Lime juice versus alum.

Jens Nordlunde · 6th January 2005, 04:28 PM

I remember a discussion some time ago, about how to show the different damascene patterns in blades.
Everything - or almost everything - was suggested, from different fruit juices to ferric chloride – and all what is in between. I have no doubt that it all will work, but what did the Indians use?
T.H.Hendley writes lime, which sounds like a good place to start, others are a bit more cloak an dagger about it, but in an old catalogue from the State Museum, Hyderabad the author M.L.Nigam writes: ‘The last stage was to bring out the grain or ‘Jauhar’ by applying thin powder or solution of alum or saltpetre (potassium nitrate).
Have any of you used alum of saltpetre?
If yes, how do you do it, and is it very strong – fast working?

Regards

Jens

6th January 2005, 04:28 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,716	Lime juice versus alum. I remember a discussion some time ago, about how to show the different damascene patterns in blades. Everything - or almost everything - was suggested, from different fruit juices to ferric chloride – and all what is in between. I have no doubt that it all will work, but what did the Indians use? T.H.Hendley writes lime, which sounds like a good place to start, others are a bit more cloak an dagger about it, but in an old catalogue from the State Museum, Hyderabad the author M.L.Nigam writes: ‘The last stage was to bring out the grain or ‘Jauhar’ by applying thin powder or solution of alum or saltpetre (potassium nitrate). Have any of you used alum of saltpetre? If yes, how do you do it, and is it very strong – fast working? Regards Jens