How To Vinegar stains

F

Faizal

Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Messages
2
Hi guys
Please could you help me, i put my cold steel tai pan in white vinegar for a few minutes ( as advised on youtube etc ) to get some stains off it now ive got this horrible dull grey stain that wont come off. The blade has lost its shine it seems. Any advice on how to get my blade back to its former glory. Im scarred id damage it further.
Regards
 
Vinegar forces a patina (staining) on carbon steel blades.

While the patina is only microns thick, the only way to remove it is to sand it off with high grit (1000+) emery paper if you want the shine back. Or use lower grit (400 - 600) if you want more of a matte finish. Either way, it will take a little bit of elbow grease.

Note that some people actually add this patina on purpose - here are a couple Becker BK7's that I used vinegar on...

aM002RR.jpg
 
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As @shane45 said, vinegar has been an easy and passive way to force a fairly even patina on carbon steel for a long, long time.

It essentially "rusts" the top layer into a more stable finish than red iron oxide leading to more corrosion resistance. Much like bluing a fire arm. I do this to a LOT of my carbon knives that will stain up with use anyway.

The only way to get rid of it will be to polish it away.
 
I've done it in the past. I actually like the look of the the dull gray patina. Especially on a user when the edge gets polished up from sharpening and use.

YvQUdZ7.jpg
 
OP may have misunderstood the post he read. White vinegar can be used to remove stains on the BRASS HANDGUARD of the Tai Pan. But not on the carbon steel blade!
 
shane45-1911 said:
Vinegar forces a patina (staining) on carbon steel blades.

While the patina is only microns thick, the only way to remove it is to sand it off with high grit (1000+) emery paper if you want the shine back. Or use lower grit (400 - 600) if you want more of a matte finish. Either way, it will take a little bit of elbow grease.

Note that some people actually add this patina on purpose - here are a couple Becker BK7's that I used vinegar on...

aM002RR.jpg
Click to expand...
Did you remove the blade coating first or just dip them in vinegar?
 
kreisler said:
i'd try Barkeepers Friend too.
that stuff dissolves metal.
Click to expand...
Yes, good stuff for taking off a bit of light rust/oxidation. Works well on discolored copper-bottom pans as well. It's not aggressive. Not like Alum which will dissolve stuff like small steel screws in a brass watch gear. For a gentle abrasive, Bon Ami powder works well.
 
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