Color-ing Damascus

[JTknives]

I have a customer that is wanting some Damascus made for a cane topper and he mentioned he saw some Damascus that had A colerized finish on it besides normal black and silver. First thing that comes to my mind is color case hardening but I don't know how Damascus would like that and second he said the Damascus was dipped in a heated liquid. So I'm coming to you guys to see what we can dig up. The finish needs to be durable so just a simple heat oxide would not work becaus he is going to use it. Thanks guys.

 

[12345678910]

Diped in a heated liquid - could be the gold purple you can get from nitre bliuing

Melt salt peter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate

crystals and dip.




But I've seen crazy reds and other colours in damascus - no idea how

 

[Greenberg Woods]

It may have been timascus from Alpha

 

[Lapedog]

I've seen some Guardian Tactical knives custom done with "Alabama Blue" Damascus. It is blue damascus as the name suggests. No idea how.

 

[Jrmysell]

Could he have been thinking of timascus and thought it was colored damascus?

 

[Ken H>]

I saw a place other day where somebody gave info on copper coloring Damascus- seems like he dipped in CuSo4? Something like that, but darn, can't remember where it was now.

here ya' go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIMlAsDka-c

 

[kuraki]

I could probably turn it purple with my super secret parkerizing method 😂

 

[Frank Niro]

Most of the coloring as I know it has been done with heat. The steels involved can give different colors. Yes, these are very wear sensitive. Timascus is no better for this and with the right metals and smith abilities a resemblance to Timascus is possible. I too would love to read on simplistic ways to color Damascus.
Frank

 

[Kevin McGovern]

Do a YouTube search for blade brothers. They do it with a hot salt bath, in either the first or second episode.

 

[coldsteelburns]

Do a YouTube search for blade brothers. They do it with a hot salt bath, in either the first or second episode.

That's exactly what I thought of when I read the post


I'm pretty sure it's just nitre bluing salts. It's been a while but I watched a bunch of youtube vids on nitre bluing a few years ago and I'm thinking the temp is around 500F or so (at least to get to a blue color), which is a bit hot for a typical carbon steel damascus knife, but just fine stainless damascus (at least I think), as well as anything that is simply decorative. I think you can achieve different colors at different heats with the stuff. :thumbup:


~Paul

---

My YT Channel
Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)

 

[Frank Niro]

I will have to look for more on that and possibly give it a try. Thanks.
Frank

 

[Jonathans]

A cane topper could have also been mokume.

 

[Frank Niro]

Hey , John, I never ask someone to give up the "super secret" ones. i can give you all black except the nickel if you like. After etching do not wipe it or try to clean, just place the part covered in a vert strong solution of baking soda and water and leave overnite.

Frank.

 

[kuraki]

Hehe, Frank, that's tongue in cheek. I figured out accidentally that copper contamination in your parkerizing bath will go from a nice deep black to this:

Blasting and new solution and...

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Nitre blue (salt bath) and the super rare Baking Lacquer!

 

[JTknives]

If you contaminate ferric chloride with copper it will copper wash damascus.

 

[Frank Niro]

I forgot about that copper one, probably because on recall it happened when I didn't want it.
Frank