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Post by ronp on May 9, 2020 15:12:06 GMT
Hi all, I've just bought my first sword, a Windlass Centurion Gladius. The blade has been 'antiqued' to give it a battle worn look but I'm just finding it too dull looking for my taste. This is how it looks however on the Windlass website it is pictured to look like this: I would like it to look like it does in the second picture. It doesn't have to be super shiny but I want a good contrast between the dark handle and the colour of the blade. How do you recommend I go about getting this type of shine? I was thinking of using a metal polish and a microfibre cloth. Any advice would be appreciated. If nothing can be done I will look to return it back to the seller or possibly sell it here.
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Post by nddave on May 9, 2020 16:00:08 GMT
Yea start with metal polish and work your way up. Here's some steps I'd recommend from least abrasive to more,
1) metal polish 2) 00-000 steel wool (using metal polish) 3) 2000 wet dry sandpaper 4) 1000-1500 wet dry sandpaper 5) 800 wet dry sandpaper
If its not removed by the 800 then its pretty deep and you're probably stuck with it unless you want to risk damaging the blade. Honestly you shouldn't have to go pasy step 2 unless its a thick coating of something.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on May 9, 2020 16:04:43 GMT
Wow...so many words For this. So to gauge how pitted the blade is, give it a good close look. CLOSE Like break out the magnifier close. This will give you an idea how much time you'll need to invest. If its just a light chemical blue, you can remove it and polish as you said with metal polish. If its chemically rusted, I'd return it. The last one I used a buffer etc to polish and it took well over 8 hours to get it to smooth near mirror. 2 more after that to get it to proper mirror.
Now...putting time into it, will definitely make it more 'yours', as the ones we keep we all modify to some degree.
Also, try the metal polish on a small spot, that may give you an idea how long it will take. And test to see if it's been clear coated with something, that will make it more of a PITA to clean up.
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Post by paulmuaddib on May 9, 2020 16:06:27 GMT
There are many threads on here about polishing swords and tutorials elsewhere if you do a search. Looks like you might have to start with sandpaper before the polishing compound. But start with the compound and see what it does. If it doesn’t get the result you want then go to a very fine sandpaper, say 1200 grit or even finer. If that doesn’t get it go to a slightly more course paper. Always best to start as fine as possible so you don’t have to do more work than necessary. I learned that the hard way. Good luck and welcome to the forum.
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Post by paulmuaddib on May 9, 2020 16:09:24 GMT
I see nddave and Sir Thorfinn beat me to it. Very good advice from both
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on May 9, 2020 18:06:28 GMT
Depending on how the finish was put on would play a part on the method used to “polish” as well as what you wish the finished product to look like. There are many threads on the forum that will aid you. Personally I don’t like the results of metal polish and also a highly polished blade will show scratches, finger prints, etc. easily. I like a bright blade but not to that degree and sandpaper and oil works for me. But there are many methods and owners are opinionated. What I do suggest, strongly, that no one has mentioned is to use a backing and not your fingers/hand when removing the finish otherwise you stand a good chance of losing any well defined edges. But if it is a Windlass they probably did this on their buffing wheels to some extent. The photo of the factory gladius shows a well defined ridge on a diamond blade which is missing on the doctored blade.
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