Sewar painted black

[Rick]

The entire blade is painted ?

One might want to consider that what is now seen as black paint may be either very old varnish or shellac used by collectors as a preservative .

Just a thought .

For the blade use a strong stripper or acetone .

[Atlantia]

As a final note, if using pure acetone or anything containing caustic soda (like paint/varnish stripper) then it goes without saying to avoid direct exposure to flesh

With anything containing caustic soda (especially if you're mixing from granuals) don't breathe the fumes in too much either.

And with caustic soda, warmer=stronger. Apply with a brush, not a rag.
wash off, wear gloves, avoid splashes, in a ventilated area or outside.

[Maurice]

Hello Henk,

I hate it when this happens.
I had the same on a moro kris, but only on the blade.
I removed the paint/varnish with pure aceton, and was not carefull to put it on the blade also. I rubbed it in with a lot of aceton and fine steel wool (first try to use a copper cleaning net instead of steel wool, and if you haven't got that, let me know and I could sent you some, but you could easily can get it everywhere I guess).
After the acetontreatment I cleaned it with water, and than I degreased it with lemon, cleaned it again with water, and than gave it a slight etch with vinegar.

The aceton didn't hurt the blade at all, and after the etching the blade looks great.

If you can't remove the black paint in any way from the wood, I would prefer sandpaper it and than treat it with some kind of varnish (antique varnish), to try and similate to get the old look back.
But that would be the last step to do, and still be better as this black paint in my opinion.

Good luck with the cleaning!
Maurice

[Henk]

Rick, it isn't varnish or shellac. The smell of paint is obvious. If it was only the blade i could imagine it was done as an act of protection. But also the hilt and the upper part of the scabbard gives me doubt about the true reason.

Atlantia, I wil use the damp method. I always want to do the things careful and with ltc.

Robert, I'm married, but decided it was safer to rob my daughter from her fingernail polish remover and tested it. Seems to work well. To keep the peace with my daughter i will buy the remover and cotton buds myself.

Maurice, with the help and advice of everybody here and little tests with the non agresive methods, i think with some work it should work to get rid of the paint. And as Atlantia said the paint is black so the remains in the little deeper crevasses can give a rather natural look.
When i cleaned the blade i will give it an etch for a more natural look.

[Sajen]

Henk,

I have a Sewar in my collection where is the down of the sheat is original painted black and it may be possible that the upper part of your Sewar have had original a black paint. So be careful by removing the fresh paint.

Detlef

[Henk]

Detlef,

Thank you for the warning. I started with the fingernail polish remover this afternoon. I bought the remover and cotton buds by myself and it is mine. When i'm finished i will give it to my daughter.
It looks i have removed most of the paint. The wood of the hilt and the upper part of the scabbard are of a lacquered dark wood with spurs of wearing. If i have time to spare i will do the blade in the weekend. It is pitted and a bit rusty. it looks i will end up with a nice sewar.

[kai]

Hello Henk,

Thanks for rescuing this survivor!

The blade can use a prolonged soak in pineapple juice - this will help cleaning off the rust as well as remaining paint.

Better don't try sandpaper on such a pitted blade. This tends to look weird with smooth and rough surfaces along the blade.

Regards,
Kai

[BigG]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hello Henk,

... I would prefer sandpaper it and than treat it with some kind of varnish (antique varnish), to try and similate to get the old look back... But that would be the last step to do... Maurice

Have tried this before... I have a significant space constraint n kids... so using powerful chemicals is a nono in the house... if normal paint thinner cant do it I'll try carefully thats it... sand papering starts n I would slowly strip it down being careful to ensure that the form is not lost wth a good sand paper... then when I have cleared the paint... will give it a gd multiple treatment of wood oil before applying shellac... I shelac to thicker lackers...

[Henk]

Kai, you're welcome. No, certainly no sandpaper. I would in this case ruin the entire piece. I'm not so fond of sandpaper, because you whipe out a great part of history. I only wanted to remove the paint and that worked rather well with the nailpolish remover. I will try this weekend to see if i can get the grain of the wood better, but i won't use agressive stuff on it. Not necessary at all. And i will soke the blade in the juice to clean it off rust and the paint remains.
That will do better justice to the blade.

BigG, I also prefer natural ways in cleaning. Lemon- and pineapplejuice give very good results on blades. And for wood i also try to avoid agressive chemicals. Take your time. Bringing back an abused piece is fun and makes the piece more valueable in my opinion. Emotionaly not in value. When using agressive chemicals always keep in mind, when something is gone it will never come back.

Sajen, such a tip is often painted. Always study and look at comparable pieces before jumping in and discover you wiped something out that should be there. The hilt and scabbard top of my sewar was maid of a nice dark wood. The black paint shouldnt be there.
Btw, I have a sewar with a similar tip. Also black painted.

[BigG]

Originally Posted by Henk

...And for wood i also try to avoid agressive chemicals. Take your time. Bringing back an abused piece is fun and makes the piece more valueable in my opinion. Emotionaly not in value. When using agressive chemicals always keep in mind, when something is gone it will never come back...

Henk... that sentiment is something I respect...