How can I patina my knife?

[bushcraftboy]

I've seen on the internet someone made their Clipper 840 black, by using vinegar, but there wasn't much info on how they did it, what can I do to make my Clipper 840 blade black?

Thanks :)

[J_P]

cooking oil and vinegar, i use Balsamic and Olive oil ( Im sure Martin will approve lol ) add equal oil and vinegar to a shallow dish or saucer mix with your finger so vinegar forms droplets in the oil then paint the blade with the mixture using your finger to pattern thats desired, simple as that..

[bushcraftboy]

cooking oil and vinegar, i use Balsamic and Olive oil ( Im sure Martin will approve lol ) add equal oil and vinegar to a shallow dish or saucer mix with your finger so vinegar forms droplets in the oil then paint the blade with the mixture using your finger to pattern thats desired, simple as that..

Thanks for the informative reply :)

[CanadianMike]

Pour vinegar into a glass, enough that it covers your blade completely, then pour into a small pot, put on the stove and bring to just about a simmer, pour back into the glass and let sit for 5mins, swish around, sit longer, swish, when it's dark grey enough pull out and rinse, then wipe down with beeswax, carnauba wax, etc.

You get this (the marks on the side of the blade aren't from the vinegar, they happened when I was heat treating the blade and it cooked too long):

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255679_123383094412895_117036668380871_193223_6188 249_n.jpg

If you want a prettier pattern, daub cones of mustard on your blade and let sit for 20mins, wash off, and reapply if you want or miss some spots. The thinner parts of the mustard react with oxygen to darken the steel, the thicker parts keep O2 away.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/283371_134486119969259_117036668380871_232220_1748 845_n.jpg

And you end up with this:
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/282559_134532456631292_117036668380871_232267_3120 527_n.jpg

[bushcraftboy]

Thanks mate, I will use this method :)

[CanadianMike]

Beauty of it is you can sand it all off and start over again.

[bushcraftboy]

Wait how long do I leave it in vinegar?

Overnight?

I'm cautious, as I don't Clipper to form iron oxide.

Well it's been in vinegar all night and it looks nice, an all dark blade.