Keris Oil

A. G. Maisey · 12th November 2007, 11:58 PM

I've been asked many times what the ingredients are of the keris oil I use.

I've always told people that it is about 50% liquid parafin, 45% sandalwood oil, and 5% kenanga oil.

Sandalwood oil is easy to get anywhere, kenanga oil can be difficult, but its not absolutely necessary and it is available on the essential oils market.

But many people have told me they cannot find liquid parafin anywhere. This has mystified me, because in Australia, this is a supermarket line. You can buy it virtually anywhere.

I have recently been advised that in the USA liquid parafin is known as "mineral oil".

After receiving this advice I did what I should have done a long time ago, and threw liquid parafin into google. Seems like oils ain't oils. Liquid parafin has many names. Have a look at this if you need to know what to call the stuff:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil

Newsteel · 13th November 2007, 12:40 AM

Baby Oil also contain pure mineral oil and some fragrance. A good example is the good old Johnson's Baby Oil. I guess this will also work as well.

A. G. Maisey · 13th November 2007, 12:52 AM

Yep, that's what the Wiki people say.

I've also used baby oil as keris oil base.Didn't know it contained liquid parafin until I read the wiki entry.

David · 13th November 2007, 04:51 AM

Alan, i am still having trouble locating kenanga oil. While it is not essential (or hopefull is if you get my pun

) it does add an edge that i am very fond of. On the internet i often see it described as also being ylang ylang oil, but i am sure that while they share a similar source that this is a different oil because ylang ylang tends to be sweet, not edgy. If someone has a good source for kenanga could they please post it?

A. G. Maisey · 13th November 2007, 06:55 AM

Yeah, lots of people can't find kenanga. It is available from essential oil suppliers in Australia.I know a bloke who runs a pretentious little shop that sells Asian dreams. He sometimes has it, next time I see him I'll ask where he gets it. He might tell me, if its not the wrong time of the month.

The whole point of minyak cendana, or mawar, or anything else, is just for the smell. It doesn't do anything at all for preservation. If preservation is all we're interested in, use a good gun oil--- smells bad, but it works well.

So if you want to cut the proportions of cendana, or cut it out altogether, it really doesn't matter. Ordinary light machine oil is a good preservative too, something like sewing machine oil.

As to sandalwood oil staining the blade, never seen this happen. I've been using my mix now for about 30 years, and I've never seen the warangan go bad because of the oil.

Actually, the best way to preserve your blade is by oiling and then putting the oiled blade into a light plastic sleeve. In Indonesia you can buy rolls of plastic of various widths and thicknesses---its used for making little plastic bags for food, you get it from the plastic shops (toko plastik) ---just cut a length of this and slip the oiled blade into it, then twist it tight around the blade before putting the blade back in the wrongko. Stops the wrongko getting oil stained, stops the oil drying out. Don't know where to buy this stuff in Australia, but plastic sandwich wrap works pretty good too.

Rick · 13th November 2007, 03:05 PM

David ,

I have four ounces of the stuff (Cananga Odorata); I'll send some your way if you'd like .

ferrylaki · 13th November 2007, 12:50 AM

is it all right if I change the composition a little bit larger for the parafin oil?
it is 85% parafin oil, 10% sandalwood oil, and 5% kenanga oil. I have been told that too much sandalwood oil might leave stain to the iron.

How about pure 100% parafin? is it all right?
A friend of mine who is a keris dealer in Rawabening market east jakarta use only 100% parafin to his kerises...economical reason.

12th November 2007, 11:58 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,770	Keris Oil I've been asked many times what the ingredients are of the keris oil I use. I've always told people that it is about 50% liquid parafin, 45% sandalwood oil, and 5% kenanga oil. Sandalwood oil is easy to get anywhere, kenanga oil can be difficult, but its not absolutely necessary and it is available on the essential oils market. But many people have told me they cannot find liquid parafin anywhere. This has mystified me, because in Australia, this is a supermarket line. You can buy it virtually anywhere. I have recently been advised that in the USA liquid parafin is known as "mineral oil". After receiving this advice I did what I should have done a long time ago, and threw liquid parafin into google. Seems like oils ain't oils. Liquid parafin has many names. Have a look at this if you need to know what to call the stuff:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil

13th November 2007, 12:40 AM	#2
Newsteel Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 132	Baby Oil also contain pure mineral oil and some fragrance. A good example is the good old Johnson's Baby Oil. I guess this will also work as well. Attached Images

13th November 2007, 03:05 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,271	Cananga Oil David , I have four ounces of the stuff (Cananga Odorata); I'll send some your way if you'd like .

13th November 2007, 12:50 AM	#7
ferrylaki Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 285	composition is it all right if I change the composition a little bit larger for the parafin oil? it is 85% parafin oil, 10% sandalwood oil, and 5% kenanga oil. I have been told that too much sandalwood oil might leave stain to the iron. How about pure 100% parafin? is it all right? A friend of mine who is a keris dealer in Rawabening market east jakarta use only 100% parafin to his kerises...economical reason.

13th November 2007, 12:52 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,770	Yep, that's what the Wiki people say. I've also used baby oil as keris oil base.Didn't know it contained liquid parafin until I read the wiki entry.

13th November 2007, 04:51 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,061	Alan, i am still having trouble locating kenanga oil. While it is not essential (or hopefull is if you get my pun ) it does add an edge that i am very fond of. On the internet i often see it described as also being ylang ylang oil, but i am sure that while they share a similar source that this is a different oil because ylang ylang tends to be sweet, not edgy. If someone has a good source for kenanga could they please post it?

13th November 2007, 06:55 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,770	Yeah, lots of people can't find kenanga. It is available from essential oil suppliers in Australia.I know a bloke who runs a pretentious little shop that sells Asian dreams. He sometimes has it, next time I see him I'll ask where he gets it. He might tell me, if its not the wrong time of the month. The whole point of minyak cendana, or mawar, or anything else, is just for the smell. It doesn't do anything at all for preservation. If preservation is all we're interested in, use a good gun oil--- smells bad, but it works well. So if you want to cut the proportions of cendana, or cut it out altogether, it really doesn't matter. Ordinary light machine oil is a good preservative too, something like sewing machine oil. As to sandalwood oil staining the blade, never seen this happen. I've been using my mix now for about 30 years, and I've never seen the warangan go bad because of the oil. Actually, the best way to preserve your blade is by oiling and then putting the oiled blade into a light plastic sleeve. In Indonesia you can buy rolls of plastic of various widths and thicknesses---its used for making little plastic bags for food, you get it from the plastic shops (toko plastik) ---just cut a length of this and slip the oiled blade into it, then twist it tight around the blade before putting the blade back in the wrongko. Stops the wrongko getting oil stained, stops the oil drying out. Don't know where to buy this stuff in Australia, but plastic sandwich wrap works pretty good too.