Acid etch to darken 1084 blade

lanceh17

lanceh17

Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
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I just finshed my first knife out of Aldo's 1084, sanded to 600 grit, and i want to make it as dark gray or close to black as possible. I have searched and searched for the answers to all of my questions, but a few remain.

I tried doing a mustard patina then bleach and so on and i didn't do it right or whatever, but it didn't turn out like i had hoped. I was able to sand it off with 600 grit.

My plan is to dip the entire knife including micarta handle into ferric chloride. I gather that i do not need to dilute with water, please advise me if i should dilute. I plan on cheecking it frequently (every minute or two) for the desired "darkness" if you will.

Once I have finished with the ferric should I rub off the acid and oxidation with steel wool, something else, or leave it on and throw it it a hot solution of baking soda and water?

How long should i leave it in the baking soda water?

Will any of this affect the epoxy holding on my micarta?

I am thankful for any advice I recieve.

Lance
 
This is what I do.
Make sure the knife is CLEAN.
I dip the entire knife into ferric chloride, I use G10 and epoxy for my handles and the acid doesn't hurt it. I use a pvc tube with a cap on the end and constantly move the knife in the acid, maybe 15 seconds or so. I have a large container with hot water and baking soda to nuetralize the acid. I then rub the blade with 0000 steel wool and wash it again. You can dip it again if needed - this is what it looks like when I'm done -
IMAG0145_zps5e1440ee.jpg
 
Thanks for the advice guys!

NJJ - Thanks, thats exactly what i was looking for, I hope mine turns out as well as the pic. Much appreciated.

Broomhead- I have thought of the gun blueing, but i was worried about getting on the micarta since i seem to be a messy person with stuff like that.

69knives- While that is very intriguing, it looks a like a little more than i want to spend.

Agian, thanks for the responses, I have read so much on this forum that helped me along with this project and i am really pleased with my results thus far.
 
Gun blue won't hurt the handle material as the liquid itself is not coloured. For the most part it's watery and almost clear, and the color on the steel actually comes from a chemical reaction.
 
Just another suggestion. You might try cold-rust bluing... gives a beautiful gun-metal gray. This is the process that was used for fine firearms in the past. Still used today. I use it a lot.
 
dkaschner said:
Just another suggestion. You might try cold-rust bluing... gives a beautiful gun-metal gray. This is the process that was used for fine firearms in the past. Still used today. I use it a lot.
Click to expand...

What's your method? Any idea if it would work on d2? I imagine it would work on m4...?
 
I use Super Blue liquid gun blueing. Clean, apply, let it sit about 2 min then wash it of and buff with 0000 steel wool. I do this 7 times, comes out nice and black. It will scratch if going in and out of kydex sheath.
 
Strigamort, I'm not as picky about it as some. Seems each metal reacts differently. Some great, some blotchy... some you have to go to greater lengths to star the rust than I care to do...

The process I use is:
1. degrease the blade (and watch your fingerprints after you do that :-))
2. get the blade rusted a nice even, velvety coat of rust is great.
3. boil in water for up to an hour. I actually cut up Sumac leaves in the water for the tannic acid content. Seems to give a nicer color.
4. take it out and burnish to get the fluffy black power coat off of it.
5. repeat starting at step 1 until it is as even and dark as you want it

When done a light coat of your favorite oil (I have been known to use mineral oil) darkens it to almost black and helps protect it.
If it rusts down the road, do it again. It only makes the propective coat thicker.

As crazy as this sounds, I do this for a set of my son Christopher's chain I wear to the local Renaissance Festival in his memory. Once the galvy is removed (vinegar works well) this treatment gives the chain a nice color and it is surprisingly well protected. I just use a turkey fryer in the driveway and Sumac leaves from the around our pond...

Hope I didn't hijack the thread and/or ramble. Maybe it will give someone an idea or a new technique...

Have fun,
Dan
 
Thanks dk! I have been wondering about this and I've never seen how it's done. Gotta write this down. :)

Edit- I just realized what you said about your son. No parent should have to go through that. My condolences.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Frank :)

@FullyTorque it seems to help a bit against corrosion, but I always oil my blades. Maybe I'll etch one and leave it outside as a test :devilish:
 
Strigamort, thank you. It is one way I like to remember Chris...

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM if there is anything I can help you with. I really like the finish. I hope you do too.

Dan
 
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