Patina on my Para

R

rmc85

Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
1,619
Just wanted to share some pics of the patina I put on my D2 Para. I took the knife apart and gave the blade a really good wash/dry. I gutted some para cord and used the insides to hang my blade from a pen that I had sitting on top of a mason jar. I ended up leaving the blade in for a least 8 hours (cant remember the exact time) and this is what came out. I just used regular old vinegar I got from Publix for this project.

The patina is very even and just gave the blade a little bit of a dull appearance. There was only a small area next to the Spyder hole that didnt get as dark as the rest of the blade but I think it took there too because I haven't had any problems with rust there either.

I highly recommend anyone having D2 rust problems give this a try. You wouldn't even know the blade is darker unless you have another Para sitting next to this one. I have not had any problems with rust after putting a patina on this blade...Before I was doing a good cleaning about once a week and still had problems with rust. I haven't been cleaning the blade near as much (really none at all) and its been rust free!

Its really hard to see so I highlighted the area thats a little more visible than the rest of the blade...

P1070202.jpg

P1070318.jpg

P10703181234435364677898-1.jpg
 
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Could you explain PATINA to me please? I have seen it done on a couple of RAT knives, but do not know why or how etc. Thank you.
 
That Spyder logo looks sweet. Very nicely done.
Could you explain PATINA to me please? I have seen it done on a couple of RAT knives, but do not know why or how etc. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Patina is essentially a stable, long-term oxidation of steel (versus rust, which is an unstable oxidation of steel - and degrades the crystalline structure). Mild acids (such as acetic acid = vinegar) are excellent for this, others include acidic soils, several fruit juices (apple or lemon being common ones). Dilute the vinegar a bit, hang the blade in there for a few hours, and take out, rinse well and wipe clean, then add some oil.

This really only works with non-stainless steels, which D2 is by a hair (just not enough chromium or something).

http://engines.rustyiron.com/electrolysis/index.html
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/redox/faq/metal-patina.shtml
 
marthinus said:
Could you explain PATINA to me please? I have seen it done on a couple of RAT knives, but do not know why or how etc. Thank you.
Click to expand...


senoBDEC said:
That Spyder logo looks sweet. Very nicely done.


Patina is essentially a stable, long-term oxidation of steel (versus rust, which is an unstable oxidation of steel - and degrades the crystalline structure). Mild acids (such as acetic acid = vinegar) are excellent for this, others include acidic soils, several fruit juices (apple or lemon being common ones). Dilute the vinegar a bit, hang the blade in there for a few hours, and take out, rinse well and wipe clean, then add some oil.

This really only works with non-stainless steels, which D2 is by a hair (just not enough chromium or something).

http://engines.rustyiron.com/electrolysis/index.html
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/redox/faq/metal-patina.shtml
Click to expand...

What he said. My whole reason for doing this is because I was having rust problems on my blade. Putting a patina on it helps prevent rust from forming so you don't have to worry about babying the blade. Since doing the patina I've been taking less care of the blade (not wiping it down) to see if rust is going to form and it has not.

Here's what I did

1. Take knife apart
2. Wash/dry the blade really well
3. Submerge the blade in vinegar. I cant tell you an exact amount of time to do this because I've seen most people say only 30 mins but I did it for hours.
4 Take blade out and wash off
5. Put knife back together and don't worry about rust (as much).
 
Thank you for the explanation guys! This is why I love this forum. Even after years I still learn new things!
 
senoBDEC said:
That Spyder logo looks sweet. Very nicely done.


Patina is essentially a stable, long-term oxidation of steel (versus rust, which is an unstable oxidation of steel - and degrades the crystalline structure). Mild acids (such as acetic acid = vinegar) are excellent for this, others include acidic soils, several fruit juices (apple or lemon being common ones). Dilute the vinegar a bit, hang the blade in there for a few hours, and take out, rinse well and wipe clean, then add some oil.

This really only works with non-stainless steels, which D2 is by a hair (just not enough chromium or something).

http://engines.rustyiron.com/electrolysis/index.html
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/redox/faq/metal-patina.shtml
Click to expand...

I think it's Iron III Oxide (dark grey) rather then Iron II Oxide (rust red).

Excellent job there! :thumbup:
 
You could really darken that d2 up if u wanted to my para has a nice deep patina on it darker in some spots than others but still cool I'll try and post some pics if I can figure out how !!
 
it started on its own just from cutting fruit and meat in the kitchen but i did encourage it a little bit with some lemon juice over night :)
 
u may need to do it a few time and clean up with oil and steel wool in between treatments if u want to get it really dark... d2 is a bitch to patina.. found out the hard way but super happy with the results!!!
 
senoBDEC said:
That Spyder logo looks sweet. Very nicely done.


Patina is essentially a stable, long-term oxidation of steel (versus rust, which is an unstable oxidation of steel - and degrades the crystalline structure). Mild acids (such as acetic acid = vinegar) are excellent for this, others include acidic soils, several fruit juices (apple or lemon being common ones). Dilute the vinegar a bit, hang the blade in there for a few hours, and take out, rinse well and wipe clean, then add some oil.

This really only works with non-stainless steels, which D2 is by a hair (just not enough chromium or something).

http://engines.rustyiron.com/electrolysis/index.html
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/redox/faq/metal-patina.shtml
Click to expand...
so there u have it
 
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