Patina

S

sepcat

Joined
Mar 13, 2002
Messages
69
This question has probably been asked a thousand times but can anyone suggest a method of getting a nice even patina on a high carbon steel blade.. Any ideas like cutting lemons or something would help, thanks..
 
Actually cutting lemons wouldn't give you an even pattern. Rubbing lemon juice would be better, or immersing the blade for a short time, then removing it and quickly rinsing the excess off in cold water to prevent splotching.
 
A really even patina only comes with time. If you want to rush things though, or at least give them a good start, try vinegar. Make sure the blade of your knife is very clean and free from grease. Even the oil from your fingers will affect the evenness of the patina, so don't touch the blade after it is clean. I usually heat the vinegar in the microwave for about a minute or so-- not boiling, but steaming a bit. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar to break the surface tension so it doesn't bead up as much on your blade. I use an old toothbrush to apply the vinegar to the blade. Hit both sides evenly, and keep basting it on there. Keep an eye on it; acids will etch a blade more rapidly than you might think. The key to an even patina is numerous short etching periods as opposed to one or two longer ones. Rinse and clean the blade well after you are finished, and throw some mineral oil on there to keep it from rusting. If you don't like the results, you can always clean the blade with some Flitz or sand it down with some really fine (1500-2000 grit) sandpaper and start over.
--Josh
 
Try doing some searches in the Himalayan Imports forum. There's a lot of good informationa and pictures in there regarding patinas, blueing, mustard finishes... well, you get the idea.
 
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