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- Apr 19, 2011
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Since a few people wanted a write up about how i did the etch on geegee's bk11 i figured id do it again with 2 different patterns. So here goes. First and FOREMOST remember that this is a PERMANENT patina:
I know i know, there is an izula in here too, but i didnt have another carbon blade i wanted to etch so it went under the knife too.
First up, clean with soap and water and scotch brite pad. Next find a container that will house the blade and the bleach. Depending on how you want your pattern to be will depend on the size and shape of the container. For my bk5 i only wanted the blade etch for two reasons, one i polyed on the scales for corrosion protection, and two...well i guess its only one reason.
Next apply your blue. I used a cotton swab and a paint brush for these two etches
Dont fret if you dont get the blue just how you want it because you will not be able to control the reaction anyway and it will come out different then you had imagined. for the bk5 i placed the knife in vertically and supported it so that the corrosion flaked would move up the blade. For the esee i placed it in the bleach on its side, so that the etch would look like more of a forge finish or normal antiquing (i actually put it in originally like the bk11 on its spine but changed my mind after about 30 seconds)
Now for the most IMPORTANT STEP OF ANY MOD WORK
THE REACTION CREATED WITH THE BLUE AND BLEACH CREATES DEADLY CHLORINE GAS SO PLEASE DO WITH PROPER VENTILATION!
Now you wait.....and wait.....and wait.....Now you can leave it in the bleach for as long as you would like and the longer you leave it the deeper the etch. The length of time i usually leave it in varies from about 45 minutes to up to 2 hours...You can leave it in over night it you want but i wouldnt plan on having much knife left come morning. Here is how the esee looked after 45 minutes.
and the bk5 after an hour
After you pull it from the bleach the next step is to dry it with an old towel. Once its dry sand off all the rust with 100 grit sandpaper. Now this is key, after sanding WASH THE BLADE 3 TIMES with warm water and soap, its stops the reaction if you dont do this you will wake up tomorrow and see the rust has come back. After its clean I then reblue the knife, this makes the etches darker. Once the blue is dry i resand again with 220, then 400, then 1000 grit paper, but not to much just enough to shine up the parts that arent etched. Rinse of the sanding, resharpen, then oil it up.....
TIME FOR THE GREAT UNVEILING
I know i know, there is an izula in here too, but i didnt have another carbon blade i wanted to etch so it went under the knife too.
First up, clean with soap and water and scotch brite pad. Next find a container that will house the blade and the bleach. Depending on how you want your pattern to be will depend on the size and shape of the container. For my bk5 i only wanted the blade etch for two reasons, one i polyed on the scales for corrosion protection, and two...well i guess its only one reason.
Next apply your blue. I used a cotton swab and a paint brush for these two etches
Dont fret if you dont get the blue just how you want it because you will not be able to control the reaction anyway and it will come out different then you had imagined. for the bk5 i placed the knife in vertically and supported it so that the corrosion flaked would move up the blade. For the esee i placed it in the bleach on its side, so that the etch would look like more of a forge finish or normal antiquing (i actually put it in originally like the bk11 on its spine but changed my mind after about 30 seconds)
Now for the most IMPORTANT STEP OF ANY MOD WORK
THE REACTION CREATED WITH THE BLUE AND BLEACH CREATES DEADLY CHLORINE GAS SO PLEASE DO WITH PROPER VENTILATION!
Now you wait.....and wait.....and wait.....Now you can leave it in the bleach for as long as you would like and the longer you leave it the deeper the etch. The length of time i usually leave it in varies from about 45 minutes to up to 2 hours...You can leave it in over night it you want but i wouldnt plan on having much knife left come morning. Here is how the esee looked after 45 minutes.
and the bk5 after an hour
After you pull it from the bleach the next step is to dry it with an old towel. Once its dry sand off all the rust with 100 grit sandpaper. Now this is key, after sanding WASH THE BLADE 3 TIMES with warm water and soap, its stops the reaction if you dont do this you will wake up tomorrow and see the rust has come back. After its clean I then reblue the knife, this makes the etches darker. Once the blue is dry i resand again with 220, then 400, then 1000 grit paper, but not to much just enough to shine up the parts that arent etched. Rinse of the sanding, resharpen, then oil it up.....
TIME FOR THE GREAT UNVEILING
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