Forced Patina on my GB

Hairlesstwinkie

Hairlesstwinkie

Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
1,562
So after hours upon hours of soaking in lime juice and white vinegar, this is what I got. It was originally solid black except for a few spots near the tip. It would not patina for whatever reason, so I just took my 400 grit sand paper to just take it all away and other spots that didn't get patina. I'm really digging the two tone, but I would have loved to have a solid black blade.


Untitled by Hairlesstwinkie, on Flickr
 
I like the look.
You may have had some residual oils on the blade that left the spots.
 
Barman1 said:
I like the look.
You may have had some residual oils on the blade that left the spots.
Click to expand...

I gave it a warm water and soap bath back to back a number of times as well as the alcohol wash. I don't believe there could be any oil left on that blade.
 
I finally got mine to take a patina, but it took DAYS. Finally came out looking ok, but if I bought another I would just use it. It's pretty tough to get m4 to really take a patina.
78C5F45C-7A87-4F24-895D-8280BDD51722-3770-00000427B6DE7078_zpsf4068522.jpg

49AED3CC-283B-491B-81AB-B16F904B0840-1625-000001A2C3839E4B_zpsa843ccb0.jpg
 
Surfingringo said:
I finally got mine to take a patina, but it took DAYS. Finally came out looking ok, but if I bought another I would just use it. It's pretty tough to get m4 to really take a patina.
78C5F45C-7A87-4F24-895D-8280BDD51722-3770-00000427B6DE7078_zpsf4068522.jpg

49AED3CC-283B-491B-81AB-B16F904B0840-1625-000001A2C3839E4B_zpsa843ccb0.jpg
Click to expand...

what did you use? I was hoping to get more of the grayish look rather than black.
 
Well, I actually got really lucky. After three days of soaking the blade in all manner of substances, the patina was very splotchy and quite ugly looking. I was totally bummed because I had just completely uglified a brand new knife. I was back at my dads place in the u.s. So I looked in his cabinet and fount a liquid "rust remover". I figured, what the hell, can't get any worse and maybe I can undo what I've done. Well, after a couple of applications, the rust remover just kind of blended all the splotches together and completely evened out the patina. Total accident, but it worked like a charm. Problem is, I can't for the life of me remember the name of the product. It was something I've heard of before and I want to say the name had something to do with "marine" or "boats" etc. I really can't remember. If I talk to my dad this week, I'll try to remember to ask him if he still has the stuff. Seriously though, it was one of those blind luck discoveries that worked like a dream!
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
I'm really digging the two tone, but I would have loved to have a solid black blade.
Click to expand...

I was able to turn my ZDP Ladybug blade all black with a ferric chloride bath, so you could try that. Cost me about $8 off Amazon Prime, got to my house in less than a week, then just took the blade out, suspended it in the acid for about 5 minutes and took it out, let it sit for another 5 minutes, and then washed it off with a baking powder/water solution to get off all the acid. Turned out great, although there are a few things to look out for. Make sure not to acid etch the tang as that can potentially impact lockup, and second, since it is just an etch and not a coating, the blade can still rust and on the black blade, it does make it harder to spot. Other than that, I am pleased with my now black ZDP ladybug. Matches the handle much better than the original finish and makes the knife more mine. So if you're looking to get an all black blade, you could try this!
 
Invective said:
I was able to turn my ZDP Ladybug blade all black with a ferric chloride bath, so you could try that. Cost me about $8 off Amazon Prime, got to my house in less than a week, then just took the blade out, suspended it in the acid for about 5 minutes and took it out, let it sit for another 5 minutes, and then washed it off with a baking powder/water solution to get off all the acid. Turned out great, although there are a few things to look out for. Make sure not to acid etch the tang as that can potentially impact lockup, and second, since it is just an etch and not a coating, the blade can still rust and on the black blade, it does make it harder to spot. Other than that, I am pleased with my now black ZDP ladybug. Matches the handle much better than the original finish and makes the knife more mine. So if you're looking to get an all black blade, you could try this!
Click to expand...

would sulfuric acid in car battery do the same thing?
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
would sulfuric acid in car battery do the same thing?
Click to expand...

Try the etching acid from Radio Shack. I did a 5 minute soak on the Tenacious then a quick 3000 grit sanding then another 2 minute soak for a more uniform etch... I disassembled and etched the entire knife. It's not M4 but it will give some insight.
I've etched a few but this is the only one worthy to post in the Spyderco sub-forum. And sorry but I'm not etching my GB.

766.JPG
 
Barman1 said:
Try the etching acid from Radio Shack. I did a 5 minute soak on the Tenacious then a quick 3000 grit sanding then another 2 minute soak for a more uniform etch... I disassembled and etched the entire knife. It's not M4 but it will give some insight.
I've etched a few but this is the only one worthy to post in the Spyderco sub-forum. And sorry but I'm not etching my GB.

766.JPG
Click to expand...

How come you won't etch the GB? Were you not pleased with other attempts? I'm thinking about doing mine, but starting with a tenacious first.
 
If there is any decarb it wont etch very well, sounds like you cleaned it well, I use brake cleaner to clean mine before I etch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top