Patina recipy help for BK5

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
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Since you guys convinced me that Beckers are for customizing I decided to customize my BK5. I would love to see your DIY patina. Patina recipy would be appreciated.

My BK5 is currenty soaking in Citrus Strip waiting for further instructions...

Thanks for your help,
 
Do a search for Clich's becker etch thread....good stuff there.
 
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The only patina I have done is pasta sauce. I just dabbed in on with a paper towel and then washed it off repeating maybe 10 or 15 times. Makes it look kind of marbled. However if you search for cliches etch patina you will find some really cool looking ones.

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I've only ever used apple cider vinegar or yellow mustard. Basically anything acidic will do the trick, with varying patterns and results.

Then there's the fancy pants bleach/ gun blue ala Clich. I'm sure someone more well versed will come by to help as well.

I say dive in and try it since you can always sand it off and start over (except the bleach etch, that's permanent).
 
I prefer a natural patina these days, just leave you bk5 in the kitchen for a month and let it get used. Ive also done gun bluing, hotsauce and distilled white vinegar.
 
Damn Clich that 10 looks AMAZING!!!! I just got a 2 that will definitely get Cliched!!!!
 
Crap! I've got to follow Clich? By the way, I have found that the knife strips easier if you wave horizontally folded $20 bills at it.

Tobasco

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Yellow Mustard

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For both methods, I just strip, sand, and clean the knife. I apply the choosen solution liberally with my finger, coating the entire surface. Then I hang it where it can get plenty of oxygen for 30 min to an hour. Then I scrub the knife with baking soda and warm water followed by soap and warm water until it's clean. Apply some mineral oil and you're good to go. Have fun.
 
I recently tried the hot apple cider vinegar method on one of my Green River "Sheep Skinners". Someone elsewhere on this site posted that method for 1095 steel. I don't know exactly what type of steel Green River uses but it is a kind of high carbon. I didn't get the black results the other guy got, but it patinate well to a dull darkish grey with only minor "marbling" effect. I like it.

After I get my BK-15, it's going to be my first customization job: handmade grips and some patination for sure, then my beloved old Camillus BK-5 is going to be reborn.
 
Hot sauce is weak sauce. Etch it or go home ;)

Just kidding of course but I used mustard to put a patina on a BK7. Seconds after using the BK7 it was gone. The blue/bleach etch is the way to go if you want it to stay.

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Just kidding of course but I used mustard to put a patina on a BK7. Seconds after using the BK7 it was gone. The blue/bleach etch is the way to go if you want it to stay.

I agree completely. I usually put the patina on and then use the crap out of it. Eventually, the blade forms a nice natural patina in the spots where the vinegar base wears away.
 
You can also use a full covering of A-1 sauce as a base coat, and then drizzle on some spicy brown mustard afterwards to give it a nice tiger-stripe pattern.

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You can also use a full covering of A-1 sauce as a base coat, and then drizzle on some spicy brown mustard afterwards to give it a nice tiger-stripe pattern.

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That is a nice patina man...i was just thinking i saw one on here that was tiger striped and here you go posting it...
 
That is a nice patina man...i was just thinking i saw one on here that was tiger striped and here you go posting it...

Thank ya. As soon as I get myself a new camera, I'll post some new pics of that BK-2 with its OD green Saint micarta, convexed badassitude, and AZWelke pants. I love that blade.
 
Thank ya. As soon as I get myself a new camera, I'll post some new pics of that BK-2 with its OD green Saint micarta, convexed badassitude, and AZWelke pants. I love that blade.

Been wanting some OD scales myself. I wish they had the option of different colored scales for the full size model knives, especially OD. ;)
 
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