Minangkabau(?) keris

A. G. Maisey · 31st July 2016, 01:55 PM

Jean, I've tried stronger vinegar, here they label it as cleaning vinegar.

What I have found is that when the material of the blade is good, dense material, well compacted and with a relatively smooth surface, the stronger vinegar does give a faster result, however, when the material is of lesser quality and not smooth and compacted the stronger vinegar tends to leave the blade looking like a sponge.

The time taken to clean is immaterial to me. In the past , with pineapple juice I would sometimes take 2 weeks or moreto thoroughly clean a blade, and perhaps renew the juice several times during the process, especially in summer. I like the process to proceed slowly because it is easier to control.

The brushes I use are old tooth brushes, hard is better, but I usually use soft brushes, because that's what gets used in the house. I do not use metal brushes, and frankly I consider them unnecessary, because the vinegar --- or whatever is being used --- softens the corrosion to the point where all that is required is relatively gentle brushing to remove the loose residue of the rust.

Yes, I acknowledge that my process is slow, but it is very, very safe.

Jean · 2nd August 2016, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Jean, I've tried stronger vinegar, here they label it as cleaning vinegar.

What I have found is that when the material of the blade is good, dense material, well compacted and with a relatively smooth surface, the stronger vinegar does give a faster result, however, when the material is of lesser quality and not smooth and compacted the stronger vinegar tends to leave the blade looking like a sponge.

This is an example of "spongy" blade after acid cleaning as described by Alan. I used a regular household vinegar/ 10% citric acid mix for cleaning this blade but it was severely corroded, and this is the result! I should better have removed most of the rust mechanically and just polished & oiled it.

Regards

Sajen · 2nd August 2016, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

This is an example of "spongy" blade after acid cleaning as described by Alan. I used a regular household vinegar/ 10% citric acid mix for cleaning this blade but it was severely corroded, and this is the result! I should better have removed most of the rust mechanically and just polished & oiled it.

Regards

Hello Jean,

I think you have done it in the correct way, the blade was just to much corroded. But you have removed all rust what's important. The other blade you have shown look fine.

Regards,
Detlef

31st July 2016, 01:55 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Jean, I've tried stronger vinegar, here they label it as cleaning vinegar. What I have found is that when the material of the blade is good, dense material, well compacted and with a relatively smooth surface, the stronger vinegar does give a faster result, however, when the material is of lesser quality and not smooth and compacted the stronger vinegar tends to leave the blade looking like a sponge. The time taken to clean is immaterial to me. In the past , with pineapple juice I would sometimes take 2 weeks or moreto thoroughly clean a blade, and perhaps renew the juice several times during the process, especially in summer. I like the process to proceed slowly because it is easier to control. The brushes I use are old tooth brushes, hard is better, but I usually use soft brushes, because that's what gets used in the house. I do not use metal brushes, and frankly I consider them unnecessary, because the vinegar --- or whatever is being used --- softens the corrosion to the point where all that is required is relatively gentle brushing to remove the loose residue of the rust. Yes, I acknowledge that my process is slow, but it is very, very safe.