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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2023 19:47:31 GMT
I got the dagger today and am real pleased with the excellent blade, everything even and straight, the guard and pommel are both very well made and it all lines up right- It looks every bit as good as the photo in the ad-- My question is, the hilt parts and sheath trim are what they call "dark brass" and unpolished. I thought I'd brighten it up a little, but Brasso doesn't do anything at all. Using fine grit emory boards polished up the trim bands but nothing seems to lighten up the surfaces of the guard and pommel, along with the metal trim on the sheath. Is this a little different than the lighter brass that can be easily polished? Any ideas on how to get a lighter color on these parts --John www.kultofathena.com/product/windlass-steelcrafts-bramham-moor-dagger/
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Post by mrstabby on May 27, 2023 20:28:26 GMT
It might be some brass blend that does not shine up. You could use some polishing componds like diamond, but if the paper does not help, I guess it won't help either. Manufacturer says something about "low sheen brass".
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Post by larason2 on May 27, 2023 22:24:41 GMT
That's true there are some types of brass you'll never get to sheen no matter what you do. One thing to try would be the 800/1200 grit silicon carbide powder that Jim Kelso and Ford Hallam use. You can apply it with a horse hair brush. Just be careful with it, don't get any in your eyes! I have some, and on the right surface it does make it very shiny (though still somewhat matte). The one I got is the one pre-mixed in oil, bought it from Gesswein.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2023 1:00:46 GMT
I just got busy with my collection of emery boards and managed to break through into the basic brass. So, the sheath is pretty much finished all the way out to polished and came out looking the way I wanted. I have sanded out part of the pommel, but I just keep thinking there must be some sort of solution that will cut this heavy brown coating. Underneath the heavy thick hard coating, it's the normal brass. The coating makes it look like bronze.
The dagger is actually a beauty and will be a knockout when polished. The dull brown color of all the hardware just doesn't do it justice. I'll keep at it and will try to upload some photos when finished --John
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Post by eastman on May 28, 2023 1:29:32 GMT
maybe they are doing a chemical antiquing process and sealing it with a durable layer of lacquer?
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2023 1:48:41 GMT
There has to be something I can apply with a brush that will dissolve this coating. I can't break down the dagger or I could just soak the parts, but I want to be careful so as not to stain the blade and I have to be very careful to not stain the blade.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2023 1:50:57 GMT
This is almost like a process to coat it but I've not run into this before and I'm amazed at how hard it is to remove.-
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Post by mrstabby on May 28, 2023 7:44:27 GMT
If it is harder than brass it could have been anodizes, which would strengthen a small layer, like with aluminium. The layer would not tarnish and be much tougher than the underlying brass.
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Post by eastman on May 28, 2023 15:37:42 GMT
Had to look that up (mostly familiar with aluminum anodizing and the experiences with a sheet of aluminum that ate thru the belts on a belt sander without erosion). This page - kdmfab.com/brass-anodizing/ talks about anodizing brass. Looks like abrasives will be your only option for an assembled dagger.
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Post by mrstabby on May 28, 2023 16:20:33 GMT
Yeah, anodized aluminium can be pretty hard (I have read up to 60HRC or even 70HRC<-- this I can't really believe until I see it), I would advise against getting rid of it. The anodized layer will not scratch or tarnish, the underlying brass will do both, and quickly. It also strengthens the guards structural integrity and if you file the layer off, the guard will be easier to bend. I have to say though, I have only experience with anodized aluminium, but the brass seems to work pretty similar. The layer can be up to 0,1mm/0.004" thick and very tough, so it could be tough work to remove it without reworking the whole piece's dimensions.
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