Zuluninja
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 2,799
Ever since I learned about carbon steel, I have wanted a black blade. I have done my share of forced patinas and blueing, but kinda past that right now. No matter how beautiful a patina comes out, it will fade with use; blueing is not recommended for blades that process food so that's out for me, I will probably start sanding my blued users soon. So reading bits here and there I decided to experiment.
2 months ago I bought a 12-pack of diet Dr. Pepper. I had tried the 10 calorie version and did like it, so I thought the 0 calorie would be the same. BIG mistake. I would probably give that stuff to an enemy being tortured. Really awful stuff. After 2 cans the rest were just taking up space, untouched but also unwilling to throw away, hoping a friend or aquaintance might like the stuff...anyway, I remembered that I read somewhere that dark soda can give a patina. Out comes the 11.
This was the first knife I made scales for, using a cutting board and torching it over to give it an used look. After stripping, I decided to let it develop it's own patina with use. After a while some stains were visible but nothing drastic
1.5 cans fit that cup, in for an extended dunk
I kept busy around the house and kinda forgot it was there, so after maybe 3 hours did a check
It was working! I figured that carbonation might have something to do with it so I tossed out the vile stuff and filled it up again. After rinsing the blade and dunking it started to bubble a lot where the blade was, forgot to take a pic
1 hour later I pulled it out and tho the stain was darker, it had kept the same pattern, not covering the whole blade. At this point I decided to give it a light sanding...
and mix bleach with the soda. The color went out and a reddish scum formed on several spots on the blade, eventually floating on the surface; similar to cliching but milder. I decide to play some more and drained some, filled up with more soda and orange juice. After maybe 8 hours of going back and forth, 6 cans of the evil stuff, some bleach and maybe half a cup of orange juice, I pulled it out, rinsed...and got me a black blade!
I have no idea how durable will this "coat" be, but I really like how it came out.
2 months ago I bought a 12-pack of diet Dr. Pepper. I had tried the 10 calorie version and did like it, so I thought the 0 calorie would be the same. BIG mistake. I would probably give that stuff to an enemy being tortured. Really awful stuff. After 2 cans the rest were just taking up space, untouched but also unwilling to throw away, hoping a friend or aquaintance might like the stuff...anyway, I remembered that I read somewhere that dark soda can give a patina. Out comes the 11.
This was the first knife I made scales for, using a cutting board and torching it over to give it an used look. After stripping, I decided to let it develop it's own patina with use. After a while some stains were visible but nothing drastic
1.5 cans fit that cup, in for an extended dunk
I kept busy around the house and kinda forgot it was there, so after maybe 3 hours did a check
It was working! I figured that carbonation might have something to do with it so I tossed out the vile stuff and filled it up again. After rinsing the blade and dunking it started to bubble a lot where the blade was, forgot to take a pic
1 hour later I pulled it out and tho the stain was darker, it had kept the same pattern, not covering the whole blade. At this point I decided to give it a light sanding...
and mix bleach with the soda. The color went out and a reddish scum formed on several spots on the blade, eventually floating on the surface; similar to cliching but milder. I decide to play some more and drained some, filled up with more soda and orange juice. After maybe 8 hours of going back and forth, 6 cans of the evil stuff, some bleach and maybe half a cup of orange juice, I pulled it out, rinsed...and got me a black blade!
I have no idea how durable will this "coat" be, but I really like how it came out.
Doc, thanks, it might go back to how it was...I battonned some palm branches today and the "coat" came of in contact areas. Silver lining is it seems like the bleach did do some scarring that will stay
