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Fun with patina forming

us Offline Farmer X

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Fun with patina forming
on: November 04, 2025, 10:34:28 PM
This is the tale of how three Carbone Opinels came to have their patina.

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The No. 4 was left in a potato overnight, so its patina was completely forced. That process did darken the blade up quite a bit. I just with the coloring would have been a little more consistent. If I am ever to try forcing a patina again, I'd probably use something other than a potato. That's especially true considering there is a not exactly pleasant effect of forcing a patina with a spud.

The No. 8 came to me with some spots on its blade. I decided to try forcing a patina with it, using what I had on hand: pickle brine. After about 10-15 minutes with the blade wrapped in a paper towel dampened with pickle juice, I reconsidered. That may well be a good thing. I noticed little rust-colored spots when I removed the paper towel (likely because the pickle brine contained salt), so I did a little work to remove them. A day or two later, I decided to dip the blade in coffee and see what happened. The coffee dip would have been a slow process, so I drank the coffee. I've decided henceforth to let the No. 8 form its patina naturally.

The No. 12 has formed its patina entirely naturally. I bought it specifically for the inaugural Giants of June challenge. It has been used extensively for food prep, and lately has seen use for which most folks would probably consider a chef's knife more appropriate. A whole lot of foodstuffs have gotten on that blade in almost a year and a half. Letting the patina form naturally has been great. I'm beyond happy with this knife.

Key takeaways: letting patina form naturally is the best way to go. If you must force a patina, using an agent that contains salt probably isn't the best option. And use something that smells nice...unless you really, really like the smell of a raw potato.

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USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline nate j

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #1 on: November 05, 2025, 03:09:36 AM
The No. 12 has formed its patina entirely naturally. I bought it specifically for the inaugural Giants of June challenge.
:cheers:

Looking good!


us Offline Alan K.

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #2 on: November 05, 2025, 04:18:32 AM
I like what you've done so far.  I've always prefered to let my knives age naturally or I clean them and keep them shiny.  I wonder what they would look like in polished gun blue.  I have chemical blued guns before and have the liquid and the paste bluing products here, but I don't have a carbon steel Opinel.  :pok:


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #3 on: November 06, 2025, 01:09:56 AM
Thanks, Nate and Alan! :cheers: I might have to give the gun bluing a go...and see about getting a carbon steel Opinel for Alan.

The No. 8's blade has quite an interesting patina. It shows very well under the glare of my fluorescent kitchen lighting when the blade is dry. A fresh layer of vegetable oil was applied immediately after the below photo was taken.

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USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Alan K.

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #4 on: November 06, 2025, 08:02:14 AM
Looks great. Doesn't the oil make the wood swell and make the blade feel really tight?


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #5 on: November 06, 2025, 01:57:59 PM
When I want to force a patina I use hot apple cider vinegar in a plastic vitamin bottle tall enough to immerse  the whole blade. I just stick it in the microwave for about a minute or until it starts to boil.  The longer you keep it immersed the darker the patina. You can see bubbles coming off the blade as it works. This gives a nice even patina if protection from rust is your goal.




us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #6 on: November 07, 2025, 01:42:50 AM
Looks great. Doesn't the oil make the wood swell and make the blade feel really tight?
Thanks! :cheers: I've gotten pretty good at keeping the oil away from the pivot point, so that one opens nice and easy. My No. 12 is the same way.

When I want to force a patina I use hot apple cider vinegar in a plastic vitamin bottle tall enough to immerse  the whole blade.
I've used regular ol' white vinegar (the kind you used to be able to buy in a gallon jug for less than a dollar), albeit not trying to force a patina. The Imperial toothpick seen below came to me with a blade that had a good shine and a few rust spots. After trying a few other rust removal methods without success, I decided to dampen a paper towel with vinegar and wrap it around the blade. The vinegar removed the rust and darkened the blade. My feeling at the time was that the darkened blade was much more appealing than the rust spots. It has the added benefit of making me unafraid to carry and use that wonderful old toothpick. :tu:

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #7 on: November 18, 2025, 12:56:01 AM
What is ol' Farmer X doing now?!?

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Well, I found a few more carbon steel blades that I figured would be perfect for patina forcing experiments. The Solingen corkscrew knife at left was coated with hot sauce on one side and mustard on the other. The Sheffield advertising knife (that came to me with part of its secondary blade snapped off) is covered in coffee grounds. And finally, the cracked-ice Feinstahl job is getting the paper towel dampened with vinegar treatment. I let them for about an hour.

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Of those four methods, vinegar definitely worked the best. The hot sauce didn't darken the blade evenly. It also co-mingled with the mustard. The mustard probably wasn't given enough time. And the coffee grounds did little, if anything at all, to help form a patina. It occurred to me that I should have taken a "before" photo after the blades were rinsed. :facepalm: I'm going to try the boiled vinegar in a vitamin bottle trick and see what happens to the Feinstahl's blades.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #8 on: November 19, 2025, 03:42:51 AM
This time I remembered to get "before" shots...and neglected to wipe down the countertop before taking photos. :facepalm:

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And here it is soaking in some white vinegar that was heated to boiling. That requires some care, as such a small amount of vinegar will boil over very quickly. The secondary blade was left in the vinegar for about two hours.

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I will apologize for making another post so quickly, but in my defense, I took five photos for this thread today.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #9 on: November 19, 2025, 03:45:11 AM
And here it is after both blades got the vinegar soak.

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I'm very happy with the results. After some of the excess oil dissipates and the blades are sharpened, this one will get a little carry time.

Tomorrow I'll share the results of another patina-forming experiment.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #10 on: November 20, 2025, 02:35:40 AM
And here are the next victims willing participants: the Solingen corkscrew knife and Rodgers advertising knife from a previous experiment.

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As luck would have it, I went for a walk yesterday and found some apples that had been abandoned at a bus stop. So I grabbed one of them.

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USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #11 on: November 20, 2025, 02:43:53 AM
They stayed in the apple for about 24 hours.

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I'm guessing that the two blades have differing compositions of steel. That's probably the best way to explain how the Rodgers (its blade looks washed-out in the photos, but it's nearly completely black to the naked eye) got much darker than the Solingen.

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The apple did a decent job. Better yet, it didn't give off an objectionable odor. Portions of the apple may have been edible after this experiment, but I figured it was best not to chance it.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Adam5

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #12 on: November 22, 2025, 02:19:33 AM
When I want to force a patina I use hot apple cider vinegar in a plastic vitamin bottle tall enough to immerse  the whole blade. I just stick it in the microwave for about a minute or until it starts to boil.  The longer you keep it immersed the darker the patina. You can see bubbles coming off the blade as it works. This gives a nice even patina if protection from rust is your goal.

That method has worked well for me. Especially so since my wife won't let me eat enough steak create a well-formed patina  :rant:  :D


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #13 on: November 22, 2025, 05:02:50 AM
Good to see you again, Adam! :cheers: Believe it or not, the No. 8 has never touched a steak. Its patina formed mostly with mustard and hot sauce.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline Adam5

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #14 on: November 22, 2025, 01:10:42 PM
Hi Dan. Hope you are doing well  :cheers:

In the attached photo, the patina on the Opinel was done with hot vinegar and lime juice. The patina on the Lamb was done with mustard.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #15 on: November 23, 2025, 12:06:16 AM
 :like:

I am doing pretty alright. The new place is great. Those two knives are lookin' good!
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #16 on: December 02, 2025, 06:26:09 PM
Steak patina




us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #17 on: December 03, 2025, 12:21:45 AM
 :like:
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline PitCarver

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #18 on: December 03, 2025, 12:24:24 AM
I love a nice patina on carbon.
Addicted to sharp pointy things.


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Fun with patina forming
Reply #19 on: December 03, 2025, 12:43:27 AM
Used Cider vinegar to even out the patina on this one




 

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