Forced patina

[Aerosmith101]

For an apple cider vinegar patina does heating up the vinegar make any difference other than the amount of time it takes to patina?

 

[Wowbagger]

Yes about any chemical reaction tends to be enhanced or speeded up by applying heat.
The real chemists here are already painfully aware I am no chemist. But for what we are talking about a little heat helps.

So you want the knife a uniform shade of dark grey ?
PS: if I understand correctly a little water added to the vinegar improves the reaction / results.
I don't know why . . .

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I use white vinegar heated in the microwave, dip the blade until it bubbles vigorously, dry and buff with 0000 steel wool. Lately I've been slicing strawberries for cereal, which has added a nice pattern to the uniform grey base color.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

For an apple cider vinegar patina does heating up the vinegar make any difference other than the amount of time it takes to patina?

Biochemical reactions tend to double in speed with every 10°C increase in temperature. Nonbiological chemical reaction kinetics are presumably similarly temperature dependent.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

PS: if I understand correctly a little water added to the vinegar improves the reaction / results.
I don't know why . . .

Vinegar, an aqueous solution of acetic acid, is 80% to 95% water, depending on its strength.

 

[sickpuppy1]

Wish I knew where that picture was of the knife of a member who did a multi layer patina with drops of mustard! It was cool looking I thought. I'll try and find it....

https://www.google.com/search?q=kni...wKHTdSBHsQ9QEwA3oECAIQCQ#imgrc=QMZdLtETNgv78M:

 

[SteelJunkee]

Boiling vinegar will dramatically increase the acid action, you can also add salt and hydrogen peroxide to increase corrosive effects.