Unscientific BK11 Corrosion Test

P

paperairplane

Joined
Nov 6, 2008
Messages
712
While I was posting about rust and 1095, I decided to do some testing on my own to see what would happen to a BK11 in a really bad environment.

Took my stripped BK11 and cleaned it thoroughly with denatured alcohol, then 90% rubbing alcohol.

Then I made a batch of strong acid from household goods: 1/2 cup of cider vinegar, ascorbic acid (2 crushed vitamin C tablets), acetylsalicylic acid (2 crushed aspirin tablets). To that I added 1/4 cup of kosher salt and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. This is strong, oxygenated, super salinated stuff.

The innocent test subject:
CopyofIMG_2711.jpg


Starting to see some reaction 10 mins in, added additional peroxide to move things along:
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Not exactly a spa treatment - lot of chemical reaction going on 15 mins in:
IMG_2715.jpg


45 mins in time to pull her out and use some baking soda to stop the reaction. Light oil and wipe with paper towel. With my finger or fingernail, I can't feel these pits. With a toothpick, you can just tell there is some texture. If I had fully dissolved the salt, I do not think you would even have this at all.
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Closeup on the blade. Darkest forced patina I have done. Blade still sharp as hell:
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I would call this strictly cosmetic, no damage to the structural integrity. I am really impressed with the way the blade held up. As a happy accident, I really like the nice dark finish. I will work on some daytime pics with better light.

I am not a bit worried about my BKT's rusting from real world usage if this is what it takes to discolor one. This knife is going directly into EDC rotation. 1095 full of win.
 
1095CV. Gotta love it. Super secret steel is good on paper, but 1095CV can afford to be bought and neglected just as much.

Saltwater might really get after it, if left unattended for a day or two in the shoals, but for the money, its easily replaced.

Good test, brother. Looks like a winner to me.

Moose
 
This is actually really cool!
In my buckskinning days I was always looking for ways to age my gear. I stumbled onto forcing patina on carbon steel blades by accident and used that quite a bit, but I could never figure out how to pit the steel for that nice old-timey look.
Your instructions there just may fit the bill!

Dont get me wrong, i've never sold or traded anything claiming to be an antique that actually wasnt. I've run across a few people doing this and truly loath what they are doing by misprepresenting a new item to be sold as a relic.
I age the blades for cosmetic reasons and to fit the flavor of the time period I am trying to portray. I've sold and traded several blades this way, but always with the understanding that they were buying a new blade thats been "seasoned" to look the part.
 
i really like the pattern it left behind, i like to play with the patina on my eskabar, i like to cut different plants and food and see color diffences
 
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