Vinegar n mustard patina?

[HellHound]

Ok guys quick question. I just put a mix of mustard n vinegar on two blades. 1) 440a, 2) broken saw blade for milling steel,very high carbon stuff. For how long do I need to leave it on there to see a blacked, blueed out finish?

[Switchback]

The 440A probably won't take a patina but the saw blade should darken in about 20 or 30 minutes.

[chuck_roxas45]

Will mustard and vinegar work on ZDP?

[HellHound]

The 440A probably won't take a patina but the saw blade should darken in about 20 or 30 minutes.

Any hints bout what could help build up black patina faster?

[Switchback]

Will mustard and vinegar work on ZDP?

I don't really know. You could try it but the Chromium content might be too high.

[Switchback]

Any hints bout what could help build up black patina faster?

The method I use is to just use only vinegar. Pour the vinegar into a clear glass so that when you put the blade into the glass the vinegar covers as much as the blade as possible. It helps to cut a slot in a piece of cardboard and set it on top of the glass to help hold the blade upright.

Since the glass and the vinegar are both clear you can see the progress and pull the blade out when it reaches the level of darkness you want.

I don't know how to speed up the process. It just takes time.

If you have been soaking the saw blade since you submitted your first post, that blade should be nice and dark by now.

[HellHound]

The method I use is to just use only vinegar. Pour the vinegar into a clear glass so that when you put the blade into the glass the vinegar covers as much as the blade as possible. It helps to cut a slot in a piece of cardboard and set it on top of the glass to help hold the blade upright.

Since the glass and the vinegar are both clear you can see the progress and pull the blade out when it reaches the level of darkness you want.

I don't know how to speed up the process. It just takes time.

If you have been soaking the saw blade since you submitted your first post, that blade should be nice and dark by now.

Here is what Im trying to do ,think it'll work? www.spyderco.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15248&stc=1&d=1282305134

[HellHound]

Well 4 hours of waiting and the saw blade did get some nice stripes but 440a didnt, as you said. www.spyderco.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15249&stc=1&d=1282308775 Here is a comparison pic for size, sorry for the poor quality. www.spyderco.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15250&stc=1&d=1282308775

[chuck_roxas45]

I don't really know. You could try it but the Chromium content might be too high.

Looks like you're right. I did see a stretch posted here with a nice patina, I wonder what he used.

[HellHound]

Cr@p the links don't work,I'll post it later.

[SolidState]

Urea! Nothing puts a patina onto carbon steel quite like cat urine.

[HellHound]

Here is what 4 hours of mustard and vinegar does to 440a(the folders) and a carbon blade.http://www.spyderco.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15260&stc=1&d=1282372154

Comparison,this smallish necker is not yet finished though.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15259&stc=1&d=1282372154

[HellHound]

Urea! Nothing puts a patina onto carbon steel quite like cat urine.

QUE?! for real? :D Oh,Mittens is so getting drenched 2night :D

[chuck_roxas45]

Urea! Nothing puts a patina onto carbon steel quite like cat urine.

I can't catch them. :p

[SolidState]

Historically ammonia and urea are common patinas http://www.metalartistforum.com/forum/printthread.php?tid=5110
Metal artists have a few recipes.

People generally used to get a lot of chemicals from urine. Making your own gunpowder involved peeing through ashes and dirt (to get KNO3), and you could place your iron into your ash/dirt/pee pile to get deep black patinas. Anything mildly basic will do. You're simply facilitating the right kind of rust to grow.

I also know a very well-regarded American custom smith who does high-end katana work and patinas the sword furniture in his litterbox. He gets some amazing depth on carbon steels. Of course stainless steels won't patina well. They are engineered not to.

[HellHound]

Anyone please tell me you can see the freakin pics,this thing is refusing to cooperate :D

[tug561]

i think it might be the AMMONIA in the urine doing to work, cant hurt to try it

[tug561]

i hear a good chlorine bleach will work

[Switchback]

Anyone please tell me you can see the freakin pics,this thing is refusing to cooperate :D

I can see the pics now. Looks good!

[Lord vader]

I have some carbon steel old hickory kitchen knives,to make a long story short I was cutting up an onion last night with one of those knives I mentioned and got a nice patina in a matter of a few minutes.