How to look after wootz blade

Lew · 11th November 2006, 01:43 PM

Hi All

First I agree with Lee 0000 steel wool is great for removing any light surface rust. I do not like using any type of wax on wootz blades they have a tendency of cleaning or removing some of the etch from the blade. I would only use a good oil. Mineral oil is ok for starts a light coating will do make sure to wipe off the excess oil from the blade. Alex yor jambiyas etch is fine so I would not fool with it just a bit of oil will be fine. The only time I will etch is if a have a rusty old blade which I want to check to see if it is wootz. After a good cleaning I apply a weak solution of ferric chloride to a 2 inch area and I wait to see if the pattern pops through. Some wootz blades have been so over polished over the years that they can actually loose there ability to have the pattern brought out.

Lew

Jens Nordlunde · 11th November 2006, 03:15 PM

All collectors are individualists; some clean their weapons and try to take them back to former glory, while others don’t do anything, or only clean a blade, reluctantly, if it is in a real bad shape. I guess I am in the middle, as I don’t mine some patina on a blade, but if it is too much I will clean the blade, and etch it if it watered. When I got my first tulwar (see Rawson: The Indian Sword. Danish Arms and Armour Society, Copenhagen, 1967. Page 46) it was patinated very patinated and not even evenly, only faint watering could be seen here and there. So to persuade myself that I had to clean the blade was fairly easy, and to try and etch the blade was a logical consequence of the cleaning. For those of you who have the above-mentioned book, it will be clear what a difference it made to the blade.

Sikh_soldier · 16th November 2006, 02:20 AM

thanks all for your posts it is much appreciated,

i wanted to just preserve the blade rather than any serious work as i am not up to that kind of task!!

which mineral oil will be best ( i am from the uk)

thanks again

kronckew · 16th November 2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sikh_soldier

thanks all for your posts it is much appreciated,

i wanted to just preserve the blade rather than any serious work as i am not up to that kind of task!!

which mineral oil will be best ( i am from the uk)

thanks again

i get mine from boots or asda, tesco's etc. the bottle reads 'baby oil' and i get the unscented kind & add a drop or two of boot's pure clove oil for a bit of aroma therapy.

mineral oil=paraffinum liquidum=baby oil

Sikh_soldier · 2nd December 2006, 02:26 AM

thanks for all the suggestions

i was wondering could you use a samurai sword cleaning kit

11th November 2006, 03:15 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	All collectors are individualists; some clean their weapons and try to take them back to former glory, while others don’t do anything, or only clean a blade, reluctantly, if it is in a real bad shape. I guess I am in the middle, as I don’t mine some patina on a blade, but if it is too much I will clean the blade, and etch it if it watered. When I got my first tulwar (see Rawson: The Indian Sword. Danish Arms and Armour Society, Copenhagen, 1967. Page 46) it was patinated very patinated and not even evenly, only faint watering could be seen here and there. So to persuade myself that I had to clean the blade was fairly easy, and to try and etch the blade was a logical consequence of the cleaning. For those of you who have the above-mentioned book, it will be clear what a difference it made to the blade. Attached Images

16th November 2006, 02:20 AM	#3
Sikh_soldier Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 87	looking after wootz thanks all for your posts it is much appreciated, i wanted to just preserve the blade rather than any serious work as i am not up to that kind of task!! which mineral oil will be best ( i am from the uk) thanks again

2nd December 2006, 02:26 AM	#5
Sikh_soldier Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 87	swords swords swords thanks for all the suggestions i was wondering could you use a samurai sword cleaning kit

11th November 2006, 01:43 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi All First I agree with Lee 0000 steel wool is great for removing any light surface rust. I do not like using any type of wax on wootz blades they have a tendency of cleaning or removing some of the etch from the blade. I would only use a good oil. Mineral oil is ok for starts a light coating will do make sure to wipe off the excess oil from the blade. Alex yor jambiyas etch is fine so I would not fool with it just a bit of oil will be fine. The only time I will etch is if a have a rusty old blade which I want to check to see if it is wootz. After a good cleaning I apply a weak solution of ferric chloride to a 2 inch area and I wait to see if the pattern pops through. Some wootz blades have been so over polished over the years that they can actually loose there ability to have the pattern brought out. Lew