New member needs some help!

timmyb · 2nd April 2011, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

timmyb, if you clean the blade (0000 steel wool, warm water and dish soap) then mildly etch it with vinegar, you might find a beautiful pattern running along the blade, most likely a skunk stripe pattern. here's an almost similar blade to what you have:

HeY Thanks for the tip Spunjer. I was wondering how to properly clean this piece. What do you mean by "etch" it with vinegar? Also, would I use dish soap and water to clean the rest of it as well? Thanks again!

Timmyb

Atlantia · 2nd April 2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmyb

HeY Thanks for the tip Spunjer. I was wondering how to properly clean this piece. What do you mean by "etch" it with vinegar? Also, would I use dish soap and water to clean the rest of it as well? Thanks again!

Timmyb

If I may field this one, just in case you decide to go ahead and try it

The hilt does not need cleaning. Don't do anything to the hilt, it's fine as it is.
Spunjer is only talking about cleaning the blade in preparation for the etch, wait for him to come back with details on that.

Best
Gene

Spunjer · 2nd April 2011, 01:55 PM

atlantia is correct. handle is fine. you might just wanna polish the silver and swaasa with a silver polisher you can buy at jewelry stores, walmart, or krogers. i'd stay away from the Tarn-X brand tho. that's some potent stuff.

as far as the blade: etching is the process of removing a very, very thin layer of the blade to show the active lamination on the blade. before doing this, you must remove any oil that's on the blade first and to do that, you will need a 0000 steel wool and dish soap. wet the blade with warm water, apply some dish soap on it and just scrub it with the steel wool. that's it! rinse it after that. if you have acetone, you can apply this after cleaning the blade, to ensure all oil or grease is gone. looks like you have some grease closest to the handle... a fast way to find out if there's lamination would be to run hot water from the faucet on the blade. if there's lamination, you will see it appear before your eyes.
as far as etching; check this thread out:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=etch+vinegar
you could skip the polishing part if you've already clean the blade. hope this helps...

Battara · 2nd April 2011, 06:18 PM

Yes I agree with Spunger. Tarn-X will eat into the silver.

2nd April 2011, 01:55 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	atlantia is correct. handle is fine. you might just wanna polish the silver and swaasa with a silver polisher you can buy at jewelry stores, walmart, or krogers. i'd stay away from the Tarn-X brand tho. that's some potent stuff. as far as the blade: etching is the process of removing a very, very thin layer of the blade to show the active lamination on the blade. before doing this, you must remove any oil that's on the blade first and to do that, you will need a 0000 steel wool and dish soap. wet the blade with warm water, apply some dish soap on it and just scrub it with the steel wool. that's it! rinse it after that. if you have acetone, you can apply this after cleaning the blade, to ensure all oil or grease is gone. looks like you have some grease closest to the handle... a fast way to find out if there's lamination would be to run hot water from the faucet on the blade. if there's lamination, you will see it appear before your eyes. as far as etching; check this thread out: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=etch+vinegar you could skip the polishing part if you've already clean the blade. hope this helps...

2nd April 2011, 06:18 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Yes I agree with Spunger. Tarn-X will eat into the silver.