01-07-2011, 03:21 AM
If you want to be really authentic, there is a description of making a polishing paste-- mix lard, ash, and sandy clay together. I do not know how much of what to what. The more sandy the clay, the more coarse the polish.
You might also read something on the process of polishing a samurai sword. It is a complicated process, and you do not need to go to the lengths the Japanese smiths went to though. However, some of the materials may be useful and can be purchased from dealers. The tecnique gives a whole new perspective to a polishing and finishing process without the availability of modern machinery. (On a side note: many people do not know that the finish on a real samurai sword can be damaged permanenty by natural oils in the finger. The usual thing someone does when handling a sword is mess it up with finger prints. Then they pose with the point to the ground, whic can ruin it. Never ever try to sharpen one. You can turn a $5000 sword into one worth $500 in a matter of seconds. I include this because many original and historic pieces are ruined each year and can never be replaced. This is if you ever run into one.)
I have used microfiber sheets for polishing bronze. You might look at this site: http://www.riogrande.com/Default.aspx . Also, when you hammer any copper alloy, which is done cold, there is a case hardening effect. This quality is deliberate with actual ancient armor, and is what gives it the protective property. It is easy to polish through this with too much abrasive and that weakens the metal, which is a considration with any sheet. This more noticable in bronze than brass. Yea, you dont need the protective property of case hardening, but it is a consideration with retention of the spring of the metal.
Ralph
You might also read something on the process of polishing a samurai sword. It is a complicated process, and you do not need to go to the lengths the Japanese smiths went to though. However, some of the materials may be useful and can be purchased from dealers. The tecnique gives a whole new perspective to a polishing and finishing process without the availability of modern machinery. (On a side note: many people do not know that the finish on a real samurai sword can be damaged permanenty by natural oils in the finger. The usual thing someone does when handling a sword is mess it up with finger prints. Then they pose with the point to the ground, whic can ruin it. Never ever try to sharpen one. You can turn a $5000 sword into one worth $500 in a matter of seconds. I include this because many original and historic pieces are ruined each year and can never be replaced. This is if you ever run into one.)
I have used microfiber sheets for polishing bronze. You might look at this site: http://www.riogrande.com/Default.aspx . Also, when you hammer any copper alloy, which is done cold, there is a case hardening effect. This quality is deliberate with actual ancient armor, and is what gives it the protective property. It is easy to polish through this with too much abrasive and that weakens the metal, which is a considration with any sheet. This more noticable in bronze than brass. Yea, you dont need the protective property of case hardening, but it is a consideration with retention of the spring of the metal.
Ralph
