What and when?

gilbo · 16th June 2008, 09:21 PM

It still has one heck of an edge. Do I sand it? Dip it in acid? to find out if its what you say "wootz"? Ill do it right now!!!! (joke) Im not going to touch this thing. Leave it up to the pro's.....

Mark · 17th June 2008, 06:58 PM

The way to bring out the pattern in steel is to polish (NOT burnish!), then lightly etch the blade. I have only done an etch twice, with only so-so results, so others I am sure can give you better advice than I, including solutions, times, etch.

The polish should be done by a pro, though. It is a somewhat misleading term, because what actually is done is gradual and even removal of the surface with a series of stones of increasing fineness (wet/dry sandpaper can also be used). The trick is to open the grain of the steel and get an even surface. Buffing or burnishing with a polishing wheel (as a jeweler or silversmith would do, for example) has just the opposite effect - the surface material gets rubbed around (like icing a cake) and fills in the grain. I'll PM you with the contact info of an excellent polisher & restorer, in case you want to do something with the blade.

gilbo · 19th June 2008, 08:12 AM

Mark,

Thanks for the tips!!!

Carl

16th June 2008, 09:21 PM	#1
gilbo Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7	Acid? It still has one heck of an edge. Do I sand it? Dip it in acid? to find out if its what you say "wootz"? Ill do it right now!!!! (joke) Im not going to touch this thing. Leave it up to the pro's.....

19th June 2008, 08:12 AM	#3
gilbo Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7	Tips.... Mark, Thanks for the tips!!! Carl

17th June 2008, 06:58 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	The way to bring out the pattern in steel is to polish (NOT burnish!), then lightly etch the blade. I have only done an etch twice, with only so-so results, so others I am sure can give you better advice than I, including solutions, times, etch. The polish should be done by a pro, though. It is a somewhat misleading term, because what actually is done is gradual and even removal of the surface with a series of stones of increasing fineness (wet/dry sandpaper can also be used). The trick is to open the grain of the steel and get an even surface. Buffing or burnishing with a polishing wheel (as a jeweler or silversmith would do, for example) has just the opposite effect - the surface material gets rubbed around (like icing a cake) and fills in the grain. I'll PM you with the contact info of an excellent polisher & restorer, in case you want to do something with the blade.