[ Photos ] Rust or Patina ? Or ...?

[Martin]

Hi guys,

I bought a Takeda from a fellow collector. I am new to carbon steel world. I wonder if these on the blade are rust or patina or something else?

[Martin]

The layer is brownish/ yellowish, looks thin

[jmcnelly85]

Take a dry paper towel and run it through, if any color appears transmitted onto the towel, you have rust. If the towel is clean, you have patina that has a rust like color. If it is rust, it doesn’t look pitted and baking soda should take care of it.

[Kalaeb]

I don't think it's rust, but it could be. The Takeda outer jacket is a soft iron, more prone to oxidation than the core. A quick scrub with baking soda or something else should work fine. It may have even occurred during shipping.

[Martin]

Shall I use "baking" soda (sodium bicarbonate) or "washing soda" (sodium carbonate) ?

Some tutorials say A and some say B

[Igalor]

Ive used baking soda before, it works fine

[Runner_up]

That looks like patina to me. I would just use bar keepers friend like you asked in your other thread. Just a little bit on a damp rag or paper towel. Wash your knife under water afterwards and dry well. I use BKF on a few of my carbon knives (like my sujihiki and takobiki that I don't let patinate) and find that it works very well.

Nice looking knife!

[Martin]

This is how the Takeda look like after using the BKF..

I am happy with the result

[gladius]

This is how the Takeda look like after using the BKF..

I am happy with the result

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Yep, looks like you are done. Nice knife.

[Igalor]

Looking nice!

[rayl1234]

Wow!!! Did you neutralize with baking soda afterwards or did you let the BKF start a gray patina?

[Martin]

Thanks guys The Takeda feels really good. The quality of steel and the geometry

[Runner_up]

Looks good ! For what it's worth I never neutralize a blade after using bar keepers friend. Just rinse under water and dry well.

[Martin]

Wow!!! Did you neutralize with baking soda afterwards or did you let the BKF start a gray patina?

My friend,

I use BKF to clean and then rinse with a generous amount of tape water. It’s been a day and, I haven’t seen a patina yet.. is the grey patina supposed to form soon?

[rayl1234]

I suspect a good long water rinse probably has the same effect as neutralizing the acid content in BKF. I've always done it with baking soda after the first greying experience (after a few hours), but since then, I've heard people speak of success with large amounts of water.