The "vinegar dip" works GREAT !

[Lavan]

Corrected my complaints some posts back about the scratches on my Greco Scagel. Just wiped it clean with acetone and soaked it in a glass of white vinegar. Came out a pretty pearlescent blue-gray and very uniform and "antique" looking. Smelled like rust until I guess I "killed" the reaction by oiling the blade after a vigorous "grocery sack" rubdown.

Very happy with results.

Thanks to all who mentioned the vinegar.



(Hafta watch it though. Bubbles start coming off the blade very quickly. I would simply raise it out of the dip and reinsert and let ..new...bubbles form. Just did it to make it uniform and it may not even be necessary. But the color definitely progresses and I would not leave a blade in without watching it.)

 

[rebeltf]

Not sure about the acidity of vinegar but you might have wanted to nuetralize it with windex after the soak.
Todd

 

[DEA]

don't bother
just wash it off with plenty of water and scrub it clean
ammonia has the same capability to cause harm that vinegar has

 

[Minjin]

Can you explain what this does? And whats the grocery sack rubdown? I've read about people etching their blades but I thought that was just to show the hamon?

Speaking of which, what all knives would have a hamon?

Mark
'full of questions today...'

 

[Stickbait]

...baking soda and water rubbed all over in a thick paste to completely neutralize the acid reaction.Finish with a thorough rinse of clean water several times and wipe totally dry.

 

[Grapevine]

How long a dip?

 

[dullone]

Before you try this at home boys and girls, make sure the blade is really, really, really clean (free of oil). Just did a CS Trail Guide today in white vinegar.