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asdf12345, Custom & Handmade is for finished knives. Shop Talk is for knifemaking techniques.
 
Hot bluing isn't a coating, it is just a surface color caused by the hot blade oxidizing in the nitre salts. The thickness is the same.

Even though the temperature seems high, it barely affects the temper because it is only in the tank for a very short time. Some folks slightly under temper in the regular tempering to have some hardness to give up to the nitre salt bath.
 
Thanks - so if I received a knife blade for a folder and had it sent to a gunsmith for the hot nitre bluing, could the maker then reinstall it in the folder chassis? Would there be any concerns about the pivot area or detent track?

How should the damascus be finished prior to the hot nitre bluing? Just polished, or does it need an acid etch as well?
 
Nitre bluing is done once all work is finished. There is nothing but oiling done afterwards. Assembly should be the same as a non-blued blade.

The blue color will rub off along the detent track. Most folks just accept that. The polished pivot and shoulder area will be as smooth as they were....just blue. The blue will rub off after a while there, too, but these areas can't be seen, so it matters not. Sharpening will remove it along the edge, so sharpen with care not to scratch the blade bevels.

Nitre bluing is a great look for collector knives and their hardware ( bolsters and guards), but is not a durable working blade finish. The photo you posted is one of the collector group. Would you really use that to cut fuzz sticks when camping?
 
Thanks so much for the information. I am thinking of ordering a folder direct from one of my favorite custom makers but he is not set up for nitre bluing.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Nitre bluing is done once all work is finished.
Click to expand...

Sorry to bother you, does that mean the damascus should already be etched when I send it to the gunsmith, or just polished with no etch?

And last question, for this type of bluing to work will "stainless" damascus made from AEB-L/304 work?
 
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As per my answer...
"Nitre bluing is done once all work is finished. There is nothing but oiling done afterwards. ..........."

Nitre Bluing only works with carbon steel as far as I know.
 
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