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Post by edm on Aug 28, 2024 16:55:34 GMT
Hello, all,
As the subject line suggests, I have a Prussian Model 1852 Officer's Cavalry Saber. It has a nickel hilt and scabbard (flaked, but that's not a concern of mine). The blade has a lovely dark patina... ...and you can't see any details unless you hold it in the light just right. Then you can you see that the blade is decorated.
These decorations are very shallow. My guess is that they are acid etched. I wanted to clean the blade up in order to help bring these out. I tried Renaissance Pre-Lim because I thought it would be safe. However...
...when I tested it on the tip (Left above), it created a stark "stripped" area (doesn't show very well in the first picture just how different the tip looks from the rest--the delineation starts at the arrow). On the reverse, though, where the product flowed over, you can see the "stripped" areas. It seems almost as if the blade had some sort of finish on it that got taken off: something more than just accumulated dirt from age. I may be wrong, but I thought it would be best to not proceed.
I am not interested in returning my blades to new or original condition. I'm okay with age and patina. This blade has very little rust, so really doesn't need much more than cleaning. However, I am concerned that cleaning will wipe out or damage the decorations or otherwise obscure them if I wipe down the entire blade.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had a blade with these kinds of decorations and if so, if there are any tips for cleaning them.
Thanks, Ed M
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Post by mrstabby on Aug 28, 2024 18:48:45 GMT
Pre-Lim has silica chalk dissolved in it (as buffing compound I guess). The spots are likely left over silica powder adhering to the steel. Some solvents might take it off, white spirit is the original solvent, so that's the best choise. Of course it could have dissolved the old oil on the blade and changed it's colour if there was some left.
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Post by edm on Aug 28, 2024 19:07:02 GMT
Thanks, Mr Stabby. I wiped the blade after the Pre-Lim treatment, so don't think there is any residue. But I'll give it another buff to see if it changes anything. I'm more concerned about whether it would be wise to continue with Pre-Lim over the decorations (or use something else).
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Post by mrstabby on Aug 28, 2024 20:13:08 GMT
With what did you wipe the blade? To me it looks like it deposited something or it dissolved something (like some plastic gets cloudy with acetone/gasoline). If it deposited silica it would only be soluable in something like white spirit, maybe acetone, but not oil or water. It could have dissolved all remaining oils, but then it would also lighten up the same way if you used first acetone or alcohol ant then some soapy water. It likely would have the same effect on the rest of the blade, lightening it somewhat, since it's also slightly abrasive I would not use it on the etchings. If you want to go all in use this: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/71154/hydrogel-modified-hydrogels-remove-corrosion?page=1I have been experimenting with citrate (not citric acid) and it looks promising at about 1/10th the cost, but I would not use it on etching yet. |
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Post by edm on Aug 28, 2024 20:50:04 GMT
Well, I just followed the instructions and applied the Pre-Lim and then buffed it off with a soft, clean rag after it had dried. Are you suggesting that I follow up with white spirit or acetone on the same area?
I just had a thought. Might this blade have been blued?
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Post by mrstabby on Aug 29, 2024 5:44:56 GMT
Well, I just followed the instructions and applied the Pre-Lim and then buffed it off with a soft, clean rag after it had dried. Are you suggesting that I follow up with white spirit or acetone on the same area?
I just had a thought. Might this blade have been blued?
Yes, I suggest wiping the area, mmight dissolve the pattern or at least make it all the same colour.
You mean the pattern is blued or the whole blade was at one point?
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Post by edm on Aug 29, 2024 11:42:36 GMT
Well, I just followed the instructions and applied the Pre-Lim and then buffed it off with a soft, clean rag after it had dried. Are you suggesting that I follow up with white spirit or acetone on the same area?
I just had a thought. Might this blade have been blued?
Yes, I suggest wiping the area, mmight dissolve the pattern or at least make it all the same colour.
You mean the pattern is blued or the whole blade was at one point? I was wondering whether the entire blade had been given some sort of treatment (varnish-like?), and what I've done is remove some of it. If you expand the images of the etchings, they are almost "negatives": the blade showing through darkened areas. I'll still give a pass with spirits over the tip to see if that clears the question up, but I think I'll avoid the decorations except with a very mild solution (if at all).
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Post by mrstabby on Aug 29, 2024 13:16:59 GMT
It might have been waxed at some point, varnish, I am not sure. It could be of course, but you likely would be able to see a thin layer if it was varnish. Wax is harder to see when applied thinly.
Both is possible.
The etchings were probably done with some sort of mask, the darkened parts left free. After etching the mask will be washed off with solvents.
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Post by edm on Aug 29, 2024 13:49:05 GMT
Got it. Thanks for your time, attention, and advice! Much appreciated.
Best, Ed
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