So I decided to patina my Vex

[d762nato]

I do like the wavy pattern in the blade though Adam. :thumbup:

 

[Jroden5446]

I did this one on a project ratweiler I have, I dropped blobs of mustard on it, the wrapped the blade with a Terry cloth rag soaked in vinegar, then wrapped it with Saran wrap ( sr101 only takes an hour, it patinas very easily

 

[adrock1978]

In my experience when screwing around with mustard, you get less patina if you put it on too thick. I'm not entirely sure why... maybe because there's no air getting to it under the thick mustard. Maybe not.

Ah... see. Learning experience. Next time I'll spread the mustard thinner.

Yeah, must need oxygen to oxidize.

ETA: Thanks for this thread Adrock. I thought about doing this to my Paramilitary. Looks like the vinegar is the way to go but I'll wait till the lemon juice experiment is completed before starting.

Well the lemon has been on for about 7 hours now and its showing a definite discolorization. I'm going to leave it longer though.


Its not completely dry, but the lemon has already stained. Its the 4 light blotches you see.

Lemon

I do like the wavy pattern in the blade though Adam. :thumbup:

Thanks. I think next time I'm going to fake a Hamon (sp?) by doing a line of mustard along the blade and then spread it upward, and then put vinegar on the lower edge spread downward... Hmmm....

Just to note, because I haven't said this yet. After the initial test of clear apple vinegar, ALL the darker stained vinegar spots are BALSAMIC vinegar. It was higher acidity and stained nicer.

 

[Bigfattyt]

You mean just the mustard in spots with no vinegar at all, or just mustard evenly covering the blade?

Mustard spots. If you put an even coat, you aren't letting any of the air touch the steel.

I have patterns like a hamon line, and stripes.

I have taken the mustard, and done a thin layer, and then used a utensil to draw designs (exposing lines of the steel to the air. A chopstick or bamboo skewer works great.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Just cut several steaks with it - and don't wash it until hte next day. It'll patina up nicely. My old NICK got some nice almost-color-case-hardened-look spots on it just from cow.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

if I were going to do this, I would use jasco metal etch and rub it constantly as it's working, otherwise you will always end up with lines like you see on yours.

 

[adrock1978]

if I were going to do this, I would use jasco metal etch and rub it constantly as it's working, otherwise you will always end up with lines like you see on yours.

The lines is what I was going for though. Any kind of random pattern really. It makes a more interesting finish than just one consistent color.

 

[sleevefullofaces]

I did this one on a project ratweiler I have, I dropped blobs of mustard on it, the wrapped the blade with a Terry cloth rag soaked in vinegar, then wrapped it with Saran wrap ( sr101 only takes an hour, it patinas very easily

That looks great.