Spear from Nagaland?

[wildwolberine]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi WW,

Do you plan to clean and etch it? I think it may have a nice pattern.

Thank you! Yes, I would like to try to etch the blade. Is there a non-destructive way to remove the shaft? Would be easier to fit it on a container for a vinegar bath. No big loss if the wood isn’t salvageable

[RobT]

wildwolberine,

I recommend immersing the entire spearhead in Evaporust. It won't hurt the wood. After soaking the head for 24 hours, you will have to polish it with a 3M abrasive pad because the Evaporust will have turned the metal a dull light grey. The Evaporust will also lightly etch the blade so you will get a preview of any damascus pattern. After polishing, I recommend a 2-3% nital solution to bring up the pattern.

Sincerely,
RobT