How do you finish your blades?

[ScarFoot]

If you're wanting a finish that won't change a ton after the customer gets it, with a carbon steel blade. I think doing a stonewash is a good option.

You can bring it up to whatever desired base polish you want to go up to. Etch in ferric chloride. Remove the extra oxides (ive been using trizact 3000 grit sandpaper for that, but steel wool is fine) and possibly do a couple extra dips if you want a darker finish. Repeating each time. Neutralize with a base. Then throw the blade in some kind of container with either rocks, or some kind of ceramic tumbling medium, and shake it up (provided you don't have a rotary, or vibratory tumbler). Stop after about 30 seconds, and check the blade. Repeat until youve got the look you want.

Thanks for the info. I’ve actually been looking into stone washing and hope to try it out in the coming year. I’ve been watching a few videos on home made tumblers.

 

[ScarFoot]

Well, I sold the little one I finished over the weekend today. When I started making knives back in May my #1 goal was to make one good enough to sell by the end of the year. I couldn’t have done it without all the knowledge y’all share on this forum. Haven’t decided what my 2023 goal is going to be other than improving on everything.

 

[nmbarta]

Different finishes are fun to play with, carbon steels can take on all kinds of looks. I've stonewashed several blades, and they do make some of the initial natural patinas a little less obvious, but at the end of the day you just can't avoid them. So to me it's best to embrace them, it's part of the fun of owning one.....and certainly something you want a paying customer aware of.
If they don't want that to happen, they want a stainless steel blade...that's just how it is....stainless steels really only offer that over carbon steels. Most of the fancy stainless steels are just trying to do what great carbon steel blades can do, but do it without oxidizing...whether that be rust or one of the thousands of patinas you might find on your blade!!
Carbon steels require maintenance and care, for those that don't want that there are many great stainless steel options.

You can start with a base etch or forced patina that will change how the blade changes, but won't change the fact that the blade will change. I like to etch 15n20 in ferric chloride on hunting knives which helps the blade hold a thin coat of oil.....it does help for rust temporarily....it doesn't really do much for patina, which will happen when the steel comes in contact with anything acidic....which is most food's. This can literally happen in seconds. Do whatever you want to your carbon balde....then chop 20lbs of pickled jalapeños for your jalapeño cheddar bratwurst and you'll either be disappointed or pleased with what just happened to your blade...depends on what you expected going into it!!!.....either way....it'll never be the same.