mustard

[paul harm]

awhile back some of you were using mustard to give a knife that old time look. any help on how and when it was used would be greatly appreciated [ or any other ideas]. thanks- paul

[jdlange]

Paul,

Just spackel it on there and let it dry, if you want you can also drop it in some ferric with the mustard on to help it along. Different mustard (Ihave found) gives diferent properties in the patina. For instance, I found that Jack Daniels mustard provides a lot more oranges and yellows in the patina that regular yellow mustard. Experimentation is the key I think. I think also that different mustards will have different effects on different steels.

There are some other people here who have used this ( I got it from this board as a matter of fact) that can probably provide more insight.

[Raymond Richard]

Paul, I've pretty much stuck with the store brand mustard, really don't think the type makes much difference but can't speek from fact. The big difference is the way you apply it. What works best for me is dabbing it on with a finger, you want to peek it. Don't smear it on. The bigger the dab the bigger the pattern so the smaller the dab just they oppisite effect. Using a hair dryer or a hot air gun works good dry it out. I then put it in FC, it can be a real quick etch or leave it in for awhile for a deeper etch. What you ought to do is just try it with a quick etch and then wash the blade off and see what you have. Its not what your after just rub it out and try a different application of the mustard till you get what your after........

Something else I do before doing the etch is I'll have the blade already sharpened. Take a piece of wood, drill a shallow 1/4" hole in it and make a slit across the hole and the wood. Fill the hole with finger nail polish or a quick setting paint. Put the edge of the blade in the slit and pull it threw the paint and it should cover the edge even on both sides. Dry this out before you do the mustard. This will save your edge and protect it from the etch.....

[jdlange]

Paul,

Ray is the man with this. Follow his advice.

[nifeman]

FINGER NAIL polish!!!! Ray you didn't tell us your wife was workin with ya Bud

[GANNMADE]

pardon me ,but would any of you chaps have some grey poupon

[jdlange]

I tried grey poupon on a blade a while back, works pretty good.......

[paul harm]

thanks for the replys- once had a guy tell me to use bleach, if i remember, i didn't like the way it turned out. i'll give the mustard a try on the next one. paul