What is the best way to even out patina?

bmorgan7

bmorgan7

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Dec 8, 2014
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My GEC 15 Diamond Jack has gotten some heavy use here as of late and I have not been very good about cleaning the 1095 right away. Could I trouble the forum for some advice on how to even out the patina? I don't mind the darkness, just don't want the splotches everywhere. Any and all advice is appreciated

 
It looks perfect just the way it is, in my opinion! As BH said, use it and it will even out. If you want to start over, polish it up with Flitz.
 
Just keep on using it and it'll turn dark and grey steadily over time. Possibly some darker spots like on this 66. My father has been using it to eat his daily apples.

tumblr_nyqjmpXf1U1rzq6m9o2_1280.jpg
 
I find that a night stuck in a potato tends to give an even black. The blade will stick, so it's probably safer to slice your way out rather than pull it.
But I also like the changing waves and ripples on a developing patina.
 
If you want even patina, than first remove the old one (with some polishing compound or very fine sanding pad) and then use a brush (or similar) and apply vinegar. Keep stroking over the blade with the brush with the vinegar so that the effect will be even. Takes some 10 - 15 minutes to get even patina. I did that to Spyderco Caly 3.5 (super blue steel, no cladding) and it worked very well. The resulting patina was dark grey and very resitent (the blade was not polished, rather fine stone-washed what might have helped there)
 
I just soaked these in warm white vinegar for 15-20 minutes.
O1 tool steel.
b2ab5W1.jpg

Case CV steel.
YEGxX6W.jpg
 
If you want even patina, than first remove the old one (with some polishing compound or very fine sanding pad) and then use a brush (or similar) and apply vinegar. Keep stroking over the blade with the brush with the vinegar so that the effect will be even. Takes some 10 - 15 minutes to get even patina. I did that to Spyderco Caly 3.5 (super blue steel, no cladding) and it worked very well. The resulting patina was dark grey and very resitent (the blade was not polished, rather fine stone-washed what might have helped there)
 
Thanks for all of the input, I appreciate the knowledge.

This is my first 1095 knife and I really didn't understand patina until a good friend talked me through it. I think I may just let the patina keep developing, as encouraged by a lot of you. Within my neighborhood, lots of the guys know me as "that dude who has a bottle opener on his pocket knife." Pretty regularly, we all enjoy a cold beer on Friday night while all of the kids play in the cul-de-sac. I have received several compliments on it and I think I'll let the patina become a "community patina" since many of those dudes have used it from time to time.

I will keep the vinegar trick in mind as well.

Thank you all for the lesson!
 
Oops! Forgot to mention that I enjoyed seeing everyone's knives and the associated patina!
 
bmorgan7 said:
Thanks for all of the input, I appreciate the knowledge.

This is my first 1095 knife and I really didn't understand patina until a good friend talked me through it. I think I may just let the patina keep developing, as encouraged by a lot of you. Within my neighborhood, lots of the guys know me as "that dude who has a bottle opener on his pocket knife." Pretty regularly, we all enjoy a cold beer on Friday night while all of the kids play in the cul-de-sac. I have received several compliments on it and I think I'll let the patina become a "community patina" since many of those dudes have used it from time to time.

I will keep the vinegar trick in mind as well.

Thank you all for the lesson!
Click to expand...

I love the uneven patina on your blade. It's kind of a marbling effect that gives it it's own unique beauty.
 
Looks great! Just to mention, Tru-Blue gun blueing solution works wonders. I used mustard to create a pattern, then blued it to darken the rest. Love the look.
 
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