Forcing "patina" on S35VN (Production Hiking Buddy)

[Maven]

After "3 strikes" trying to get a Hiking Buddy over the past week, Ive decided to sate my desire for and start my entry into the world of Fiddlebacks with a production Hiking Buddy.

My biggest issue with the kinfe that will become my EDC, is the stainless qualities of its S35VN material, it needs more character.

I would like to force a grey or black coating/"patina" on the knife. Is anyone aware of a surefire way to develop a dark patina on this material? Ive got ready access to acetic acid(basically 100% acid vinegar), lye(sodium hydroxide) and of course all the usual food based acids, etc. Just wondering if theres a known "recipe" that gets desired results so I can avoid serious experimentation.


Thanks.

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

After "3 strikes" trying to get a Hiking Buddy over the past week, Ive decided to sate my desire for and start my entry into the world of Fiddlebacks with a production Hiking Buddy.

My biggest issue with the kinfe that will become my EDC, is the stainless qualities of its S35VN material, it needs more character.

I would like to force a grey or black coating/"patina" on the knife. Is anyone aware of a surefire way to develop a dark patina on this material? Ive got ready access to acetic acid(basically 100% acid vinegar), lye(sodium hydroxide) and of course all the usual food based acids, etc. Just wondering if theres a known "recipe" that gets desired results so I can avoid serious experimentation.


Thanks.

Try a 50/50 mix of Ferric chloride (PCB) enchant and distilled water I have patina stainless before it doesn't patina quite as dark as High Carbon and takes longer too! Remember to degrease and clean the blade before you patina, immediately neutralize with windex with ammonia or diluted ammonia after etching

 

[MMatt]

Hey Chris,
Just wondering if the ferric chloride is harmful to blade steel as well as if it will void the Fiddleback warranty. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that you should not etch the logos on coated blades if you were stripping them. I did strip the coating off one blade and etch the logo, no harmful effect yet that I have observed, but I do have the better part of a gallon of ferric chloride that I've been wondering what I was going to do with!(That was the only quantity I could find when buying it off Amazon!)

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

Hey Chris,
Just wondering if the ferric chloride is harmful to blade steel as well as if it will void the Fiddleback warranty. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that you should not etch the logos on coated blades if you were stripping them. I did strip the coating off one blade and etch the logo, no harmful effect yet that I have observed, but I do have the better part of a gallon of ferric chloride that I've been wondering what I was going to do with!(That was the only quantity I could find when buying it off Amazon!)

I can't answer for you on if the Ferric chloride voids the warranty that would be a question would need to be answered by Phillip or Andy himself, In my opinion its not harmful the steel unless you leave it in the solution to long or fail to neutralize properly. I have no experience ecthing coated blades so.I cannot properly advise you on that.

I hope. his helps my experience with forced patina is in the Area of etching Hamons.

 

[MMatt]

Thanks Chris

 

[Mistwalker]

The corrosion resistance on the S35VN is one thing I do like about that steel. I just put a Hiking Buddy up for sale in the flea market that I had gotten for my daughter because I am giving her a mid-tech one instead.