Help etch barung please

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

14th September 2010, 06:59 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	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, 11:07 PM	#1
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	#3
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