Heat coloring?

Chuck Gedraitis Knives · Feb 3, 2003

I have a folder that I am just about finished with and I was thinking of heat coloring the blade. Just looking for some different ways of going about doing it? I was thinking of using a torch to get a rainbow effect, or my toaster oven to get a uniform color. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chuck

Alain M-D · Feb 3, 2003

If you use a torch or a oven, I think that there are risks
to damage the heat treatment of your blade! (if you
exceed the tempering temperature)

To be safe, I would use cold blue solution... Probably that
someone else will be able to give you a better answer!

Good luck!

Alain M-D

J. Neilson · Feb 3, 2003

Hey Chuck, Bill Ogden [Ogden knives] does some of the best blade (etc.) coloring I've ever seen. If you want, send me an e-mail and I'll give you his number. He's a hell of a nice guy and I know he wouldn't mind helping out.

Peter Atwood · Feb 4, 2003

Chuck, the toaster oven will give you a nice straw or bronze at the highest setting. I'd say that could be your last tempering. Works really nice for stainless blades.

Chuck Gedraitis Knives · Feb 4, 2003

Thanks for the help guys. I might have to give bluing salts a try.

DaQo'tah Forge · Feb 4, 2003

I do this coloring with fire on some of my things....its so cool looking!...and, if I dont like it, I just sand it off, and try again...

see my webpage on the effect it has -

http://daqotahforge.tripod.com/klingonblades/id73.html

AroKiem · Feb 4, 2003

You can try using "the little torch" it works great for me.I use it for heating & melting gold.IT can be used for oxodizing also but i use boric acid mixture to keep the gold from oxodizing.

Raymond Richard · Feb 4, 2003

I do quite a bit of it and find out different steels react differently to heat. I'll etch a blade first and then do the heat treat, 10 series doesn't seem to make much difference but L-6 really does. If you got a stainless blade the cold blue isn't going to touch it......Ray