Does anybody know how to put antique finish on blades?

[roverboy]

I was wondering if anybody knows how to get that dull gray antique finish? I've got a bowie that I'm refinishing the handle and want to do something different with the blade. I thought about sandblasting the blade or bead blasting to get a dull finish. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks.

[UncleJak]

Depends on what the blade is made of...

Sticking them in apples sometimes works. Also soaking in chicken blood.

[Mike]

diesel fuel.

mustard works too.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Mike

[peejman]

Grit blasting is probably the easiest way. You can get similar results with etchants (acids), but you need to know exactly what steel you've got.

[Guest ochretoe]

I had a cheap damascus tomohawk blade I got at a flee market. I soaked it in acid drain cleaner for about 30 min. Then rubbed it down in wet bakeing soda. It looked really goood afterwards.

Edited September 17, 2012 by ochretoe

[roverboy]

I appreciate the help guys. I do need to find out what steel I have though. Its a cheap Pakistan. Looks a little like stainless.

[Guest Broomhead]

For stainless media blasting is your best bet. You can use stronger acids, but I can't recommend any.

For carbon steels, using a hot vinegar bath will give it a medium to dark grey "medieval" look. PC board etchant (ferric chloride) from Radio Shack will turn it darker, almost black. Mustard works, but I haven't tried it myself so I can't vouch for the results. If you want to blacken the blade, use Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue, it works great. Most anything acidic will give it a forced patina.

[peejman]

I appreciate the help guys. I do need to find out what steel I have though. Its a cheap Pakistan. Looks a little like stainless.

If it's "cheap Pakistan" you won't find out what type it is without a mass spectrometer.

Here's some pretty good info on knife steels... http://zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml

Edited September 17, 2012 by peejman

[Dolomite_supafly]

You can get two gallons of muratic acid from Home Depot for cheap. It is used to clean concrete.

It can be used to darken steel. I used it on a damascus blade I was working on. The biggest problem I had using it was getting rid of what I didn't use. I finally gave it to a friend who used it to clean his driveway.

Dolomite

[Guest Broomhead]

I have used muriatic acid (aka hydrchloric acid) on a rusted axe head that resulted in the removal of the rust and a dull grey finish. I have never tried it with stainless though.

Be very careful, wear thick rubber gloves (dish washing gloves will work, but the thicker the better), eye protection, and preferable a plastic/rubber apron. Just be sure to neutralize the acid before disposal. Use a base of some kind and try to dilute the acid with water. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) will work but it will take quite a bit. Other options would be lye (sodium hydroxide), lime (calcium carbonate). Always add the base to the acid to prevent the acid from splashing. Baking soda is a weak base whereas lye is strong, the stronger the base the more violent the reaction will be (think of vinegar and baking soda volcanoes) so be prepared. Keep adding your base a little at a time, every minute or two, until there is no longer a reaction.

[Guest Xring04]

About an hour of hot vinegar and a little work will take a carbon steel bade from shiny to a nice black finish.

Top blade started the same as the bottom blade. (different handles)

[Guest Bowdenknxvll]

Gun blue and bleach or nail polish with radio shack etch