Patina with a base instead of acid?

19-3ben

19-3ben

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
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I was at a Ren Faire a few weeks ago (don't laugh, I went as a joke but it was actually kinda fun. It was the one in Tuxedo NY for inquiring minds) and there was a blacksmith selling knives that he made. I got to chatting with his wife who was the sales person. They were actually pretty nice. Made of 1095, tempered to 59HRC per the wife. Now, the weird part is that she said he used a propriety method of adding a patina by using a base instead of an acid.

At that point, i knew I was out of my depth and I backed off. I have never ever heard of such a thing. I have only ever heard of adding patina by using acids. Is it possible to use a base? It sounded too oddball to me, so I passed on buying a knife, lest I be taken in by a charlatan, but perhaps I missed out on a great knife.

So, what gives?
 
It’s possible for sure. Gun bluing is a chemical reaction on the surface of the metal, just as patina is, and uses a caustic (basic) solution.
 
It should work. Sodium Hydroxide (caustic lye) is a component of hot bluing, so perhaps he was using a similar process.
 
Oh yeah. I knew about bluing with bases. I didn't make the connection on the fly. I guess I missed out on a nice knife. Guess I'll have to go back.
 
You're gonna hafta watch the same guys try to knock each other off their horse with a lance...again.
How do they live thru it, time after time...??
 
I will never buy knives/swords/etc from Renaissance Faire because they often are over priced and not of good quality. It often looks like beater weapons but at a price beyond premium. This is for Minnesota Renaissance Faire.

I just go there and enjoy some of the real craftsmanship such as Faces in Wood by Doug Hicks.
 
Guess it depends on your particular Faire. In June, at a fair in Oklahoma, I got a very decent 1095 fixed blade with bocote scales for $40, with a sheath. Opens a box as well as any other decent knife.
 
justjed said:
Guess it depends on your particular Faire. In June, at a fair in Oklahoma, I got a very decent 1095 fixed blade with bocote scales for $40, with a sheath. Opens a box as well as any other decent knife.
Click to expand...

I agree, depends on the faire. But Minnesota Renaissance Faire is the largest in America, thus comes with premium things or so the blacksmith shop owners hope so. I just don’t want to be another gullible buyer.
 
There are many ways of coloring steel, some work better than others, some look better than others. I like cleaning the blade completely and using it to cut up steak for fajitas. And for cutting my chicken-fried steak, and carving the Christmas ham, etc. I prefer a natural patina, the only real difference is my way takes much longer. But there's a character to a natural patina that a forced patina lacks. In my opinion. I like a knife that gets used and gains color naturally, rather than starting with color and wearing it off. But I understand why that's not true of everyone. And, from a purely logical standpoint, forcing a patina to prevent corrosion is probably more practical.

That said, I really like blued blades, especially a polished blue, but even a cold blued satin finish has a certain attraction. Most other coatings and/or colorings do nothing for me, aesthetically.

If the price was good for the quality, I'd not have worried about the finish. Sorry you missed out. Maybe next year...
 
Does make me wonder why he didn’t google up the answers he wanted on the spot so he could quickly determine if it’s something he was willing to buy. It is, after all, the Internet age no?
 
Anything that can rust or corrode the steel is capable of patinating it. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is known for being corrosive on steel and other metals, for example, and is alkaline ('basic') in pH. And saltwater is certainly capable of it as well.


David
 
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After your third or fourth show, you get used to it(the cleavage, I mean), and can then begin looking at other things that are interesting in a different way...
 
Did you hear about the kid that walked in the Smiths shop and picked up a horseshoe that had just been worked and was still hot and sit it back down real quickly?
The Smith said, yep, burnt yourself, didn't you? To which the kid replied, nope, just don't take me long to look at a horseshoe.
I would pull up a chair and watch the Smith until he put me to work or ran me out.
 
It had been invented. But back then ya had to go looking for it. That wasn't something you were just going to see as a matter of course on any given day.
 
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