How To Patina Experts?

I would definitely say that is from humid, salty air. A good once over with some Flitz would probably clean that right up.

 

I agree with Shawn Alan, humid, salty air. I carried my 01 Bull nose for two days straight while jackhammering....MAJOR PATINA with red rust spots. I'm quite acidic

 

Mothers Mag Polish is fine.

 

Yep! This was my 14 after a few particularly sweaty days at work in South Louisiana. Flitz cleaned it up just fine.



I believe Mother's Mag would work the same. I'm not sure if one is more abrasive than the other.

 

Yeah, early September down here is usually in the upper 80s with 80-90% humidity. I work outdoors, and I'm a particularly sweaty person. The ebony handles would be damp when I pulled it out of my pocket. I've gotten better about drying my knives off periodically. I forced a patina on that particular knife after Flitzing it.

 

@Wurrwulf
How well does a forced patina actually help regarding corrosion resistance?

 

The hot vinegar patina on my 72 has prevented any actual rust spots from forming. Pretty much like a blue gun. Resistant, but not rust proof.

 

I have used the following metal polishes on my knife blades: Simichrome, Wenol, Mothers Mag Polish. They will all restore a shiny finish to polished metal and will remove patina. I haven't tried Flitz, but it probably works about the same as the others.

 

Try toothpaste .

 

I don't know if this is actually how it is, but it seems to me that my patina'd blades are less prone to rusting.
My house is cooled by a swamp cooler in the summer, so stuff likes to rust.
The patina free edges of hatchets, and machetes, easily turn a light brown or develop rust specs while anything covered in patina seems to resist it more.
I've had Matt bead blasted stainless blades develop rust specs when patina'd carbon steel did not.

 

I'm no expert, but the few I have with a patina tend to get less rust spots on them. I live on the gulf coast of Florida, so just a couple of hours of pocket time outside is all it takes for rust spots to appear.

 

So rust in essence is oxygen reacting with the steel of the blade. Humidity and salt agravate this.

The patina makes a barrier that prevents the reaction. It's a really thin barrier so if you've got the knife in salt water the rust will win.

Maybe the blade had been touched right there and that sparked the reaction.

 

How long would I leave my blade in mustard to force patina. At what point is it too long and I risk damaging the knife? Which vinegar?

Also the same question except using mustard. How long is too long?

 

I've only tried this once and I used White Vinegar. I positioned the blade tip down in a clear glass cup so I could watch the progress. I ended up soaking it for 40 minutes because that's the amount of time it took to reach the tint of darkness I was shooting for. It actually was a little darker than it looked when I took it out of the glass.

This was on a Case CV blade.

 

I did my 2blade tc clip in Barnes hospital while my father was in ICU... Found some packets of mustard in the waiting room.

To answer your question I totally roast mine. I do two or three applications of whatever medium of your choice. You may want to sharpen your knife post treatment (for a contrast).
Pick one of your less desirable 1095 blades and go "rat rod" on it!
Either two things will happen.... You'll either think " I have just ruined my knife" or " dag gum that looks good!". Enjoy the hobby

 

Alan,

Looks like you got all the necessary advice If you see a spot of rust that's stubborn, some 1000 to 2000 grit sandpaper (is it really sandpaper at that grit?) will get rid of it--however, you'll either have to polish the whole blade or have a shiny spot (that will eventually patina).

Anthony