nothing to rival nitric.