Help etch barung please

Ferguson · 13th September 2010, 12:49 AM

Tim,
Ferric Chloride is available on Ebay in the UK. If you have any shops that cater to electronic enthusiasts, it might be available there. It is used to etch the copper off of printed circuit boards. It works much faster than vinegar.

Steve

Tim Simmons · 13th September 2010, 06:55 PM

While my blade is being cooked up in a pineapple soaked tea towel. I would like to get more information about these. A google search has sites suggesting that scabbards with mother of pearl on them are post 1940s? Looking at this seen many times before standard google search image. The chap in the centre has mother of pearl on the throat of his barung scabbard. What time period is this picture? Something about this picture reminds me of a Black Crows album sleeve.

kronckew · 13th September 2010, 08:54 PM

Maplins (UK electronics store, bit like radio shack used to be) has ferric chloride in bagged pellet and in liquid form (there's on about 8 miles from me in swindon where i buy mine), also they have a web store but do not sell chemicals online, link to it's store locator .

kai · 13th September 2010, 11:07 PM

Tim, pineapple juice is better for cleaning a rusty blade.

Most of the boldly laminated Moro blades shown by well-known sellers have been stained with ferric chloride; while impressive, it may be argued that this stain is not traditional.

This blade was etched with hot vinegar:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6792
Vinegar is the main active component of coconut water - apparently the traditional cleaning and etching fluid.

Keep the etching time short: the blade should stay smooth and not corroded as in keris Jawa. You may have to do several rounds of polishing and etching to get a decent staining, especially if the blade has been polished with power tools by some former owner.

Regards,
Kai

Tim Simmons · 14th September 2010, 06:59 PM

The contrast is not that strong, so quite hard to photograph. Steve, thanks for the tea towel tip. I have used an antique wax and fine steel wool to finish. Total length 22 inches blade 16.5 inches.

Ferguson · 15th September 2010, 06:51 AM

Sometimes the contrast is just not there. It's a beautiful blade though.
Steve

13th September 2010, 06:55 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	While my blade is being cooked up in a pineapple soaked tea towel. I would like to get more information about these. A google search has sites suggesting that scabbards with mother of pearl on them are post 1940s? Looking at this seen many times before standard google search image. The chap in the centre has mother of pearl on the throat of his barung scabbard. What time period is this picture? Something about this picture reminds me of a Black Crows album sleeve. Attached Images

14th September 2010, 06:59 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	The contrast is not that strong, so quite hard to photograph. Steve, thanks for the tea towel tip. I have used an antique wax and fine steel wool to finish. Total length 22 inches blade 16.5 inches. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 14th September 2010 at 07:13 PM. Reason: add size

13th September 2010, 12:49 AM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Tim, Ferric Chloride is available on Ebay in the UK. If you have any shops that cater to electronic enthusiasts, it might be available there. It is used to etch the copper off of printed circuit boards. It works much faster than vinegar. Steve

13th September 2010, 08:54 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Maplins (UK electronics store, bit like radio shack used to be) has ferric chloride in bagged pellet and in liquid form (there's on about 8 miles from me in swindon where i buy mine), also they have a web store but do not sell chemicals online, link to it's store locator .

13th September 2010, 11:07 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Tim, pineapple juice is better for cleaning a rusty blade. Most of the boldly laminated Moro blades shown by well-known sellers have been stained with ferric chloride; while impressive, it may be argued that this stain is not traditional. This blade was etched with hot vinegar: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6792 Vinegar is the main active component of coconut water - apparently the traditional cleaning and etching fluid. Keep the etching time short: the blade should stay smooth and not corroded as in keris Jawa. You may have to do several rounds of polishing and etching to get a decent staining, especially if the blade has been polished with power tools by some former owner. Regards, Kai

15th September 2010, 06:51 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Sometimes the contrast is just not there. It's a beautiful blade though. Steve