M4 Patina Recipie + Photo of Results

[Fred S2]

Anybody got a patina recipe for M4:
fluid used,
time to soak,
fluid changes,
any other process variables.

Would also like a photo of the result

 

[wongKI]

Lemon juice, overnight. No pics, but it is very dark, almost like a DLC.

 

[Fred S2]

did you immerse it or just wipe it down and let it sit

 

[wongKI]

I removed the blade and immersed it. I also reinforced it once by soaking a paper towel in vinegar and wrapping the blade. The pivot area didn't get affected that time.

 

[StretchNM]

I have:
- soaked in apple vinegar/cold gun blue (50/50) for about 15 minutes or so;
- painted mustard on, let sit for about 15 minutes, then soaked in apple viengar for a few minutes;
- cut foods such as potatoes, apples, oranges, etc. and let the blade sit before washing.

Here is an apple vinegar soak (no gun blue)

And another:

Here is a 50/50 vinegar/gun blue on an EnZo (this one also had some mustard on it, but I rubbed most off because it was hideous)

After doing a few of these (more than are pictured), I've reached the conclusion that you don;t need to soak the knife. Choose your poison, soak a blue shop towel, or regular paper towel, and sop the blade. Sop it all over as you sit there watching it and as dry areas appear.

I've read of guys sopping mustard on with cheesecloth (or other similarly textured cloths or applicators). Let sit for 15 30 minutes, then rinse it with vinegar. If you don;t like a certain patina, scrub it off with steel wool and try anew. I think I scrubbed that EnZo (pictured above) twice before leaving the vingar/gun blue that's shown there.

Another trick is to clean the blade with hot water and soap. Rinse with HOT water. Dry. Then, while the steel is still hot, do your chosen patina. Hot water opens the pores of the steel, which is why I always use HOT water when washing/rinsing a knife.

Does it go without saying the blade must be a carbon steel, and not......stainless? D)

 

[pwet]

Hot water opens the pores of the steel, which is why I always use HOT water when washing/rinsing a knife.

must be a joke ?

 

[StretchNM]

Nope. No joke. Steel expands when heated, as does most everything. Though I'll admit, the words "opens the pores" might be the wrong terminology.

 

[on_the_edge]

I removed the blade and immersed it. I also reinforced it once by soaking a paper towel in vinegar and wrapping the blade. The pivot area didn't get affected that time.

Any chance you have a pic of that blade with the patina?

 

[Fred S2]

are any of the above pics M4 steel?

 

[Flatsman007]

Only the Enzo, but I don't think it is either.

 

[wongKI]

Mine is M4. I'll try to get a pic up.

 

[Fred S2]

A pic would be great.