Keys For Rust Removal

[Greg F]

Hello Gentlemen,

 

I have a couple Tsuba that have some red rust that i would like to very carefully try to reduce and remember ivory piano keys being recommended here in the past but i dont know where to get them. Im hoping someone knows where I can buy some? Any advice appreciated. Cheers.

 

Greg

[ROKUJURO]

Greg,

here in good old Germany, the bigger piano shops, who do repairs on these instruments, have them as scrap. Sometimes you can get them for free.

Antler and bone work as well, by the way. 

[Moley]

Here in the UK there are chains of Pet shops who sell bits of antler in all shapes and sizes as "Dog chews". They are very very cheap and you can pick a shape/size that would be most suitable for your use.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

In addition to ivory piano keys a visit to flea markets will usually turn up old ivory (often broken) crochet needles/hooks, that can be very useful in such projects. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Bone should never be used on Tosogu.....IT IS TOO HARD AND CAN CAUSE DAMAGE!  Bone is a 5 on the mohs scale of hardness, iron 4 to 5.  Gold, silver, copper, and their alloys range from 2.5 to 3.5 in hardness.  Since bone is as hard or harder than most materials used in the production of fittings it should be obvious that its use as a  "cleaning" tool would not be advisable.

 

-StevenK  

[Greg F]

Hi fella's thanks very much for your replies. To be on the safe side i would like to use the ivory just incase.

 

Cheers

 

Greg

[Stephen]

how about old teeth?

 

i've used antler on Iron with little worries, (even copper penny) dont try unless you practice on something worthless ) also cured chopsticks, like she said  its not what your packing its how you use it!

 

 

lots of different kinds of rust stages and what is rusted, different degrees of patina n surfaces, Greg PM me what you want to work on.

[TETSUGENDO]

No gnawing on the tsuba, no matter how tempting it may be. Not good for your treasures, disasterous for the teeth. LOL!

 

-StevenK

p.s.-COPPER pennies for the advanced practitioners only.

[b.hennick]

You need an old copper penny that is pure copper. Newer ones are not pure and so harder than pure copper.

[Stephen]

correct and the right  pressure 

[Stephen]

I guess i should have started with this , im sure its saved here somewhere in FAQ???

http://japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/tsubacln.htm

 

Jim says not to use oil, i think its ok as long as its given a good rub with lint free cloth.

 

as always opinions will vary. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Stephen,

 

I can't see any harm in a light application of oil to an exclusively iron tsuba, if this is your preference.    

My personal choice would be wax as I think it has a more natural appearance and offers better protection.  It all comes down to choice.

 

-StevenK

[Stephen]

i must wear suspenders with my belt, because after oil is wiped clean i wax then buff. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Better safe than sorrry!

 

-StevenK

[Vermithrax16]

Someone do a sticky on Tsuba care/restoration!

[Jiro49]

I have about 10 ivory keys left. I used to help my friend restore Steinways.

 

PM me.