Thread: Etching & Restore Q

Hey all, I need help with an ebay purchase: I'm wondering how much the show face of the blade with the etching on a Boker King Cutter will restore properly. I'm starting to get the hang of how things clean up and what it requires, partly from looking through past threads, but I wasn't sure about this one. Here's the picture. Thanks for your help.

I think these King Cutters had gold wash on the blade faces and once that's worn (it's very fragile),you can't get it back.

Originally Posted by aroliver59

I think these King Cutters had gold wash on the blade faces and once that's worn (it's very fragile),you can't get it back.

Thanks - though since it seems like the ething is still present (or mostly) my concern was about whether or not the sanding/polishing that will be required to get the blade decent (even if not mirror) will also take the etch with it?

Gold wash is not an etch into the blade, it is laid on top of the blade. Any sanding will remove it.

Gold will not bond to steel - it has to have another metal - like nickel or copper - applied first. Part of the cleanup required beforehand requires the removal of any oxidised metal surface, which is usually done with acid or reverse plating - a light etching, in effect.

After that the copper or nickel is applied as a flash coat, then the gold is applied over that. Some razors have bright gold details - like the writing - on a matt gold background - that matt-effect is caused by a deeper etch that gives the metal a bit of a tooth.

If you remove all the gold from a King Cutter during restoring or even by over-enthusiastic polishing (it is incredibly thin) then polish the blade there will still be a light ghosting relief-effect where it used to be - this is the depth to which the blade metal was etched.

Regards,
Neil

Is there any substance or technique that can be used to "bring out"/highlight a light etch?