A knife going to South Dakota

[jcmcclure]

With the burning band that has been in effect in my area of KY I have been hesitant to use my outdoor forge. With the recent rains and moist weather I was able to normalize, harden, and heat treat the blade and just this evening I finished everything to the "white. I will post some pics after is has finished aging for comparison.

[oldtravler61]

   Jc nice looking nice. Well done.   Mike

[jcmcclure]

Here is the final product after a bit of aging.

[Duane Harshaw]

That bullet pouch is very nice as well.

[Gary Tucker]

Very nice looking knife Casey.  Great size and usable shape. Color is great also.

[al56]

How do you antique your blades?  i love the look and have tried bleach, but that doesn't give me the look I want.
Al

[jcmcclure]

How do you antique your blades?  i love the look and have tried bleach, but that doesn't give me the look I want.
Al

For the look that was achieved here I do a coating of liquid cold bluing followed by a quick dip in bleach. From there I just let it set and the reaction will take place. Since I just do a quick in and out dip in bleach the reaction is not nearly as strong as if you allowed it to set for any period of time. There will be a light coating of rust that will form and then I will rub back with 0000 steel wool or very very worn sand paper.

For more aged appearance and or a pitting effect apply cold blue, and allow the blade to set in the bleach. The longer you allow it to set the more the reaction period will work. Personally I do not like the, been in the ground for 100 years looks. I like a gentle aging that you might see with a knife that has been used on a near daily basis for several years on the trail, woods etc etc. 

[Smoketown]

How do you antique your blades?  i love the look and have tried bleach, but that doesn't give me the look I want.
Al

Personally I do not like the, been in the ground for 100 years looks. I like a gentle aging that you might see with a knife that has been used on a near daily basis for several years on the trail, woods etc etc.

BRAVO !!!


Cheers,
Smoketown

[iloco]

Do you use the Tea method on the antler to get the darken effect.   That is a nice looking knife.

[jcmcclure]

Do you use the Tea method on the antler to get the darken effect.   That is a nice looking knife.

I did on this one, but to be honest I am still not happy with that method thus far. I talked to a guy last night via Facebook who shared with me more about his tea bath method. With a little more experimenting it will come along better, just have to make myself use it more.

[n stephenson]

Casey ,NICE BLADE !!!   Nathan

[jcmcclure]

Casey ,NICE BLADE !!!   Nathan

Thank you man! I have got everything set for the Alabama show...I will see you then.

[Karl K.]

[/quote]I did on this one, but to be honest I am still not happy with that method thus far. I talked to a guy last night via Facebook who shared with me more about his tea bath method. With a little more experimenting it will come along better, just have to make myself use it more.
[/quote]

Great looking knife, like all your knives. What is your usual method of darkening the antler?

[jcmcclure]

My typical antler staining process has involved febing leather dye....apply and set with heat being careful not to overheat or scorch. This method works better with shed vs cutoff pieces. The tea process will work and it will be less messy, but I have got to take time to figure out what works best.

[elkhorne]

Working on knives for my son and son-in-laws from Christmas that did not get finished on time. Other priorities took front seat and had to put the knives on the back burner until now. Most came out good and I put 5 black tea bags in pan with apple cider vinegar and brought to low boil. The color came out nice with brown and auburn tones. Polished off high points with OOOO steel wool and am applying satin polyurethane tonight with soot to darken the deeper recesses. How do most of you degrease the blade metal for aging?
elkhorne

[jcmcclure]

Working on knives for my son and son-in-laws from Christmas that did not get finished on time. Other priorities took front seat and had to put the knives on the back burner until now. Most came out good and I put 5 black tea bags in pan with apple cider vinegar and brought to low boil. The color came out nice with brown and auburn tones. Polished off high points with OOOO steel wool and am applying satin polyurethane tonight with soot to darken the deeper recesses. How do most of you degrease the blade metal for aging?
elkhorne

I do not get crazy with degreasing....alcohol works just fine. Be sure to share some pic of the knives!