Need some advise!

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Ricardsjets

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Nov 4, 2019
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Hey all, I'm currently renewing an old hatchet...I would like to acid etch a nice patina on it, what acid should I use? And some instruction would be great!
Thanks for your time and thanks for the add!
 
The best I have found is Caswell’s black oxide accelerator. Works in about 60 seconds and creates a true black oxide coating. A little expensive but it’s basically a lifetime supply, the solution lasts forever.
https://www.caswellplating.com/black-oxide-kit-1-25-gal.html
If you choose to go that route, I’d be happy to give you some tips.
I recently blackened this PSF and wedge with it.
0-F8-FC9-A5-D915-4-D40-880-A-9-F0-ACCF07-A12.jpg

The pulaski pictured was not blackened. A little hard to tell in the photo but they are black! (And you must ask yourself could it be any more black..
B38-D977-B-2-AEE-47-AC-9-BF7-F3-DA07-C1845-C.jpg

...none more black.)
 
Last edited:
Ricardsjets said:
Hey all, I'm currently renewing an old hatchet...I would like to acid etch a nice patina on it, what acid should I use? And some instruction would be great!
Thanks for your time and thanks for the add!
Click to expand...
Did you polish it up or something ?
I'm just asking because if not you wouldn't need to etch it.

ITVD already had you're answers because he's actually done this before so that's good this time , next time if you just wire wheel the rust off ( without using a bunch of brute force ) the original patina will be left and you won't have to worry about recreating a patina.
This is just something to think about for next time.
 
I do tend to agree with Hickory here and you can see the pulaski pictured that just got 220 & 500 grit sandpaper and then wire-wheeling. But blackening has it’s place and if that’s what you are trying to do I’d prefer this over gun blue.

As far as etching I assume you were using that term loosely and just meant accelerating an oxidation.
Etching for these purposes would be necessary only if you had polished the axe or were working with hard to penetrate steel like stainless. And would be the additional step of dipping in a Muratic acid bath to “etch” the surface and allow better adhesion of the oxide.
For your use that won’t likely be necessary.
 
Well when i found it, ( vintage PLUMB) roofers hatchet) it was covered in rust but had very little pitting. I then cleaned all the rust off and I have sanded it once with heavy grit paper. It cleaned up rather well. Haven't done much since, except I got two handles for it. Not decided which one to use yet. So that is in a nut shell where I am at. Any advise would be great.. I do know I want a finish like the pics you shared.
 
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