Bar keeper friend can use for Etch?

Japanese Knives - by Tokushu Knife
Kitchen Knife Forums

Help Support Kitchen Knife Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
adam92

adam92

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2016
Messages
1,469
Reaction score
971
I hear bar keeper friend can use for remove rust or patina, but is it possible to use for Etch knife? Has anyone try before?
 
It will not etch (I stand corrected), and on finely polished knives it will leave scratches. I'd recommend hot vinegar, or hot lemon juice to etch a blade, as far as home solutions go that is. If you can get your hands on ferric chloride, even better.
 
Last edited:
If you’re looking to do a forced patina, Instant coffee works too. These are all from a coffee soak. It affects different steels differently though.

This is my “May the fourth” dark side photo. The two cumai are 80crv2, the Kamon (2nd from left) is 1.25something, the BB (middle) is unkown, and the red-handle Markin is 52100.

I like Flitz better than BKF for patina - as @MSicardCutlery noted, BKF powder can leave scratches and BKF cream is completely ineffective.

1D2D5553-639B-46A2-89CF-B476B17A6631.jpeg
 
I think I may have misread the question....yes BKF will remove an etch, but will scratch the blade. Fine metal polishes will probably work better without damaging the surface of the steel, but if the steel is etched too deeply they may not quite do the job. #0000 steel wool is an option to help lift a deep etch, but a fine loose abrasive on a soft pad, like 1200grit aluminum oxide powder will probably work faster.
 
BKF is oxalic acid. A solution of BKF should etch steel. I believe there is abrasive in there too.
 
Knife Sharpening Stone Kit, KERYE Professional Japanese Whetstone Sharpener Stone Set, Premium 4 Side Grit 400/1000 3000/8000 Water Stone, Flattening Stone, Angle Guide, Leather Strop, Anti Cut Gloves
$31.99
Knife Sharpening Stone Kit, KERYE Professional Japanese Whetstone Sharpener Stone Set, Premium 4 Side Grit 400/1000 3000/8000 Water Stone, Flattening Stone, Angle Guide, Leather Strop, Anti Cut Gloves Sakai Heritage
Knife Sharpening Stone - Dual Grit Whetstone 400/1000 3000/8000, Knife Sharpening Stone Set, Tpstone Knife Sharpener Tool,Easy to Use
$25.99
Knife Sharpening Stone - Dual Grit Whetstone 400/1000 3000/8000, Knife Sharpening Stone Set, Tpstone Knife Sharpener Tool,Easy to Use TPstone choice
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone- Whetstone Knife Sharpener- NonSlip Bamboo Base & Angle Guide
$42.99
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone- Whetstone Knife Sharpener- NonSlip Bamboo Base & Angle Guide MIGHTY DREAMS
Angerstone Axe Sharpener - 3.8”Oversized Axe/Hatchet Sharpening Stone - Whetstone Blade & Tool Sharpener, Dual Grit 180/320 Sharpening Puck with cowhide Sheath for Bushcraft, Camping and Field Use
$15.99
Angerstone Axe Sharpener - 3.8”Oversized Axe/Hatchet Sharpening Stone - Whetstone Blade & Tool Sharpener, Dual Grit 180/320 Sharpening Puck with cowhide Sheath for Bushcraft, Camping and Field Use Crazy Potato
HiramWare Knife Sharpening Stone with Non-slip Rubber Base, 400/1000 Grit Premium Whetstone, Double-Sided Knife Sharpener for Kitchen, Waterstone for Honing Blades Manually
$9.99
HiramWare Knife Sharpening Stone with Non-slip Rubber Base, 400/1000 Grit Premium Whetstone, Double-Sided Knife Sharpener for Kitchen, Waterstone for Honing Blades Manually Hiram Deals
MOSFiATA Kitchen Knife Set, 12 Pcs Japanese Stainless Steel Knife Sets for Kitchen with Oxford cloth storage bag with Knife Sharpening Rod, Dishwasher Safe, For Outdoor
$79.99
MOSFiATA Kitchen Knife Set, 12 Pcs Japanese Stainless Steel Knife Sets for Kitchen with Oxford cloth storage bag with Knife Sharpening Rod, Dishwasher Safe, For Outdoor iHome888
HENCKELS Razor-Sharp 20-Piece Statement Knife Set with Block, With Bonus Sharpener, German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Masterful Knife Making
$199.95
HENCKELS Razor-Sharp 20-Piece Statement Knife Set with Block, With Bonus Sharpener, German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Masterful Knife Making Knife Aid, Inc.
Angerstone Portable Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone - Outdoor Hunting Knife Sharpener Stone Kit Dual Grit 400/1000 - Pocket Sharpening Stones for Knives with Cowhide Pouch for Bushcraft Camping Field
-7%
$13.99 $14.99
Angerstone Portable Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone - Outdoor Hunting Knife Sharpener Stone Kit Dual Grit 400/1000 - Pocket Sharpening Stones for Knives with Cowhide Pouch for Bushcraft Camping Field Crazy Potato
BRODARK Kitchen Knife Set with Block, Full Tang 15 Pcs Professional Chef Knife Set with Knife Sharpener, Food Grade German Stainless Steel Knife Block Set, Christmas Gifts, Steel-king Series
-25%
$88.98 $118.00
BRODARK Kitchen Knife Set with Block, Full Tang 15 Pcs Professional Chef Knife Set with Knife Sharpener, Food Grade German Stainless Steel Knife Block Set, Christmas Gifts, Steel-king Series Brodark Store
Knife Set, 15 Pieces Kitchen Knife Set with Built in Sharpener, German High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Block Set, Dishwasher Safe, Black
$79.99
Knife Set, 15 Pieces Kitchen Knife Set with Built in Sharpener, German High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Block Set, Dishwasher Safe, Black Amorston Offical
Knife Set with Block, N NOBLE FAMILY 16Pcs Kitchen Knives Drawer Organizer Set with Sharpener, Cutting Board, Anti-Slip Chef Knives Set with 6Pcs Steak Knives, Black
-23%
$99.99 $129.99
Knife Set with Block, N NOBLE FAMILY 16Pcs Kitchen Knives Drawer Organizer Set with Sharpener, Cutting Board, Anti-Slip Chef Knives Set with 6Pcs Steak Knives, Black Jianyamei
PAUDIN Chef Knife Set, 7 Pieces Kitchen Knife Set, High Carbon Stainless Steel, Ultra Sharp Knife Set, Professional Knives Set for Kitchen with Pakkawood Handle
$159.99
PAUDIN Chef Knife Set, 7 Pieces Kitchen Knife Set, High Carbon Stainless Steel, Ultra Sharp Knife Set, Professional Knives Set for Kitchen with Pakkawood Handle PaudinStore
Intelitopia Complete Knife Sharpening Stone Set – Dual Grit Whetstone 400/1000 3000/8000 Knife Sharpener with Leather Strop, Flattening Stone, Bamboo Base, 3 Non-slip Rubber Bases & Angle Guide
-21%
$26.99 $33.99
Intelitopia Complete Knife Sharpening Stone Set – Dual Grit Whetstone 400/1000 3000/8000 Knife Sharpener with Leather Strop, Flattening Stone, Bamboo Base, 3 Non-slip Rubber Bases & Angle Guide keepooon
HOSHANHO 16-Piece Knife Set, Japanese AUS-10 Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set, Ultra Sharp Chef Knife Block Set with Sharpener
$428.99
HOSHANHO 16-Piece Knife Set, Japanese AUS-10 Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set, Ultra Sharp Chef Knife Block Set with Sharpener HSH-DE
HOSHANHO 8-Piece Kitchen Knife Set, Japanese AUS-10 Super Steel Knife Set with Block, Professional Ultra Sharp Chef Knife Set with Scissors
-23%
$199.99 $259.99
HOSHANHO 8-Piece Kitchen Knife Set, Japanese AUS-10 Super Steel Knife Set with Block, Professional Ultra Sharp Chef Knife Set with Scissors HSH-DE
DDF iohEF Kitchen Knife Set, 4 Piece Professional Ultra Sharp Knives Set, Japanese High Carbon Stainless Steel Chef Knife Set for Home and Kitchen
-19%
$64.99 $79.99
DDF iohEF Kitchen Knife Set, 4 Piece Professional Ultra Sharp Knives Set, Japanese High Carbon Stainless Steel Chef Knife Set for Home and Kitchen DDF iohEF-US
MasterChef Chef Knife Set with Bag, Knife Roll Set with 5 Professional Quality Kitchen Knives for Precision Home Cooking, High Carbon Stainless Steel Blades & Triple Riveted Handles
-19%
$64.99 $79.99
MasterChef Chef Knife Set with Bag, Knife Roll Set with 5 Professional Quality Kitchen Knives for Precision Home Cooking, High Carbon Stainless Steel Blades & Triple Riveted Handles Amazon.com
YeopAsda Knife Sharpening Stone Set - Premium 4 Side Grit 400/1000 3000/8000 Whetstone Sharpener Kit - Non-Slip Bamboo Base,Cut Resistant Gloves, Angle Guide,Flatting Stone,Honing Guide,Leather Strop
$39.99
YeopAsda Knife Sharpening Stone Set - Premium 4 Side Grit 400/1000 3000/8000 Whetstone Sharpener Kit - Non-Slip Bamboo Base,Cut Resistant Gloves, Angle Guide,Flatting Stone,Honing Guide,Leather Strop YeopAsda
MIDO PROFESSIONAL ABRASIVE Knife Sharpening Stone 400/1000 Whetstone Sharpening Stone with Non-Slip Rubber Base for Kitchen, Hunting, and Pocket Knives or Blades
$9.99
MIDO PROFESSIONAL ABRASIVE Knife Sharpening Stone 400/1000 Whetstone Sharpening Stone with Non-Slip Rubber Base for Kitchen, Hunting, and Pocket Knives or Blades miduguoji
THRWCLUB Axe Sharpener 400/1000 Grit - Hatchet/Axe Sharpening Stone, Axe Blade Sharpener, Sharpening Puck, Lansky Puck, Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Hatchet Sharpening Tool with Leather Sheath
$9.99
THRWCLUB Axe Sharpener 400/1000 Grit - Hatchet/Axe Sharpening Stone, Axe Blade Sharpener, Sharpening Puck, Lansky Puck, Dual Grit Multi-Purpose Hatchet Sharpening Tool with Leather Sheath IEXPO
BKF has abrasives in it so you risk getting nasty scuffs in your blade when cleaning it off after etch. If you are looking for a mild powdered acid, I'd recommend buying something like powdered citric acid instead.
 
Try citric acid. You can pour it down the drain later. Ferric chloride is the OG but it's very difficult to dispose of and toxic.
 
MSicardCutlery said:
It will not etch, and on finely polished knives it will leave scratches. I'd recommend hot vinegar, or hot lemon juice to etch a blade, as far as home solutions go that is. If you can get your hands on ferric chloride, even better.
Click to expand...
I don't know where you got that info from. Etched my honyaki with it and worked great.
 
jedy617 said:
I don't know where you got that info from. Etched my honyaki with it and worked great.
Click to expand...
I usually use it to clean up the tangs and necks on freshly burned in blades. I've never seen it etch carbon steel. I was also using it to strip the oxide layer off of honyaki while polishing them in between etching cycles, and it does leave scratches in polished blades. According to yourself and another member it certainly etches steel, and I have no reason to doubt you, but I'd just never even heard of it happening or being done until today. My mistake.
 
simona said:
Any other tips for removing patina? I just got BKF through the post, but was unaware it has an abrasive in it.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Flitz. If that doesn’t work well enough then try the BKF.
 
I tried bkf today for etch, so far can’t bring out the contract too obvious, might because I put too much water into Bkf, next time try lemon juice to see.
A5E0A1E3-D176-486D-ABBB-CB1A2BEF01B7.jpeg
 
Barkeepers comes in foam spray, watery paste, and powdered form (like Comet in a round can) . From the labels, it says the powdered and paste forms "contains micro abrasives". The spray' label does not say anything. Ive also read one should neutralize BKF with baking soda after using bkf. Don't know if there's merit there, but overcaution may save a finish. Any chemists care to verify?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top