How to look after wootz blade

Lee · 9th November 2006, 08:11 PM

Unfortunately, when new members come to the forums, their posts are delayed and then may be missed as I fear this one has been.

Personally, I tend to try and do as little as possible to these blades. Active rust may be removed with the edge of a copper coin and I have found that very, very fine steel wool moistened with light oil will also do some cleaning of wootz without too much brightening or loss of patination. A few coats of microcrystalline wax, ocassionally refreshed, will then protect the blade and allow reasonable handling.

I have never ventured into experimenting with the light etch followed by restaining advocated by some.

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9th November 2006, 08:11 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Unfortunately, when new members come to the forums, their posts are delayed and then may be missed as I fear this one has been. Personally, I tend to try and do as little as possible to these blades. Active rust may be removed with the edge of a copper coin and I have found that very, very fine steel wool moistened with light oil will also do some cleaning of wootz without too much brightening or loss of patination. A few coats of microcrystalline wax, ocassionally refreshed, will then protect the blade and allow reasonable handling. I have never ventured into experimenting with the light etch followed by restaining advocated by some.