Potassium Permanganate - 2 questions

[Slice-and-dice]

Gratefully, much is written on this site about using Potassium Perm. to stain bone scales. Finally, I have some time to do a little maintenance on some scales and wish to try this option. I have two questions:

1) Do you need to exercise care to avoid getting the solution on any of the metals in the knife? Carbon or stainless blades, brass, nickel silver frame and bolsters, etc? I plan to "paint it on" with a q-tip as recommended. should I mask off the scales so that the chemical doesn't touch metal?

2) Do you need to wash the painted scales off after they've thoroughly dried to avoid skin irritation?

Thanks bro's (and gals).

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I have not seen potassium permanganate harm metal surfaces.
There is no skin irritation that I am aware of, but most handles are polished after treating.

 

[jfk1110]

Horsewright