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Last Updated on January 18, 2022
The most efficient method of preventing a knife from corrosion is to blacken it before use. This treatment has been around for many years to reduce rust and keep your knife from becoming scratched. But do you know How to blacken a knife blade at home?
Don’t be concerned; you won’t need to consult a knife specialist to get it fixed. Believe me when I say that most of the coating stuff performed in a knife may be carried out manually without the assistance of an expert. The corrosion of high carbon blades is highly severe, and they rust quickly due to their reaction with oxygen and water. As a result, applying a thick coat can help to protect the knife.
After experimenting with and testing a variety of procedures, we have identified the most effective methods of steel blackening. You’ll have to take care of this problem as soon as you get your hands on a carbon knife.
The Easiest and Working Way to Blacken a Knife Blade
How to Blacken a Knife Blade
First and foremost, you must understand the blade’s composition. Cold bluing should do the trick perfectly well if it’s carbon fiber. You may find it in most stores that sell firearms and firearm accessories.
Powder coating or Ceracote may be necessary if the blade is made of stainless steel or other alloys that don’t turn blue.
We will demonstrate both liquid and powder coating techniques in this section. So stick around to learn how to blacken a blade in the comfort of your own home!
1. The Patina Process (also known as the Black Patina Process).
An even black coating covers the blade’s entire surface, creating a black patina steel finish.
Traditionally, it would be accomplished by a procedure of color plating followed by heat treatment; but, neither you nor I am equipped with the necessary abilities or equipment for such approaches.
As a substitute, we’ll have to use some apple cider vinegar.
Ingredients that you will require-
- Cotton balls & paper towels
- Tweezers (preferably large) or tongs (optional)
- Silver polish that is non-abrasive
- Rubbing alcohol, naphtha (lighter fluid), acetone, or other similar substances.
- Apple cider vinegar, as previously mentioned
Procedures to Follow-
- If the handle component is composed of antler, spine, or horn, be sure that it is well protected. If the vinegar seeps into the handle, it can drain out all the natural oils and pigment from the handle.
- Make certain that the blade and/or springs have been thoroughly cleaned with the alcohol.
- Wipe dry and make sure your fingers do not come into contact with the steel (oily skin may disturb the procedure).
- Fill a small saucepan halfway with cider vinegar, making sure it completely covers the bottom. Bring this to a boil slowly and carefully. It will smell better if you open a window while you are doing this.)
- Using tongs, grasp a cotton ball in one hand and dip it into the pan on the other.
- Repeatedly dab the wet cotton ball, running the length of the steel from edge to edge until the steel becomes black.
- Repeat the procedure, dipping the cotton swab into heated vinegar and wiping the steel until the color cannot be darkened anymore by the vinegar.
- Then, using cold running tap water, rinse away the vinegar (this will neutralize the oxidization procedure.)
- If there is still some streaking or unevenness, use a little amount of silver polish till the knife is a consistent light-to-medium gray color.
- Wipe away any remaining polish, and then go through steps 2 through 7 a second time.
- Continue until the steel has been uniformly blackened, which may take several minutes.
- In order to eliminate any lingering vinegar residue from the steel, simply wipe it down with a coat of oil.
Voilà, you’ve given that old carbon steel blade a fashionable new lease on life.
2. Use Black Oxides to darken the surface of the water.
How to blacken steel in the comfort of your own home.
This is one of the most effective and convenient methods of darkening your knife.
These methods of applying black oxide plating to a knife have been around for a long time and are generally utilized by experts and industrialists to protect steel and other metals from rust and corrosion.
Gun blue makers actually employed the technology because it is a more environmentally friendly and safe method.
Most importantly, we can complete the entire process at room temperature, with no requirement for energy at any point along the way.
To be more specific, black oxides are available in two forms: one in the form of black oxide powder and the other in the form of liquid. For optimal results, we recommended using the liquid form.
Accessories Required-
- Black Oxide
- Penetrating Sealant is a type of sealant that penetrates the surface of a surface.
- Lacquer (If Required)
Step 1:
The first thing to do is inspect the knife to see if there is any rust on the blade.
Before we start the treatment, we need to get rid of the rust particles. We can use wire brushes, scrubbing, or Comet to get them off.
Another thing to look for would be where the blade is layered (Nickel, chromium, phosphate, or zinc), as black oxide cannot form on these surfaces.
Step 2:
To blacken steel, place a knife blade in a solution of black oxidation (Black Oxide) at room temperature and let sit for 1 to 5 minutes.
Ensure that the knife’s handle is not dipped.
Step 3:
Take out the knife when the oxide treatment has been done. The blade has now been coated with black oxide, but the coating has not yet been sealed to prevent corrosion.
The blade must be dipped into the penetrating sealant as soon as possible and left in the liquid for five to ten minutes.
Once the process is done, withdraw the blade and allow the remaining oil to drip off it before handling the knife.
Step 4:
If you want your knife to have a stain, gloss, or semi-gloss finish, you can skip this step. Apply the lacquer and allow it to cure for 30 minutes before continuing.
This will give your knife a professional and visually appealing appearance.
Advantages of Using Black Oxide Coating
Contrary to other procedures like electroplating, this is a low-cost method of making steel black.
- This one can endure the most effective methods for years and is quite cost-efficient.
- An eye-catching appearance with a stain, gloss, or semi-gloss finish.
- Protects rusting for years.
- We can quickly scale up the method to produce huge quantities at a lower cost and in a shorter timeframe.
- It provides an ornamental layer.
- Low influence on conductivity.
Conclusion:
For hundreds of years, it has been a tradition to blacken knives before cutting something with them. It is not aesthetically pleasing, but it is effective. If you want to keep your knives in good condition, this is one of the most effective methods for doing so. We hope this article has been informative! You can let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you by saying something nice in the comments or going to our website today!