"Darkening" 1095

[happycat]

I'm looking for suggestions on darkenning or "antiquing" 1095 steel. I am thinking of trying to get it to danken uniformly rather then messily over time.

Any suggestions?

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Try briefly dunking it in ferric chloride solution. This makes a really nice "old tool" finish on carbon tools steels. Once you've dunked it a bit, use some chrome polish to polish the finish back a bit.

Be careful not to get the ferric chloride on your chlothes or else the stain will be there forever...

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www.wilkins-knives.com

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Take clorox and wet a rag. Put the blade in a paper sack with the rag . Check it often

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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!

 

[Osbourn]

I've had limited success with giving blades an "Antique" look using brass oxide. It puts a layer of oxidization on steel that is similar to blueing. It isn't very uniform on steel, though. I did use it on 1095 once, though. A rather cloudy, black coating that looked pretty good on the piece. It was the shackle of a padlock.

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Oz

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
- Henry J. Kaiser

 

[ghostsix]

Or,you can cut lemons.

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[tom mayo]

i saw on the knife list where cat pee works great....good luck holding the cat!

 

[Claude Marquis]

I was rather satisfied using the following solution on 1095:
8 fl. oz water/8 fl.oz denaturated alcohol/2 0z. ferric chloride/2 fl.oz.hydrochloric acid
Warm the solution (not in the kitchen, it stinks and the fumes may damage your lungs) and apply to the blade with a soft cloth or brush until the desired color is obtained (from light gray to balck). Then dry and finish on a clean buffer with little wax.
Hope this helps.
Claude