Thread: Silver Nitrate

I have managed to get hold of a small quantity of silver nitrate,This stuff turns everything it comes in contact with a very deep rich black ,except glass as far as I know (which is not very much ).
It is extremely expensive so I was lucky to pick it up for nicks.
Anyway my questions are 1. has anyone used this for re- etching faded company markings and blade patterns, that still has some depth to the original etch ?, I find ferric chloride dose not go black enough but stays a grey colour no matter how many coates you apply 2. If anyone has used silver nitrate before is there any thing I should watch out for in the way of safety or buggering the blade, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated , even if any one knows how to blacken up the ferric chloride etch a bit more would also be most helpful
Kind regards Peter

Well, it is a silver salt, so it probably can be used for plating, but plating in itself can be a tricky process.

About the compound itself; just be carefull. It is toxic, so take the proper precautions. Also, it is a nitrate, and nitrates are generally known as good oxidizers, so just don't go playing with fire around it.

Here's the wikipedia page about it.

AgNO3 causes terrible stains. I use it as antiseptic, it even discolours enamel and also textiles. Stains on enamal can be removed with scouring pads or liquid.

I never tried it on metal./