Bernax 540?

[AenglonOtt]

There is a guy on youtube I have been following for a while now and in almost every video he posts, he uses a chemical called Bernax 540. It is a blackening fluid for steel. I like the color it gives to the steel and would love to acquire some but it seems it is a dutch product when I google it. I translated the website it is available on and set up an account, but with shipping it would be 104 euros which is alot of $$. Does anyone know of a chemical that would give a similar finish like a maybe a patina or something? Thanks. The link is to one of his videos; just go to the part where he is done with the blade and he brushes on the 540 to produce a soft grey/blackening effect.

 

[MBB]

Looks like cold bluing, selenium dioxide.

https://www.amazon.com/381152-Birch...rd_wg=tJPom&psc=1&refRID=9DRF9WSS9G05RVQ51MMT

It's easy to use but somewhat difficult to make reproducible/perfect. Any oil/surface inconsistency on the metal results in defects, so the metal has to be surgically clean before bluing. Hot bluing generally is much more consistent, but requires a lot more expertise.


I'm actually more interested in his fullering tool/shave. I had not seen something like that before. Neat!

Mike

 

[Geoff Flato]

I've got an equivalent product "tool black" from KBC tools that was around $70 for a quart. It works, its better than the gun blue you buy little bottles of at Walmart or local gun shops, but its still nowhere close to hot bluing. For what its worth those products have always seemed a lot better in video than in person to me.

 

[AenglonOtt]

Looks like cold bluing, selenium dioxide.

https://www.amazon.com/381152-Birch...rd_wg=tJPom&psc=1&refRID=9DRF9WSS9G05RVQ51MMT

It's easy to use but somewhat difficult to make reproducible/perfect. Any oil/surface inconsistency on the metal results in defects, so the metal has to be surgically clean before bluing. Hot bluing generally is much more consistent, but requires a lot more expertise.


I'm actually more interested in his fullering tool/shave. I had not seen something like that before. Neat!

Mike

Yeah his fullering tools are awesome. You should follow him, he makes some really good videos with just the work and no strung out talking. Im about to get around to making one for myself. That double fuller mold is beautiful. Thanks for the tip! Ill try out the birchwood casey but may just end up biting the bullet and ordering the 540 later on.