Need Help with my first Keris

William.m · 4th April 2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

William , try a toothbrush and some oil for starters .

Okay done that, although instead of oil I used a dishwasher soap. I got some results but there is still plenty of red rust that will not go. Later today I am considering putting the blade in a bath of lemon juice, or possibly rubbing half a lemon on the blade. But instead of this could I give it a bath of vinegar instead?

Many thanks,

Will

Rick · 4th April 2006, 03:49 PM

Will , I think you might do better with unsweetened pineapple juice as it is less acidic than your other two choices . Being less acidic the process might take longer but you will have more control .

William.m · 4th April 2006, 07:23 PM

Hello, I have managed to clean off most of the rust using half a lemon, worked very well!

The only problem now is that the blade is a tad too shiny and so is there any way to blacken it a bit without having to use arsnic or anything like that?

Cheers,

Will

Henk · 4th April 2006, 08:32 PM

Will,

Although not the usual way you can use ferric chloride to get the pamor back. Another method is sulphur acid. But before you do this you should remove al the rust with the lemon juice. I suppose you already did this because the blade is shiny. But the best thing you can do is find somebody who can re-etch the blade with arsenic. Then you get the pamor back with the blade deep black.

nechesh · 5th April 2006, 01:32 AM

William, if i were you i would go back to the thread i linked for you and work this out step by step. It seems you are in a bit of a rush to work this blade and i think it might be to your benefit to slow down and attack this situation more methodically. I agree with Rick that pineapple juice is a great acidic liquid to use. You really MUST remove ALL of the rust before you can even think about restoring the pamor pattern of this blade. I would let this puppy soak for a while (a few days) frequently brushing the surface with an old toothbrush. Once this is done you can start to figure out how to stain it. But truthfully, the arsenic and lime mixture (warangan) is the only thing that will restore the proper color to the iron. Other chemicals will raise the pamor, but it won't be quite right. There are people who can do this work for you if you don't want to mess with such sustances.

William.m · 5th April 2006, 11:03 PM

Hiya, okay well it looks like my option is to find somebody in the UK who can do the whole arsnic thing. Do you know how anybody who I could contact?
As to the pinapple juice, I have some in a tin is this okay to use?
Thank you all very much for the help so far.

Regards,

Will

nechesh · 5th April 2006, 11:46 PM

Sure, the stuff in the ti is what i use.

Your blade looks like it has a very clear pamor and it should stain up nicely when you can find someone to do it.

Rick · 5th April 2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William.m

Hiya, okay well it looks like my option is to find somebody in the UK who can do the whole arsnic thing. Do you know how anybody who I could contact?
As to the pinapple juice, I have some in a tin is this okay to use?
Thank you all very much for the help so far.

Regards,

Will

Unsweetened pineapple juice ?
Okay .

Probably okay even if sweetened as sugar shouldn't affect the acid content ( but I may be talking out my a%se on this point ) I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong .

You could send it to the US for traditional staining ; I'll ask a friend if he's up for the job . There may also be someone in Holland who can do this (any of our Dutch members , time to speak up) !

Rick

4th April 2006, 03:49 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Will , I think you might do better with unsweetened pineapple juice as it is less acidic than your other two choices . Being less acidic the process might take longer but you will have more control .

4th April 2006, 07:23 PM	#3
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	Hello, I have managed to clean off most of the rust using half a lemon, worked very well! The only problem now is that the blade is a tad too shiny and so is there any way to blacken it a bit without having to use arsnic or anything like that? Cheers, Will

4th April 2006, 08:32 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Will, Although not the usual way you can use ferric chloride to get the pamor back. Another method is sulphur acid. But before you do this you should remove al the rust with the lemon juice. I suppose you already did this because the blade is shiny. But the best thing you can do is find somebody who can re-etch the blade with arsenic. Then you get the pamor back with the blade deep black.

5th April 2006, 01:32 AM	#5
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	William, if i were you i would go back to the thread i linked for you and work this out step by step. It seems you are in a bit of a rush to work this blade and i think it might be to your benefit to slow down and attack this situation more methodically. I agree with Rick that pineapple juice is a great acidic liquid to use. You really MUST remove ALL of the rust before you can even think about restoring the pamor pattern of this blade. I would let this puppy soak for a while (a few days) frequently brushing the surface with an old toothbrush. Once this is done you can start to figure out how to stain it. But truthfully, the arsenic and lime mixture (warangan) is the only thing that will restore the proper color to the iron. Other chemicals will raise the pamor, but it won't be quite right. There are people who can do this work for you if you don't want to mess with such sustances.

5th April 2006, 11:03 PM	#6
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	Hiya, okay well it looks like my option is to find somebody in the UK who can do the whole arsnic thing. Do you know how anybody who I could contact? As to the pinapple juice, I have some in a tin is this okay to use? Thank you all very much for the help so far. Regards, Will

5th April 2006, 11:46 PM	#7
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Sure, the stuff in the ti is what i use. Your blade looks like it has a very clear pamor and it should stain up nicely when you can find someone to do it.