REX 76 forced Patina

[standy99]

So goy out my secret juice for forced patina (not really secret it’s cranberry juice)

Cranberry juice is not as active as vinegar or mustard but it does the job with a slower, less extreme result

0 hour


1 hour



1 hour (outside)


2 hours was not that much



4 hours







6 hours

[clinton1]

Always interested to see how these forced patinas turn out! Does using something weaker like cranberry juice yield "noticeably different" results compared to using a stronger solution? Or same, just takes more time?

[standy99]

Always interested to see how these forced patinas turn out! Does using something weaker like cranberry juice yield "noticeably different" results compared to using a stronger solution? Or same, just takes more time?

Think they are doing the same…just a touch more time.
For me it’s easier to get what you want by going slower with a hourly check than a every few minutes check.

[legOFwhat?]

Did you use anything to remove the factory oil? I generally use alcohol but I've used acetone before. I've been playing around with patterned material and apple cider vinegar on an pma11 mule and an hour was way too strong.

Always good to see your work!

[standy99]

Did you use anything to remove the factory oil? I generally use alcohol but I've used acetone before. I've been playing around with patterned material and apple cider vinegar on an pma11 mule and an hour was way too strong.

Always good to see your work!

Usually just wash In soapy water.. yes, moved to cranberry juice as vinegar was a bit too much on a few 80CrV2 blades I have made a few knives out of lately.

Thanks mate, for the nice comment! Same, always good to see your work also!

[legOFwhat?]

This was an hour of apple cider vinegar. I soaked the blue shelf material then pressed it onto the blade to force a pattern. Pd1 mule took a couple hours just to darken the blade, so there is a big difference between the 2.

[standy99]

This was an hour of apple cider vinegar. I soaked the blue shelf material then pressed it onto the blade to force a pattern. Pd1 mule took a couple hours just to darken the blade, so there is a big difference between the 2.

PD1 has been probably the most used Mule for me. Probably because it is the first on the magnet strip in the kitchen and it’s the one I put the Micarta scales on…..

Have to finish the Magnacut with Ultem scales….as I usually pick Mules by handle more than steel

[Manixguy@1994]

Thank you for sharing, definitely will consider this approach. Dan