Like topic but want to do it with out buying chemicals if possible. Im sure some one here has had a accidental discovery that resulted in a blade turnign a dark color. The blade in question is froma production knife just a cheapy master knife tanto bladed tactical. I just want to darken it enough to hide some of the flaws and scratches and make the logo show up again. Gun blueing least the paste stuff dont work well.
need tips and tricks to darken a aus 8 blade
- Thread starter novaflare
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- Jun 17, 2001
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Blueing isn't going to work on stainless. Try soaking it in vinegar but since its most likely stainless steel I'd go with a magic marker..... 
Blueing isn't going to work on stainless. Try soaking it in vinegar but since its most likely stainless steel I'd go with a magic marker.....
Lol at magic marker. I took a cheap stainless master knife with some odd modified spear point style blade and colored in the grooves on the handle in black and blue looks like a much higher end knife.
Btw blueing does work I just found that out. It took about a dozen applications but i got a fairly acceptable result.
The stuff i used is birchwood casey brand and contains selinium oxide.
I applied the stuff let it site for a few minutes buffed it off with a cloth instead of rinsing and repeated numerous times. My blade originally had what i believe they call a parkerised finish that was mostly worn off. I uspect that the same blueing paste on a raw aus 8 blade that was not coated would come out alot better than mine did.
yoda4561
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Ferric Chloride will etch stainless(even the 300 series stuff they make pocket clips out of), and if concentrated enough will do so fairly quickly. This tends to leave a grayish black finish if soaked briefly, and with time will make the surface look like it was bead blasted and parkerized.