the polish of a black horn hilt

paolo · 1st October 2007, 12:25 PM

Hi all,
I have a typical Curdish dagger, whose H black horn hilt needs to be polished. How may I restore it ?
Thanks in advance for any help
Paolo

Marcokeris · 1st October 2007, 02:03 PM

Paolo
better would be to see a photo but you can use abrasive paste (past to clean car's body is good: used it over a piece of paper). But pay attention to patina: if your handle has a patina don't use it!)

paolo · 1st October 2007, 07:32 PM

The best pics I can do without sunlight.
Paolo

Battara · 2nd October 2007, 01:33 AM

Paolo, I'm not sure it really needs polishing. The places that seem dull are filled in with resin or something like it. The slight cracks are stable and I think add character.

Robert · 2nd October 2007, 01:46 AM

Hi Paolo,
If this was mine I would apply a little Renaissance Wax and leave it as is. JMHO.

Robert

paolo · 2nd October 2007, 12:40 PM

Thank You for Your advices. I like to have my edge weapons at their best, so I dislike the little stratches and the matt stain on the hilt's surface. I think that, as Robert Coleman write, I'll apply wax. I don't know 'Renaissance', might be a good bee wax will be so effective ?
Paolo

Battara · 2nd October 2007, 10:36 PM

Almost any wax would be fine, and then polish the wax. Renaissance wax is best IMHO because it solidifies quickly into microcrystals and no need to heat it. You can apply it from can to piece with a cloth or fingers immediately.

Great stuff!

paolo · 4th October 2007, 01:35 PM

I found on the web where to buy the wax. The shipping (to Italy) will take time, however, listening to Your advice, I 'll only apply the wax on the hilt, hoping to score well.
Thank You for Your help
Paolo

paolo · 25th October 2007, 03:27 PM

I applied Renaissance wax on the horn hilt. Really satisfied about the effect!
Thank You
Paolo

Battara · 26th October 2007, 01:18 AM

Congratulations Paolo. Want to share some pictures?

Robert · 26th October 2007, 01:45 AM

Hi Paolo,
Glad to hear you like the wax. I too would like to see new pictures.

Robert

paolo · 26th October 2007, 10:30 AM

Here are the pics, the best I can do with a rainy day. Also attached two close up of the wootz (?) blade, not too contrasting, but is the first one I etched by myself.
Paolo

Battara · 26th October 2007, 06:43 PM

VERY NICE! Makes a world of difference. Keep working on the etch - somethings coming out!

paolo · 27th October 2007, 08:09 AM

Hi Battara,
for etch the blade, I used ferric chloride diluted in three parts of distilled water to one FeCl. I used 1000 waterproof abrasive paper and also heated the blade before apply with a brush the liquid. I repeated more times the treatment, but what You see in the pics is the better I got. Where I was wrong ?
Paolo

Battara · 27th October 2007, 08:27 PM

Looks like you have done well so far, Paolo. You could also try Coca-cola (yes the drink) because it has phosperous in it which works on blades of Persian origin. It is possible however that this the blade is of Turkish origin, and if so, that would mean that the wootz would be subtle anyway and not "pop" out like on Perisian pieces. If the Coke thing does not work, then leave it alone since you can do nothing more and it is Turkish wootz.

Mabuting Kapilaran!

paolo · 28th October 2007, 10:20 AM

Hi Battara,
before use ferric chloride, reading a previous thread, I used Coca Cola as Artzi wrote, but I had no significant outcome. Then I used citric acid with no result. The better I had with ferric chloride. Might You explain to me why Turkish wootz doesn't react to ferric chloride ?
Thank You
Paolo

1st October 2007, 12:25 PM	#1
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	the polish of a black horn hilt Hi all, I have a typical Curdish dagger, whose H black horn hilt needs to be polished. How may I restore it ? Thanks in advance for any help Paolo

1st October 2007, 07:32 PM	#3
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	The best pics I can do without sunlight. Paolo Attached Images

26th October 2007, 10:30 AM	#12
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Here are the pics, the best I can do with a rainy day. Also attached two close up of the wootz (?) blade, not too contrasting, but is the first one I etched by myself. Paolo Attached Images

1st October 2007, 02:03 PM	#2
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Paolo better would be to see a photo but you can use abrasive paste (past to clean car's body is good: used it over a piece of paper). But pay attention to patina: if your handle has a patina don't use it!)

2nd October 2007, 01:33 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Paolo, I'm not sure it really needs polishing. The places that seem dull are filled in with resin or something like it. The slight cracks are stable and I think add character.

2nd October 2007, 01:46 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Paolo, If this was mine I would apply a little Renaissance Wax and leave it as is. JMHO. Robert

2nd October 2007, 12:40 PM	#6
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Thank You for Your advices. I like to have my edge weapons at their best, so I dislike the little stratches and the matt stain on the hilt's surface. I think that, as Robert Coleman write, I'll apply wax. I don't know 'Renaissance', might be a good bee wax will be so effective ? Paolo

2nd October 2007, 10:36 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Almost any wax would be fine, and then polish the wax. Renaissance wax is best IMHO because it solidifies quickly into microcrystals and no need to heat it. You can apply it from can to piece with a cloth or fingers immediately. Great stuff!

4th October 2007, 01:35 PM	#8
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	I found on the web where to buy the wax. The shipping (to Italy) will take time, however, listening to Your advice, I 'll only apply the wax on the hilt, hoping to score well. Thank You for Your help Paolo

25th October 2007, 03:27 PM	#9
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	I applied Renaissance wax on the horn hilt. Really satisfied about the effect! Thank You Paolo

26th October 2007, 01:18 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Congratulations Paolo. Want to share some pictures?

26th October 2007, 01:45 AM	#11
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Paolo, Glad to hear you like the wax. I too would like to see new pictures. Robert

26th October 2007, 06:43 PM	#13
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	VERY NICE! Makes a world of difference. Keep working on the etch - somethings coming out!

27th October 2007, 08:09 AM	#14
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Hi Battara, for etch the blade, I used ferric chloride diluted in three parts of distilled water to one FeCl. I used 1000 waterproof abrasive paper and also heated the blade before apply with a brush the liquid. I repeated more times the treatment, but what You see in the pics is the better I got. Where I was wrong ? Paolo

27th October 2007, 08:27 PM	#15
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Looks like you have done well so far, Paolo. You could also try Coca-cola (yes the drink) because it has phosperous in it which works on blades of Persian origin. It is possible however that this the blade is of Turkish origin, and if so, that would mean that the wootz would be subtle anyway and not "pop" out like on Perisian pieces. If the Coke thing does not work, then leave it alone since you can do nothing more and it is Turkish wootz. Mabuting Kapilaran!

28th October 2007, 10:20 AM	#16
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Hi Battara, before use ferric chloride, reading a previous thread, I used Coca Cola as Artzi wrote, but I had no significant outcome. Then I used citric acid with no result. The better I had with ferric chloride. Might You explain to me why Turkish wootz doesn't react to ferric chloride ? Thank You Paolo