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Originally Posted by David
I agree with the other assessments here. A proper staining my well show some contrast in the pamor. However, it will be essential that you remove ALL the rust before attempting another staining. Sometimes a keris needs a prolonged soaking in the bath. I have generally used pineapple juice for this, but your vinegar solution should also work fine. You may need to soak it for days though, removing from time to time and brushing with a toothbrush to remove the loosened rust. If stubborn rust remains it can often be removed by picking at it with a needle. But if rust remains on the blade it will not respond well to the warangan.
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On the question or rust, I have noticed that rust removes easily enough, when picked at or pressed with an awl (I actually push at the flecks and you can hear them crush, then they can be wiped away). Those are red oxides, but there seem to be, at least on the keris I have, black oxides which are extremely resistant, and seem to darken over time but which I can't see in sunlight. Is this stain considered rust in the sense of a hostile oxide?