etching of Balinese keris

[A. G. Maisey]

All the keris that I have used the sulphur & rice water method on were blades that had been previously stained. I do not know, but I feel that what this method does is to reactivate existing traces of arsenic left of the blade from previous applications.

The first keris I tried this method on had a polished surface, similar to a Balinese keris, but it was Malay, not Balinese, the method worked well.

[Anthony G.]

Thanks all for your valuable advice. I have to figure it out.....