I had some free time this afternoon. I had heard of using vinegar for patinas. As anyone who has sliced acidic fruits and vegetables with carbon steel knives knows, acid will etch and stain steel. Gave Mandu a 35 minute bath with distilled white vineagar.

In just that short of a time, the blade turned a mottled gray.




If I wanted it even darker, I could have left it in longer. This is a very nice light gray patina.

Somewhere I read something about using mustard for this. What?

I like the vinagar look though...looks like real steel.

Gosh darn it HD, that's beautiful. In a rustic real way. I really admire the edge you put on it too. Very nice. (my jealousy is rearing it's ugly head)

(sniffs air) bet we'll know when Vic's around!

that is sweet looking bro <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

he picked a pack of pickled rats...

It's a manly smell that women love, vinegar and WD-40.

I have used mustard before.

Here is O1 on mustard:




I have spoken with another customer knife maker who uses this process for doing patina:

- 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of yellow mustard and cold blue (gun bluing).
- Let set over night.
- Remove coating with bleach warmed on the stove top (he warned that this stinks).
- Stop reaction with baking soda.

I have never tried it myself but I love the results this particular maker gets.

For myself, I was afraid of using the knife on food, and using gun bluing, etc. So, I just stuck with yellow mustard on this nessie. Applied many times, and it worked out great for me. It has been exposed to many things (including blood from skinning) with no issues.

I can see Helen wandering over and asking what Vic has in the dish on the counter....

"Oh nothing, just pickling a rat in some vinegar!"


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Cool looking finish Vic!

I think I'll try the mustard alone on my DMLE...

If you decide to do the mustard, my recommendation is to put it on very thin. It will dry quickly, then you can wash it off and do it again, and again. It takes a few coats for it to look really cool.

Also, I would recommend putting it on in small swirls. If you try to put in on all in the same direction, it can look "streaky." If that makes any sense <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The small swirling gives a lack of pattern and just looks better.

mustard (unless many layers are applied) gets kind of a a broken blotchy look that I don't really like.
but dude...
Brain that has got to be the coolest mustard patina I've ever seen!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />