Cleaning shakudo?

[Strider]

Well I took a gamble on eBay and I think I did alright. I purchased an old rusty Wakazashi because I had a good feeling about the fittings and they turned out to be what I would consider above average or better. The habaki did not photograph well and it turned out to be tarnished heavy silver foil although there are some separation issues.The F&K were shakudo with tiny shibuichi and gold (plated) floral designs and that tiny seeded or punched(come on guys I know there is a term) background. The iron tsuba has two animal inlays, one in a reddish material that might be copper or a different alloy of shakudo and one with a greenish gold color that I take to be shibuichi. I am really excitied about this find and would like to know how to clean the grime off the fittings without losing patination? PS , upon opening a window in the blade, I discovered a lovely gunome or based on gunome hamon 17 1/2 inch nagasa and 9/16 sori with ubu unsigned nakago. If I ever figur out how to post pics from my MAC, I would like your opinions SCOTT

[remzy]

I cant remember in which thread i got that link but someone posted a very good link about how to clean rusty tsuba without removing patina using bones, antlers or ivory (old piano keys)

 

It says that you have to do it by hand and any "shortcut" that you might concider will eventually always lead to ruined patina/tsuba.

 

 

If anyone remember this link, might be a good idea to repost it

 

Rémy

[nagamaki - Franco]

1) the word you might be looking for is nanako background.

2) a soft toothbrush with very mild gentle soap and water is generally used to clean soft metal fittings. For mounted fittings find and read the articles about "how to clean" ito as well for proper techniques to be used.

 

pics?

[Brian]

Scott,

 

Check out the How-To section of the forum to post pics. At least one of those methods should work for you and your Mac, even if you have to use Imageshack.

 

Brian

[Strider]

Thanks guys, I knew the term I was looking for had something to do with fish eggs :lol:

[Bungo]

here's one way to re-patinate.....................

 

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/0 ... HOW_2.html

 

milt the ronin