Another restoration question - help me, experts!

[David]

I might still try distilled water or a full strength vinegar with no water added to it at all to see if it is still a problem.

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by David

I might still try distilled water or a full strength vinegar with no water added to it at all to see if it is still a problem.

I think I still need to rinse the vinegar off before applying the warangan (I hope I am using this term correctly), and then I am back to square one. Is it possible that this keris is meant to be cleaned and oiled, with no treatment?

[kai]

I think I still need to rinse the vinegar off before applying the warangan (I hope I am using this term correctly), and then I am back to square one. Is it possible that this keris is meant to be cleaned and oiled, with no treatment?

No, just go ahead! Much of this is trial and error until you've gained enough experience.

Regards,
Kai

[A. G. Maisey]

To my eyes, this is an unusual and unexpected result from what has been described. Incidentally, I do dilute strong acids, such as sulphuric or hydrochloric, I do not dilute vinegar. An acid that you put your salad is never, ever going to hurt any ferric material.

I would suggest scrubbing the blade with lime juice and a tooth brush until the blade is clean of any reddish or brownish discolouration, then rinse and dry thoroughly. You can rinse and dry the blade between every few applications if the dirt builds up.

When the blade is clean, immediately brush with lime juice again, and then immediately begin the staining process.

The lime juice must be freshly squeezed tahitian limes, strained so there is no solid matter, and filtered through a piece of clean old linen --- I use a worn out old handerchief.

[S.Workman]

Got it! Alan has said before, I think in the "repatinating keris" instructions somewhere on this site, to neutralize the acid with baking soda. I had rinsed the blade under water, and seeing the immediate discoloration, had placed the blade back in the solution. Today, I scrubbed the blade down with a soda slurry, towel dried then blow dried it, and no rust appeared, although the color was dull compared to the colors presented when the blade is wet. I put the keris back into a straight vinegar bath, and I am hoping that tomorrow ends up fair, it is supposed to be warmish and mostly sunny. I have my yarn wrap ready for the tangs, and the small split on one hulu fixed so I may have something to show by tomorrow night. I will post photos, whatever the results.
Then I can show you all another keris I got.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, a slurry of bicarbonate of soda, brushed on and left for a couple of minutes, then rinsed thoroughly and dried will stop any acid action.

I use this when I'm staining damascus, but I don't use it on keris, because before you begin to stain the keris it helps if you sensitise the blade with the same acid that you use to mix the arsenic:- lime juice.

However, I seem to recall that you're going for just a light acid finish now? Problems with getting arsenic? In that case kill the acid with the bicarb and you probably should get an acceptable result.

It is possible just to brush the vinegar, or whatever you use. It takes longer, but its easier to control. If the blade comes up too dark you could try rubbing it with lime skin---the inside of the skin--- under running water.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

However, I seem to recall that you're going for just a light acid finish now? Problems with getting arsenic? In that case kill the acid with the bicarb and you probably should get an acceptable result.

If you read back Alan i believe you will see that he did in fact manage to get hold of some lab quality arsenic.

[Rick]

I was expecting something quite a bit lighter in color from your description .
Is it warm enough where you are to stain right now ?
Which method are you planning to use ?

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by Rick

I was expecting something quite a bit lighter in color from your description .
Is it warm enough where you are to stain right now ?
Which method are you planning to use ?

My picture is quite bad, I was hoping to convey the rust effect rather than the color (which would be altered by my treatment in any event). This weekend looks rainy where I am, but warm. If it looks like I will get a few hours window and the humidity blows over, I will try a stain, using the As2O3 method since I was able to get the required material. That won't happen if I don't get some good advice on how to proceed with the creeping rust issue, since I won't waste the material or time on something that is sure to fail, which I think would be the case trying to stain over this rust. We will have to see, if nothing else restoring these two keris has been an exercise in patience.

[kai]

I might still try distilled water or a full strength vinegar with no water added to it at all to see if it is still a problem.

I'm with David. While I don't think that the water is the issue here, I strongly recommend to utilize DI water for diluting things - a gallon of pure water is cheap enough to have around at home. Spring and, even more so, well water can have really funny effects!

Regards,
Kai