removing clear varnish from a old blade

[milandro]

I was wondering what is the general advice on removing varnish (why do people do this? ) from an old blade

Is there a product ( and how to apply) which would be safe enough as to protect patina and do not damage the blade (and visible layers)

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by milandro

I was wondering what is the general advice on removing varnish (why do people do this? ) from an old blade

Is there a product ( and how to apply) which would be safe enough as to protect patina and do not damage the blade (and visible layers)

Hello Milandro,

It depends on the used varnish. You can try benzine (for lighters) which works well with shellac for example, acetone works by other varnish, by others turpentine. With all three liquids you can't harm the blade. By wood or other natural materials you have to try it carefully on a not visible place.
I have done it many times, don't be afraid to harm the blade.
What you do mean by patina? Dirt and rust is not patina. But some blades get over time a black surface, strictly speaking also rust, don't be removed by a cleaning like this, it will become a little bit more shiny maybe because you have washed away dirt and loose rust but it will stay black, I guess that you mean this by patina.
Attached a close-up from a blade with such a black surface and was cleaned once from a varnish.

Regards,
Detlef

[milandro]

thank you! I will try , kind regards Detlef much obliged

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It depends on the used varnish. You can try benzine (for lighters) which works well with shellac for example, acetone works by other varnish, by others turpentine. With all three liquids you can't harm the blade. By wood or other natural materials you have to try it carefully on a not visible place.

I have a kabeala that has been varnished in its entirety, including the blade and the wood(?) of the hilt and scabbard, rattan bindings and all. It wasn't expensive, but nevertheless, what can happen to the wood with this way of cleaning, worst case scenario?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by werecow

I have a kabeala that has been varnished in its entirety, including the blade and the wood(?) of the hilt and scabbard, rattan bindings and all. It wasn't expensive, but nevertheless, what can happen to the wood with this way of cleaning, worst case scenario?

Try it carefully with one of the liquids at a not visible place, I've done it before without harming the material. When you have removed the varnish, polish it with oil, I use linseed oil and polish it with a soft cloth, normally it works without any harm to the material.

Regards,
Detlef

[werecow]

Alright, thanks for the pointers!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by werecow

Alright, thanks for the pointers!

You're welcome! BTW, it's a nice Kabeala, nice grain to the wooden handle. Attached is my own, similar example.

Regards,
Detlef

[gp]

Originally Posted by werecow

I have a kabeala that has been varnished in its entirety, including the blade and the wood(?) of the hilt and scabbard, rattan bindings and all. It wasn't expensive, but nevertheless, what can happen to the wood with this way of cleaning, worst case scenario?

send you a PM

have a nice WE

Gunar

[gp]

Originally Posted by milandro

(why do people do this? )

in many collectors fields (like ancient coins, jewelry or other products from metal;either base metal or gold and silver of a lower degree; i.e. < 500 ) one does not clean the metal as is done with blank weapons by chemicals (other than vaseline, natural oils and the likes ) as it decreases the value considerably.
One lesson I learned when collecting blank weapons and a huge difference with regards to value and cleaning an item . Not talking about patina.

Specially metal which is easily vulnerable to oxidation like iron or zinc.
In that case, dirt is cleaned by using vaseline/ oil or wax and for protection transparent nailpolish or similar varnishes are used as they protect the metal and do not effect the value. Hence I think some use varnish as a kind of protection against oxidation...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by gp

Hence I think some use varnish as a kind of protection against oxidation...

Yes, this will be the reason!

[milandro]

well, boiling hot water did the trick!

The blade was covered with probably very old nitrocellulose lacquer or even shellac. A collector friend from Austria suggested that I tried that before the chemical way (which I wasn't too keen to undertake) and lo and behold, it worked. It came loose and I removed the deposit with a brush and now the blade is waiting to go on its journey by being treated with Warangan (it is a Bali Kris) from a local expert. Another step will be finding a nice sheath or sarong for it but that is another bridge which I will have to cross in the future.

Thanks for everyone's contribution