How do I force a patina on O-1 steel?

I decided I'd force a potato patina on my Trapper. Then I wished I had a "peanut" 'cause that would have made a better sentence. But I got over it

Anyway, I only put mine into a potato for about three hours. I like the look of it, though it kind of looks like the blue steel that forms on a tool bit when you grind too fast. The polish of the steel is still very evident and the patina is not that dark.

In any case I did so beacuse I tried it out on another knife and liked the blue tint. I'm hoping it will hold this tint as a more natural patina forms now.

I'm wondering if anyone has some pictures of an overnight potato patina. I kind of like the look it's got now, but it could stand to be a bit darker.

Here's some pictures of my 3 hour potato patina. The clip blade isn't really all that much darker, the camera just had a little problem with lighting. I'm surprised the pictures came out as good as they did really.

You can't really see it on picture two, but the acids had a bit of an "air pocket" and they did more work around it, so it makes it look... I don't know a way to describe it really, but it kind of reminds me of Damascus.

potato_patina1.jpg

potato_patina2.jpg

potato_patina4b.jpg

Clip blade with levels adjusted so you can see the pattern better
potato_patina3.jpg


P.S.
No comments on my edge either! I know I left part of the factory grind in, it was hard to get out lol
 
Last edited:
Back
Top