Decided to try out a vinegar patina

[Scara]

So seeing people talking about and posting patinas, I decided to try one out for myself on my Suga, which already has a little bit of patina caused by pumpkin innards. I've done one soak with a paper towel, and I already have some interesting results.

First things first, the advice to make sure you only have a single layer on the blade is good. The parts that had a single layer without wrinkles and all that are developing an attractive patina. The wrinkled areas and the areas with more than one layer are not so attractive.

Second thing, the good parts of the patina are beautiful. The patina is actually developing as a blueish-purple. If I can get it so the dull parts from the wrinkles or excess layers turn into that, I will stop there. I don't need the blade to turn black, if it turns into that attractive colorful patina I will be satisfied.

Unfortunately I don't have a camera, but I'll try and get pictures.

 

[Bawanna]

My oh my, I did my KLVUK and it turned out really pleasing. I don't know if I could get myself to do it to my Suga.

I kind of like shiny things.

 

[Scara]

It already had some spotty patina from when I carved a pumpkin with it, so why not finish the job?

 

[DanTheKnifeMan]

Why not indeed. The good thing about patinas is they're not permanent don't like it? Sand it back and polish it up like new

I force patina on all my bush knives, usually with mustard for pretty patterns, or vinegar for a flat patina. Will most probably sand back my klvuk and patina it

 

[Scara]

Why not indeed. The good thing about patinas is they're not permanent don't like it? Sand it back and polish it up like new

I force patina on all my bush knives, usually with mustard for pretty patterns, or vinegar for a flat patina. Will most probably sand back my klvuk and patina it

You know, that might work for covering up the parts where the patina went gray instead of colored. I'm not artistic, but why not give it a try?

 

[Scara]

Well, I've already learned a few lessons that I can impart about the mustard patina, first of all: decide what you want and get it done. I started out wanting a crosshatch pattern with a serpentine line running in the middle. That worked quite well on one side. The other I didn't do as well, and then I got the bright idea that I wanted to acid etch a hamon in. That showed up slightly on one side, but that combined with the already not so neat work on the other meant that I didn't get anything attractive out of the other side.

 

[Bawanna]

Why not indeed. The good thing about patinas is they're not permanent don't like it? Sand it back and polish it up like new

I force patina on all my bush knives, usually with mustard for pretty patterns, or vinegar for a flat patina. Will most probably sand back my klvuk and patina it

I was amazed how quickly that vinegar took off the black scale on my klvuk. I hit lightly with sandpaper just to see how hard it was and didn't even phase it, I figured it would be tough.

About 10 minutes or less in the vinegar paper towel and it was gone!

Your both right, you can always polish em back up. I'm a little afeared of a polish wheel and a sharp pointy thing though, I've had nightmares of a sharp pointy KLVUK stuck squarely in my forehead. Didn't hurt a bit but it was just a dream. Had a couple close calls at the wheel of shine or wheel of doom depending on the day.

I still got the bottle of vinegar on the bench, I might have to patina something just cause.

 

[Bawanna]

Well, I've already learned a few lessons that I can impart about the mustard patina, first of all: decide what you want and get it done. I started out wanting a crosshatch pattern with a serpentine line running in the middle. That worked quite well on one side. The other I didn't do as well, and then I got the bright idea that I wanted to acid etch a hamon in. That showed up slightly on one side, but that combined with the already not so neat work on the other meant that I didn't get anything attractive out of the other side.

Hey, hold your head up son. One side for show, one side for go!

 

[DanTheKnifeMan]

I was amazed how quickly that vinegar took off the black scale on my klvuk. I hit lightly with sandpaper just to see how hard it was and didn't even phase it, I figured it would be tough.

About 10 minutes or less in the vinegar paper towel and it was gone!

Your both right, you can always polish em back up. I'm a little afeared of a polish wheel and a sharp pointy thing though, I've had nightmares of a sharp pointy KLVUK stuck squarely in my forehead. Didn't hurt a bit but it was just a dream. Had a couple close calls at the wheel of shine or wheel of doom depending on the day.

I still got the bottle of vinegar on the bench, I might have to patina something just cause.

Fair dinkum? I didn't know vinegar could do that haha I have already half sanded back the scale on my klvuk, was going to take it to my old man's place and hit it with the wire wheel to take the rest off then patina, but I may give the vinegar a go first and see what happens

 

[J W Bensinger]

Boiling in vinegar produces a very even patina-degrease and then boil it and it comes out very nicely.

 

[philllll]

Boiling in vinegar produces a very even patina-degrease and then boil it and it comes out very nicely.

And boil in a well ventilated area! That stuff STINKS!

 

[Bawanna]

Fair dinkum? I didn't know vinegar could do that haha I have already half sanded back the scale on my klvuk, was going to take it to my old man's place and hit it with the wire wheel to take the rest off then patina, but I may give the vinegar a go first and see what happens

What the heck did you call me? Fair dinkum? I been called a lot of things in my day but that's a first right there and me thought we was mates........sounds like part of a kangaroo to me.

That vinegar will take it right off, no need to play on the wire wheel.

 

[DanTheKnifeMan]

Boiling in vinegar produces a very even patina-degrease and then boil it and it comes out very nicely.

Put the knife in boiling vinegar? Sounds like I've got my afternoon planned out. How long for roughly?

Jus gotta clean up all the beer bottles for last Saturday first

 

[Shavru]

What the heck did you call me? Fair dinkum? I been called a lot of things in my day but that's a first right there and me thought we was mates........sounds like part of a kangaroo to me.

Fair Dinkum? I Bawanna's case I think it would be Fair Dingo? Or maybe Mad Dingo?

Remeber DTKM, we need Pictures! LOT of pictures!

 

[J W Bensinger]

Put the knife in boiling vinegar? Sounds like I've got my afternoon planned out. How long for roughly?

Jus gotta clean up all the beer bottles for last Saturday first

I just keep checking it, and maybe hitting it with fine steel wool an putting it back in.
Make sure you arent leaving it in for long periods-you'll loosen the resin in the bolster and then you will be sad...maybe a process of 15-30 second dips.
Don't get the handles either or it will smell funny thereafter.

 

[Samon]

If you prefer a less even/false looking patina I'd like to suggest another option. Mix mustard loosely into the vinegar and create a sort of lumpy solution and spoon onto the steel and let aerate. 30 minutes plus will do something like this.






Obviously this isn't a fancy knife, but a knife I made from a machete blade. As mentioned though any patina will polish off, so if you don't like what you've done you can simply strop it off, no need for aggressive abrasives.

I've seen some interesting results from half cut lemons left on the surface of steel. It leaves a star/segment shaped that some might find pretty, not me but some..

 

[DanTheKnifeMan]

I just keep checking it, and maybe hitting it with fine steel wool an putting it back in.
Make sure you arent leaving it in for long periods-you'll loosen the resin in the bolster and then you will be sad...maybe a process of 15-30 second dips.
Don't get the handles either or it will smell funny thereafter.

Yeah I was thinking about taping the bolster so I wouldn't get splash back up on it then dipping only the blade in, that should take care of that.

I'll do it sarvo, need to buy more vinegar first lol

I have sanded half the scale back on my KLVUK, and have full scale on my DBVUK, I may do both as a comparison test, seeing as though the KL still has hammer marks where as the DB doesn't will show interesting results.

And sorry I've been lazy with uploading pics of my khuks, I can't upload the high Def pics my phone takes straight onto BF, I have to do it all through my computer :/ but yeah, I'll get off my butt and upload some pics soon.