Darkening Carbon Steel?

[Andersonbushcraft]

I didn't make that knife, but my guess is a super clean 120. For my own hand sanded finish, going into the etch/stonewash I go to 400.
Most people recommend a clean 120-220 as a minimum to avoid seeing underlying scratches.

Thanks! For my user finish, I normally go grind bevels with 80 grit and finish with 120 then go maroon and blue scotchbrite, flats only ever see a 120 belt. Sometimes ill do a 180/220 trizac then the scotchbrites. I think ill have to play around with both grits and ferric chloride to see if I can get a nice dark grey finish without it overly highlighting the grit valleys.

 

[AcridSaint]

Thanks!

How'd your fc hold up against use? I've had some black oxide knives in the past that seemed to hold up great. Some of the powder/epoxy coats have been great, but I'm not a fan of how they wear compared to a surface conversion treatment that ages and patina in and around the wear. Never did much with FC, but I have a carbon damascus handled MEK that I haven't oiled in years and use to open boxes. There's some milded browning but no real active rust spots and it hasn't worn much bouncing around in a junk drawer, which really impressed me.

In regards to blasting, id only be blast if I go tue black oxide route so that I can get the treatment done in a one stop shop at Peter's. Wheni spoke to them about it right out of the quench it needs either refinished or blasted before it can be oxided.

They seemed just fine for me and I like that all patinated finishes have somewhat of a "self-healing" property. I also agree that a lot of applied finishes don't look good after use although they can be quite tough. I did a powder coated A2 hatchet before and the first bit of firewood I split with it trashed the finish. It was still on there but...

I will also say that I have an Brian Goode knife here that's a 5-6 years old and looks very good with only a few faint scratches in it. This knife does not see a lot of use because I just wanted to own a knife from a friend, but I also don't seem to be able to resist occasionally cutting things with every knife I own. I don't recall the details, but I know Brian did/does a pretty long FC soak and he gets a much blacker blade than any I've done. It seems to hold up better than most.

I should also clearly state that I've never done or directly compared an oxide finish. I have used a ton of black oxide finishes tools which haven't really given me the impression that it would last longer than FC or wear as well, but I don't have anything but assumptions and anecdotes to base that on.

 

[JearBeatus48]

Wet coffee grinds....... Make a nice dark color....... Gotta find a pic of it..

I have had a chance to find a photo? I am curious as I am about to do this to one of my knives. Debating coffee grounds or using a ton of instant coffee in warm water.

 

[Andersonbushcraft]

They seemed just fine for me and I like that all patinated finishes have somewhat of a "self-healing" property. I also agree that a lot of applied finishes don't look good after use although they can be quite tough. I did a powder coated A2 hatchet before and the first bit of firewood I split with it trashed the finish. It was still on there but...

I will also say that I have an Brian Goode knife here that's a 5-6 years old and looks very good with only a few faint scratches in it. This knife does not see a lot of use because I just wanted to own a knife from a friend, but I also don't seem to be able to resist occasionally cutting things with every knife I own. I don't recall the details, but I know Brian did/does a pretty long FC soak and he gets a much blacker blade than any I've done. It seems to hold up better than most.

I should also clearly state that I've never done or directly compared an oxide finish. I have used a ton of black oxide finishes tools which haven't really given me the impression that it would last longer than FC or wear as well, but I don't have anything but assumptions and anecdotes to base that on.

Thats what I've ran into with the powder coat finishes. Not a big fan. Some day id like to do one just to have one I made myself, but its not my favorite.

I've found milspec zinc phosphate parkerizing to be one of the best coatings I've used. It wears nice, works well, and seems to be more resistant wear. Kydex still seems to eat it though.