Trouble with Tool Black

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
3,621
O.k. Here we go. The blade steel is 1095. I'm using test pieces to try and get this right. I'm cleaning the steel with acetone then dipping it straight into the tool black. The directions say 10-60 seconds but, I'm not sure if that means in the fluid or before you wipe it off. To be safe I tried it both ways. So, after letting it sit for 60-90 seconds I wipe off the steel with water and lo and behold, most all of that nice black color comes right off. Any one know what the heck I'm doing wrong here?
:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
J,
From my experience, you have to use the pink cleaner/degreaser or some other alcohol based cleaner. Acetone leaves a film. I've got a lot better results, even with damascus, using this type cleaner/degreaser.
 
I'll try leaving it in the mix longer. I don't know what the "pink" stuff is but, I guess cleaning the steel with straight a alcohol would work though. Thanks. I'll give it a whirl.
 
J,
The tool black I get from MSC has 3 parts, bottle of Toolblack (blue), Cleaner/degreaser (pink), and the moisture displacing spray in a can, or, you can get it 1 part at a time. It is an alcohol based cleaner.
 
I colored some cable damascus darker as follows: degress with denatured alchol, warm in oven to 100, dip and let drip dry, I wait 15 minutes, run under cool water scuff with 1200 wet and dry, rewarm ,re dip, let dry, rince and scuff, repeat as nessary. I worked for me....
additionally you should have the wet and dry wrapped around a pink school eraser while rubbing blade, you can profile the eraser to make blade bevel if its hollow ground.. good luck
 
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