A simple sundang

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

Steve in reference to question on would vinegar bring out something different. I really can't say many others here have more experience, I just knopw in Jolo the two guys I found that could tell me anything about treating the blades told me to soak them in caballa (which I later figured out is a vinegar make from coconuts) and then wipe it down with limes or star fruit. We hollowed out a large chunk of bamboo and depending on the condition of the blade after overnight to three days all corrosion and rust just fell off (actually most of it rose to the surface) and any lamination popped right out. I only used the lime after on one blade and it didn't change anything (I thought then and still do that it was redundant). after the soak the blades were left kind of chalky looking, so we used gun oil. We first tried a light coat and that was quickly (overnight) soaked up. So the next time we put on a heavy coat and that seemed to work the best leaving them with clear shiny coat that wasn still fairly dry to the touch.

I did use regular household vinegar on one of my old Lao blades when I got home and left it in too long and it opened up a lot of cracks along the lamination lines so be careful there.

Dan