Small corrosion mark on my newly polished blade

[DaveM4P99]

Hi All...So I found a slight line of corrosion on my newly polished blade, right where the top of the habaki meets the blade (I pulled the habaki down a little to expose the mark)...

 

 

My best guess is that when the Habaki was tarnished (to make it look correct), the acid or vinegar that was used was not cleaned off completely, and it corroded a line into the blade. It's not terribly deep, but it is deep enough...and it happened fast, probably only a couple weeks after I got it back.

 

How bad is this? Should I send it back to the polisher for repair? Or should I not worry about it? The mark is completely covered by the Habaki, but I also don't want the corrosion to harm the blade in the long run.

 

I cleaned the Habaki very very thoroughly, as well as oiled the blade and the corrosion mark very well...but what else should I do? How worried should I be?

 

Thanks all.

 

-Dave

[drbvac]

I would contact the polisher for suggestions. I too would be pissed - did the polisher place the habaki on the blade.

[DaveM4P99]

No it wasn't the polisher...My best guess is that the person who rebuilt the saya and tsuka didn't clean the habaki after tarnishing it...

 

I am less worried about blaming anyone, and more interested in if it should be re-polished immediately to protect the blade...I am pretty sure it won't spread since I cleaned the habaki and the blade very well...but I am no expert...

[runagmc]

I would say no, don't have it repolished... make sure to watch it close and keep oil on it...

 

It may have been caused by the sword sweating water after being polished, and not having enough oil under the habaki... this can cause an electrolitic reaction between the two metals, and corrosion is the result... too bad

[Alex A]

Hi Dave, if it where me i would be straight on the phone to the polisher to see what could be done. It clearly underlines how easy it is for these blades to mark. Are there any guidelines regarding newly polished blades?, as to storage and replacing the habaki etc.

 

Alex.

[DaveM4P99]

I am sure it was not due to polishing...I kept the blade well oiled and applied oil every day / then every week / very frequently after initial polish...and Ieft the habaki OFF...

 

Then I sent it to get the tsuka rebuilt and saya made. Got it back and left it mounted for a week or two...took it apart to oil...and saw the mark.

 

Could it not be corrosion from tarnishing the habaki?

[cabowen]

If any sort of acid was used to patinate the habaki (usually the case) then yes, that is likely.

[DaveM4P99]

Spoke to the polisher...he just says to keep the spot lightly oiled and it should be fine.

 

What do you guys think? Should I send it for a touch up polish of some kind? Or just leave it, as it is under the habaki and (hopefully) not getting worse?

[Alex A]

Its under the habaki as you say, its one of them things, some folk will advise yes, some no. if the polisher says it wont get any worse then id be tempted to leave it.

 

Out of curiosity, why do they patinate new habaki?...it will age in time anyway. I had new copper seppa made last year, the new look doesnt bother me.

 

Alex

[DaveM4P99]

Well the polisher cleaned the old WWII habaki to get rid of any dirt or contaminants...but the tsuka restorer said it didn't look right cleaned and shiny so he wanted to patinate it...so here we are.

 

I think I will leave it and make sure it doesn't get worse. I'm never selling it so I'm not worried about value...and hey...the blade is in damn better shape then when I got it!

[drbvac]

Great attitude - that said - it would drive me nuts - I had the whole side of a car painted once for a door ding ! I know

[GrantK]

At least you can see the bright side of things, sounds like an honest mistake and it's nice that you can appreciate it with that small mark. Hope it doesn't get worse!

[DaveM4P99]

At least you can see the bright side of things, sounds like an honest mistake and it's nice that you can appreciate it with that small mark. Hope it doesn't get worse!

 

Well the mark is smaller than it looks and it is UNDER the habaki...so it isn't really an eye sore.

[loiner1965]

Can understand ageing the habiki but why do it on the blade, surely it would be safer off

[DaveM4P99]

Can understand ageing the habiki but why do it on the blade, surely it would be safer off

 

Well ofcourse it was done off the blade. :lol:

 

I can only assume that whatever chemical or acid that was used to age the habaki was not completely cleaned off...and the mark developed in a matter of 2-3 weeks.

 

Anyway, the mark isn't getting worse at all, and it's under the habaki, so not an eye sore.