Keris for comment

David · 19th June 2017, 06:31 PM

What did you use to etch this blade?

Drabant1701 · 19th June 2017, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

What did you use to etch this blade?

I read that the correct way to etch keris is with arsenic and lime. I had lime-juice but no arsenic, lime juice alone did not etch at all. Lemon juice did not do much either. Finaly I tried dilluted Ferric Chloride (about 20%) that etched pretty quickly, I did not etch very long since ferric is rather strong.

Rick · 19th June 2017, 08:56 PM

I think if you used arsenic & Lime you would see a reverse effect.
Almost like negative to positive in photography.
My cousin to your blade was done with arsenic & lime.

I don't know if you can get any where you live, but iirc it must be white arsenic.

Drabant1701 · 19th June 2017, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I think if you used arsenic & Lime you would see a reverse effect.
Almost like negative to positive in photography.
My cousin to your blade was done with arsenic & lime.

I don't know if you can get any where you live, but iirc it must be white arsenic.

Interesting. I cant get arsenic here so that is not an option. But it would look better if the effect was reversed. Is there any alternetive method that would produce a result similar to arsenic and lime?

drdavid · 19th June 2017, 10:54 PM

Hi Drabant
if you search the forum you will find plenty on staining, there is some pretty comprehensive advice. Unfortunately nothing will give you the same effect as the traditional arsenic based method.
cheers
DrD

Rick · 20th June 2017, 02:50 AM

Perhaps some of our forum members can help via a PM .

mariusgmioc · 20th June 2017, 11:21 AM

You won't be able to find Arsenic anywhere in Europe or US since it is labeled as poison.

I have experimented with ferric chloride, Nital and Perma Blue, but nothing worked right (albeit they work quite well for etching wootz or normal pattern welded steel). So I ended up sending my blade for a reasonable sum back to Indonesia where it received the right treatment and got it back in stunning condition.

I suggest you ask Seerp Visser a about his method of etching Keris blades. While I didn't test it myself, I remember seeing his blades and one could swear they are traditionally etched.

19th June 2017, 06:31 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,213	What did you use to etch this blade?

19th June 2017, 08:56 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I think if you used arsenic & Lime you would see a reverse effect. Almost like negative to positive in photography. My cousin to your blade was done with arsenic & lime. I don't know if you can get any where you live, but iirc it must be white arsenic.

19th June 2017, 10:54 PM	#5
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	Hi Drabant if you search the forum you will find plenty on staining, there is some pretty comprehensive advice. Unfortunately nothing will give you the same effect as the traditional arsenic based method. cheers DrD

20th June 2017, 02:50 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Perhaps some of our forum members can help via a PM .

20th June 2017, 11:21 AM	#7
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	You won't be able to find Arsenic anywhere in Europe or US since it is labeled as poison. I have experimented with ferric chloride, Nital and Perma Blue, but nothing worked right (albeit they work quite well for etching wootz or normal pattern welded steel). So I ended up sending my blade for a reasonable sum back to Indonesia where it received the right treatment and got it back in stunning condition. I suggest you ask Seerp Visser a about his method of etching Keris blades. While I didn't test it myself, I remember seeing his blades and one could swear they are traditionally etched.