BK2 - First Becker - First Mods - New Obsession

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Perkology

Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
29
All,
I'm brand-spankin' new to this community and would like to share some photos of my first BK2 and the first round of modifications I've made. Nothing here you haven't seen before, but again, I'm new and excited about it so I thought I'd run em' by everyone here to see what you all thought. Please keep in mind, this is my first time working with metal to any serious degree, but certainly not the last as I am now hooked. So fun the first time you realize what you've been missing with solid equipment like this!

Full View: Stippled the stock scales with soldering iron and hex-wrench. Stripped Coating. Hand sanded steel.
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Close up on scales
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Added Jimping with Dremel and Rat-Tail file
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Before: First layer of patina - yellow mustard and 5% vinegar - Let sit for 30 min each side
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After: First layer of patina - yellow mustard and 5% vinegar - Let sit for 30 min each side
Patina-after-small.jpg



Final Product - 2nd patina 5% white vinegar bath - soaked printer paper, wrapped blade, let sit 1 hour

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So what's the verdict?

Also, I had an issue with minor rust after the applying the second patina which was scrapped off using a wire brush and Q-Tips. Unfortunately, along with the rust came a lot of the patina from both rounds so the original pattern doesn't carry nearly as much contrast. Thoughts on this? I'm not sure a patina this light will provide much protection; i keep it lubricated at all times, so i'm not that worried about longevity, but I would like a darker patina overall, better contrast on the design, better protection, without the rust issue during application. Any help or just plain constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!
 
It looks awesome! Very nice job. Love the hex wrench pattern on the handles!
 
Looks good to me. I love that texturing, hex texturing. :D

You heat up an allen wrench?

Moose
 
sar5 said:
It looks awesome! Very nice job. Love the hex wrench pattern on the handles!
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Thank you sir. Yes, cut the tip off a 5.5 hex wrench and used a soldering iron to apply the stippling, then sanded the handles as the plastic, once melted, is like rows of razor-teeth. Cheap. Easy. Fun. And one solid grip, wet or dry! Left the end bare for chopping - thank you youtube!
 
Looks great! I've been eyeing a BK2 at mo local knife store. I like the pattern of the patina. Great job!
 
First a big thanks for buying a Becker knife and then a great big thanks for the interesting "hex tex" pattern.....Velly intellesting indeed.....Like the patIna as well........The half handle treatment is interesting too....

Welcome to the neighborhood......

All Best....

ethan
 
Cool looking patina. Congrats on the 2.
 
looks very cool. nice job. I have had my 2 for almost 2 months now and haven't done much customizing to it yet other than add some paracord and updated the sheath. i do have a nice piece of Bolivian Rosewood that I am going to attempt to make some new scales for it with. you're thread is making me want to get crackin! ty :)
 
Ethan Becker said:
First a big thanks for buying a Becker knife and then a great big thanks for the interesting "hex tex" pattern.....Velly intellesting indeed.....Like the patIna as well........The half handle treatment is interesting too....

Welcome to the neighborhood......

All Best....

ethan
Click to expand...


Hmmm, if I were to try and copy-write "hex tex" would I end up owing you royalties?? I was going for a fish scale look, to match the rather "sharky" patina, and form of the blade... not sure if I achieved that, but all in all I am very happy with the result, aesthetically and functionally. To the "half-handle" look: I can't take full credit here - when I chop wood, I choke down on the scales, holding only the knobby end and pommell - this would be painful if there were too much friction. I decided to check Youtube to see if anyone else had the same idea, and sure enough, I found that I was not the only one thinking this. Thanks for the response!
 
tman038 said:
looks very cool. nice job. I have had my 2 for almost 2 months now and haven't done much customizing to it yet other than add some paracord and updated the sheath. i do have a nice piece of Bolivian Rosewood that I am going to attempt to make some new scales for it with. you're thread is making me want to get crackin! ty :)
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Much thanks! I'm definitely going to start work on a custom sheath in the near future. I'd love to see the rosewood scales when they're done!
 
Very nice work. Excellent pictures. Might just have to strip mine this weekend!
 
The rust when you did the patina is just a bi product. The patina is surface oxidation just as rust is. It happens. It usually forms at the ricasso, right where the tang and grind meet in that cavity. I usually use the corner of a scoth brite pad just to get that small area, or i would put a darkening agent in there to cover the rustish color. Like vinegar or wochestershire sauce.


Looks cools. That jimping is DEEP. hows it feel? very grippy id imagine. Any hot spots on the handles?
 
What an outstanding job you did ! I REALLY like the darker look after the first patina, i'd a left it like that. With just a few simple mods on a BK, you can make it exactly the way you want it !!! And BAMMMM---custom knife at workingmans price !!! GREAT job !
 
clich said:
The rust when you did the patina is just a bi product. The patina is surface oxidation just as rust is. It happens. It usually forms at the ricasso, right where the tang and grind meet in that cavity. I usually use the corner of a scoth brite pad just to get that small area, or i would put a darkening agent in there to cover the rustish color. Like vinegar or wochestershire sauce.


Looks cools. That jimping is DEEP. hows it feel? very grippy id imagine. Any hot spots on the handles?
Click to expand...

In this case, after an hour long soak in 5% white vinegar, the rust showed up pretty universally - definitely deeper in the crevices, and pretty light else where. I was advised to clean the blade immediately after the treatment, especially if where there was rust, so I took the wire-brush to the blade lightly with soap and water, and in the process removed the excess rust, but also the patina/reaction. It was darker prior to cleaning, which is what I was going for, so I'm a little bummed... but better to have a clean, well maintained surface.
As far as the handles go, I have been sanding them progressively - after the first round, the holes were quite deep and would absolutely have created hot spots with extended use. I sanded them further, tested the grip and comfort, sanded further, so on and so forth. I have found a very happy medium now - seriously enhanced grip and very comfortable! And yes, the jimping is also quite grippy. I was very deliberate and delicate with that part of the mod so as not to compromise the integrity of the steel.
 
Nice work on the patina. That's a great looking 2, and the finish will get better over time.
 
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