What are everyone’s thoughts on mustard patinas?

[shane45-1911]

Does it not just get washed out?

If there's one thing I've learned from that carbon K Sabatier, it's that the patina changes every week (or day). Sometimes it's just a dull grey, sometimes it's splotchy (lemons in particular do that), sometimes it's sort of a rainbowy blue (pineapple tends to do that). If I tried to have any sort of specific 'type' of patina to it, it simply wouldn't last.

Well, it's certainly not DLC. But for the minimal amount of time it takes to put more mustard on, it is easily restorable. And you get a new pattern every time. It's always kind of neat to get instant gratification, rather than letting a natural patina form over weeks or months.

But again, I like a natural patina as well. It don't force a patina on many of my higher carbon knives.

 

[gabeofalltrades07]

Spicy and delicious ...but I'm very particular :

 

[gabeofalltrades07]

I like them .

they're a simple way to protect your carbon steel knifes and be artistic about it if you want.

personally I like sriracha, and I like it to look a little less deliberate so I just use a knife with condiments for a week or so cleaning it every time then once theres a good base hit the rest.

very cool stuff here though

I like just letting them turn on their own over time using on food or vegetation outdoors.....

here's a favorite, but wasn't mustard. original owner did vinegar of some kind. when I got it I just used it and it turned more....you can tell the original patina patterns and color from the just using it patina.....
View attachment 2095933

it looks great! Yeah there are better ways than mustard. Just a quick way to put on a cool pattern.

 

[gabeofalltrades07]

What's the point?

If you have a knife that will patina with use, either it will naturally patina; or you'll ruin the mustard patina by using it as it continues to naturally patina.

I haven’t tested whether the mustard will wear off yet. There are definitely better ways to put a solid patina on but the mustard method is just a quick way to put a pattern on a blade of your into that. But I definitely agree a natural patina is the way to go long term.

 

[gabeofalltrades07]

It seems to me people use mustard specifically to get that stripey look.

I prefer to just let them age and gain character with use.

I wish I had a more recent picture of that Opinel, it's nearly uniformly black now.

Also a great way to go! All those blades look fantastic!

 

[DMG]

I did one on my GB2 and it didnt take very well so i used cold bluing on it. The cold blue over the half-assed mustard patina looks good.

 

[vltor17]

Pics?

I did one on my GB2 and it didnt take very well so i used cold bluing on it. The cold blue over the half-assed mustard patina looks good.

 

[celticrogues]

I feel the same way about forced patinas that I feel about buying jeans with holes and rips in them… I’d rather earn the wear myself.

 

[vltor17]

Mustard on the right, cold blue and bleach on the left.

 

[vltor17]

I feel the same way about forced patinas that I feel about buying jeans with holes and rips in them… I’d rather earn the wear myself.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I’ve found that a forced patina will slow down wear and tear on the (new, oxidized) finish. Not all of us just cut limes and wait for it to naturally occur. YMMV

 

[DocJD]

What's the point?

If you have a knife that will patina with use, either it will naturally patina; or you'll ruin the mustard patina by using it as it continues to naturally patina.

I wouldn't want to make my best , most elaborate and laborious artistic statement in mustard patina on a user knife ...so yes , I kinda agree .

But for a "sand castle " type of art , you expect and accept the transient nature of your art (reflecting and symbolizing all of existence ) .

 

[Bill DeShivs]

My thoughts? I think they look ....amateurish.

 

[Robert Ptacek]

Me,I like the tiger stripe effect but as the others have said as you use it ,it will fade.

 

[IUKE12]

In my younger days I've been known to force a patina or two but nowadays I let the knife earn it.

 

[gabeofalltrades07]

My thoughts? I think they look ....amateurish.

Fair

 

[DMG]

Pics?

 

[vltor17]

My thoughts? I think they look ....amateurish.

Of course they do. They were done, umm, by amateurs (well at least mine were, can’t speak for the rest of the folks in the thread). How about you show us some professional big boy patina/finishes?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Professional, big boys don't "patina" we polish, or we satin, or we plate.

 

[J. Doyle]

Professional, big boys don't "patina" we polish, or we satin, or we plate.

I would respectfully disagree. I've done a few that have been popular with some of my collectors. I still get requests for it too.

 

[Rich S]

Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to take a beautiful new knife and ugly it up with fake patina. Patina comes from ages of use, not mustard or other chemical treatments. Seems bizarre to me why anyone would deliberately do that. I like/keep my knives looking new as long as possible.