Hello Alan,
Of course everything is safe when handled properly. I have handled substances far more dangerous than Arsenic Trioxide. For instance, i used Hydrofluoric acid to clean silicon wafers. But i received training in handling such substances, worked in a lab, wore protective gear and handled the chemicals inside a flow-box. That is a completely different scenario than handling/storing this stuff at home in your garden or kitchen - especially if little children are around.
So the question i asked myself was not if arsenic is dangerous to me, but if it is dangerous to the (often unaware) people around me. Another factor is that while staining keris is interesting, it is not really an important aspect of my life. For those reasons i choose not to use arsenic. People living under different conditions may of course decide otherwise. :-)
Best Regards,
Thilo
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