To patina, to not patina? That is the question

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Sande5412

Joined
Dec 30, 2012
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Hello all!! I have a spyderco Gayle Bradely and let me just say I love this knife all down from the carbon fiber to the liners everything about this blade I love buuuuut the M4 steel. I don't carry it that much because I live on the salty coast of Fl.

Now personally this is m first carbon steel blade because I've always chooses stainless because of the saltiness Florida has sometimes. Now granted I'll never go to the beach with this thing but I want to go the springs here.

Now onto discussion what is a "Patina" Why is a patina better? If so should I force it or let it devolp on its own?

Please post pictures of your patina on our blades and some insight will be nice. I'm a visual learner so keep that in mind, Thanks!image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg
 
Patina can be the knifes reaction to the elements by way of a natural process....or it can be forced by using for example vinegar or mustard....or simply using the knife for food prep.

Either way, patina can often look great and can in fact enhance the look of the knife. If you dont like patina, buy a Spydie H1, a MISSION titanium or a Boye Cobalt knife.
Dont be afraid of patina, patina is a good thing.

There are only two rules:

1. Dont do mustard tiger stripes - theyve been done to death.

2. Patina is what its called when you sell a knife. If you buy, its called rust.
 
Please correct me if I'm wrong about the chemistry:

Blue/black steel corrosion is Fe3O4. Brown rust is Fe2O3. When you put a black patina on something you are preventing rust from developing by beating it to the punch. Rust forms a crystal that has a large volume, which is why it causes pitting and feels bumpy. Black patinas (Fe3O4) are very low volume, and lock up the surface iron so it is less available to bubble up with brown rust.

So when you use an acid on carbon steel, you get a fairly controlled patina. If you get carbon steel wet without an acid like vinegar, you will get damaging rust, which sucks. They are very different.
 
RX-79G said:
Please correct me if I'm wrong about the chemistry:

Blue/black steel corrosion is Fe3O4. Brown rust is Fe2O3. When you put a black patina on something you are preventing rust from developing by beating it to the punch. Rust forms a crystal that has a large volume, which is why it causes pitting and feels bumpy. Black patinas (Fe3O4) are very low volume, and lock up the surface iron so it is less available to bubble up with brown rust.

So when you use an acid on carbon steel, you get a fairly controlled patina. If you get carbon steel wet without an acid like vinegar, you will get damaging rust, which sucks. They are very different.
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Both sound very harsh on the blade?
 
BladeScout said:
Patina can be the knifes reaction to the elements by way of a natural process....or it can be forced by using for example vinegar or mustard....or simply using the knife for food prep.

Either way, patina can often look great and can in fact enhance the look of the knife. If you dont like patina, buy a Spydie H1, a MISSION titanium or a Boye Cobalt knife.
Dont be afraid of patina, patina is a good thing.

There are only two rules:

1. Dont do mustard tiger stripes - theyve been done to death.

2. Patina is what its called when you sell a knife. If you buy, its called rust.
Click to expand...

But those mustard stripes look so tactiCOOL!!! I mean strider has done it for years what could hurt right? 😉 Haha
 
I also live on the Florida coast. While I really like m4 blade steel, I ve found I cant work with my Bradley outside without getting rust spots. I ve tried to maintain it with nightly cleaning and lubrication, but I still can t prevent the corrosion. Everything corrodes around here.:( I have to use stainless for my work knives.
 
whp said:
I also live on the Florida coast. While I really like m4 blade steel, I ve found I cant work with my Bradley outside without getting rust spots. I ve tried to maintain it with nightly cleaning and lubrication, but I still can t prevent the corrosion. Everything corrodes around here.:( I have to use stainless for my work knives.
Click to expand...

Is that before or after trying a patina?
 
whp said:
I also live on the Florida coast. While I really like m4 blade steel, I ve found I cant work with my Bradley outside without getting rust spots. I ve tried to maintain it with nightly cleaning and lubrication, but I still can t prevent the corrosion. Everything corrodes around here.:( I have to use stainless for my work knives.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm worried about happening
 
I would allow it to develop its own patina if you like the look. Don't like rust, but with some effort, it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Here is one I did a forced patina with warm vinegar.
26333986386_c3d77013af_b.jpg
 
For all my carbon or tool steel knives that I absolutely know are going to users in a wet environment, I will, at the very minimum, soak them in distilled white vinegar for about 40 minutes. Sometime, I get a little bit more creative (with mustard, ketchup, horseradish, etc.). Here's an example - love this knife - BlackJack Model 125:



This one, like some others I have, has been re-patinad once or twice. You'll find that the patina wears off with use, and it doesn't hurt to throw on another layer of patina when that happens.
 
link2derek said:
For all my carbon or tool steel knives that I absolutely know are going to users in a wet environment, I will, at the very minimum, soak them in distilled white vinegar for about 40 minutes. Sometime, I get a little bit more creative (with mustard, ketchup, horseradish, etc.). Here's an example - love this knife - BlackJack Model 125:



flatblackcapo said:
Here is one I did a forced patina with warm vinegar.
26333986386_c3d77013af_b.jpg
Click to expand...

This one, like some others I have, has been re-patinad once or twice. You'll find that the patina wears off with use, and it doesn't hurt to throw on another layer of patina when that happens.
Click to expand...

Very nice guys!

I have done Patinas on several knives for different reasons. My RMD an Bravo 2 because the handle tang would specks of rust. Got tired of maintenance them during our humid summers. The other one was for looks. Don't listen to folks who tell you not to do a tiger stripe. Tigers are cool!
 
I'm personally a fan of Patinas because it makes you not feel guilty for using/scratching the knife... because its fundamentally a tool.

It's like at work... When I get a brand new tool and I usually find some dry wall dust on the job site and "break in" the tool by mish-mashing dust and grime into so it doesn't look so new. :D

Yuck.... way to shiney. :thumbdn: :p
0902240T-00-1.jpg
 
DedRok said:
I'm personally a fan of Patinas because it makes you not feel guilty for using/scratching the knife... because its fundamentally a tool.

It's like at work... When I get a brand new tool and I usually find some dry wall dust on the job site and "break in" the tool by mish-mashing dust and grime into so it doesn't look so new. :D

Yuck.... way to shiney. :thumbdn: :p
0902240T-00-1.jpg
Click to expand...

I had a friend that put loose towing chains into the bed of any new truck he bought before he even drove it off the lot. A few miles later and any future guilt about the paint on the bed was gone.
 
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