How to Blacken a Knife

Many people use fixed and folding knives on a daily basis. From recreation to cooking in the kitchen, knives of various shapes and sizes help reduce the amount of work required on a project. Knives used in the field and in tactical or combat roles are blackened to help reduce the reflective surface of the blade. Some knife owners put a black coating on knives with silver or chrome blades.

Things You'll Need

  • Resin paint
  • Hardener
  • Disposable cup
  • Degreaser
  • Rag
  • 600-grit sandpaper
  • Damp towel
  • Airbrush
  • Painter's tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix black resin paint with the hardener supplied by the manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's directions for mixing the correct ratio of resin paint to hardener. Mix these two in a disposable cup.

    • 2

      Fill the bottle on an airbrush with the paint and hardener mixture. Place the bottle on the airbrush in preparation for use. Connect the hose of the airbrush to a compressed air canister or a compressor as instructed in the owner's manual.

    • 3

      Clean the knife with degreaser and a rag or paper towel. Rough the surface of the knife blade with 600-grit sandpaper to prepare it for painting black. Wipe sanding dust from the knife with a damp towel and tape off areas of the knife that should not receive paint.

    • 4

      Spray the blade of the knife with the black resin paint and hardener. Apply an even coat of the paint with the airbrush. Use a back-and-forth motion with the airbrush to apply an even coat.

    • 5

      Allow the painted blade to dry overnight before handling it.