Coloring the Hamon -

[itrade]

Appearently, old rust (Nugui) is what sword polishers use to color the hamon. I was wondering if bladesmiths ever did this (You can buy Nugui) rather than etching. Sounds like a wonderful way to go.

The actual substance known as Nugui is made of flakes of highly decomposed steel that is a by-product of the swordsmiths' forging process. This is ground with mortar and pestle for several weeks. It is then mixed with Chôjiyû [clove oil] and worked into the Jihada.

Nugui is a mixture of several polishing powders like iron oxide, magnetite, stone powder and so on. It is mixed with clove oil then used to polish the sword and makes the Jihada dark.

Steve

 

[Mark Van Loon]

nugui is used in the area above the hamon, to add some contrast, and to add life to the pattern in the steel. different nugui is used on differnet blades, the blade determines which type of nugui is used for the best effects. there are many different substances used in making the nugui, it seems every polisher has come up with different recepies for what looks best. nugui is used after the final fingerstones are used.

 

[NickWheeler]

I've been trying to study some of the methods of polishing...so I guess I have $0.02 to throw in.

Traditional polishing is so vastly different from what most makers are used to doing that it's difficult to compare the processes. The traditional polish takes a great amount of time and work and brings out the hamon by sequential steps in abrasion of the different areas of the blade. The nugui is a step introduced near the end of the polishing process....so in my opinion it really isn't going to do much for you unless you follow the route of a traditional polish.

But I'm no expert and wouldn't ever tell you not to try it.

Nick

 

[Mike Hull]

Crocus cloth is iron oxide on a 9"X 11" cloth. It has been used for polishing for years. People kind of forget about it now.