Help figuring out metal finish

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
Messages
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My Dad has had an old steel block around his shop for as long as I can remember, in fact it may not be steel but he thinks it is--it's about 70 years old. It has a rusty LOOKING finish on it but it is not rust--it's a very smooth finish, and all the pock marks etc. on the block are darker--nearly black--and the balance of the block is a rich brown color--no residue of any kind comes off of the block when you handle it, and it has a very smooth touch to it, almost like it was tumbled after it turned this color. I would appreciate feedback/info as to what you folks in the know think the finish is--I've got a couple of new blocks myself, the are CR1018, and I would like to prevent then rusting, and a finish like my Dad's block had would be great.

Thanks folks--Don
 
I'm nowhere near the block now, my Dad just sold the entire contents of his old shop-he and Mom are moving to an adult apartment--next stage of life for them. All that said it is simply a rectangular block about 3"x2"x6" and it weighs about 8-10 lbs I'd guess.
 
Maybe it was oiled and brushed with steel wool after it rusted lightly? I do this to my KMG and it has a nice look to it.
 
Sounds to me like it was " browned ". It's a kinda early stage of rust bluing.
 
Look up steel patina

Lots of options like gun cold blue, vinegar, clean it and put it in the oven to heat temper colour.
 
Daniel, of these suggestions yours sounds like the it would produce the most similar finish to what this has. Does you KMG not rust anymore and does it have a dry to the touch but smooth finish?
Count, I don't think it is just patina, but maybe so as it is 70 years old, although it has had the finish for 60+ years. Don't know if that tells anybody anything.
H20oni, browning also sounds like a possibility, does that end up giving a slick smooth finish that won't rust? I actually thought of some sort of rust bluing, as I have had rifle barrels finished like that and they had the smooth slick feeling like Dad's block.
 
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Count, do you have any recommendations on putting on a 'patina', I had always thought patina referred to the actual naturally occurring wear on an object, in knives including knicks and dings, as well as oxidation of blade materials and bolster or other metal parts. I didn't realize an forced coloring was called patina. Is the right term 'patinaing'? I also wonder if you have a recommendation of how to end up with the finish like on my Dad's block, slick and smooth, and no residue coming off of the block?

H20oni, do you have a recommended way to do 'browning'
 
Fish30114 said:
Daniel, of these suggestions yours sounds like the it would produce the most similar finish to what this has. Does you KMG not rust anymore and does it have a dry to the touch but smooth finish?
Click to expand...

It does not rust unless I get it wet but even then it just wipes off... feels nice and smooth too. I just clean it with oil or wd40 and steel wool.
 
Fish, try forcing a patina on carbon steel and see if it's that... I put a patterned forced patina on my Opinel using horseraddish for pattern and ketchup for uniform coating after that... It's a coat of passive oxide (Fe3O4) that prevents active rust (Fe2O3) taking place. I think browning and bluing are similar proceses that also promote coat of passive oxide to prevent rusting. You can force a patina with almost any foodstuff containing acids*- but I think the best way would be warm vinegar, ketchup, &c.

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* actually, different foods produce different coloured patinas- bluish, yellow, purple... But yours is probably a greyish coat, as on my Opinel. And I accidentaly left my carbon blade with forced patina a few days in the rain (it fell out of my pocket), and it did not rust beyond a few superficial spots that were almost wiped off with a kitchen sponge.
 
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