pesi removal

Pusaka · 14th February 2008, 08:05 PM

If a pesi was broken so only a stub was left how hard would it be to replace? How is the pesi secured during the manufacture of a keris, is it just friction fitted?
If the stub of the pesi was put into the jaws of a vice do you think it could be removed without damaging the keris?

lemmythesmith · 14th February 2008, 09:17 PM

Hi Pusaka, the pesi is forged as an integral part of the blade. If there's only a "stump" left it must have broken, you would have to weld a new piece of metal onto the stump and file it to size.

A. G. Maisey · 14th February 2008, 10:04 PM

This is a fairly common problem, and there are several ways it can be fixed.

The most usual method is to make a small metal cone that fits neatly over the stub of the pesi, fill this cone with jabung, heat the stub of the pesi, and push it into place.

As Lemmy suggests, you can gas or electric weld an extension to the tang and re-file it, but the problem with this method is that apart from adding something new to the body of the keris, which some purists do not like, it often requires that the blade be re-stained after it. It is best to remove the gonjo before you do this, and refit later.

If the stub is too short, even with the gonjo removed, to allow a weld repair, you can drill a hole into the base of the blade, and shrink fit a new pesi, then refit the gonjo.

No blade with a damaged pesi cannot be repaired.

David · 14th February 2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The most usual method is to make a small metal cone that fits neatly over the stub of the pesi, fill this cone with jabung, heat the stub of the pesi, and push it into place.

Alan, for those of us outside of the land of Oz could you describe what "jabung" is. I am not familiar with the name.

A. G. Maisey · 14th February 2008, 10:51 PM

Sorry David.

Jabung is a mixture of damar ( a natural resin), wax, and a binder such as powdered terracotta. It is the material that was most often used to secure weapon handles in SE Asia olden times. It is a very, very strong hotmix glue.

Pusaka · 14th February 2008, 11:30 PM

Thanks everyone! I have never removed a gonjo as I have never needed to.
For this reason I had never seen the true base of the pesi. I had always thought that the pesi was hammered into a pre drilled hole in the base of the blade (friction fitted)

Are all keris blades made so that the blade and pesi are formed together from the same material?

14th February 2008, 08:05 PM	#1
Pusaka Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 341	pesi removal If a pesi was broken so only a stub was left how hard would it be to replace? How is the pesi secured during the manufacture of a keris, is it just friction fitted? If the stub of the pesi was put into the jaws of a vice do you think it could be removed without damaging the keris?

14th February 2008, 09:17 PM	#2
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi Pusaka, the pesi is forged as an integral part of the blade. If there's only a "stump" left it must have broken, you would have to weld a new piece of metal onto the stump and file it to size.

14th February 2008, 10:04 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,861	This is a fairly common problem, and there are several ways it can be fixed. The most usual method is to make a small metal cone that fits neatly over the stub of the pesi, fill this cone with jabung, heat the stub of the pesi, and push it into place. As Lemmy suggests, you can gas or electric weld an extension to the tang and re-file it, but the problem with this method is that apart from adding something new to the body of the keris, which some purists do not like, it often requires that the blade be re-stained after it. It is best to remove the gonjo before you do this, and refit later. If the stub is too short, even with the gonjo removed, to allow a weld repair, you can drill a hole into the base of the blade, and shrink fit a new pesi, then refit the gonjo. No blade with a damaged pesi cannot be repaired.

14th February 2008, 10:51 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,861	Sorry David. Jabung is a mixture of damar ( a natural resin), wax, and a binder such as powdered terracotta. It is the material that was most often used to secure weapon handles in SE Asia olden times. It is a very, very strong hotmix glue.

14th February 2008, 11:30 PM	#6
Pusaka Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 341	Thanks everyone! I have never removed a gonjo as I have never needed to. For this reason I had never seen the true base of the pesi. I had always thought that the pesi was hammered into a pre drilled hole in the base of the blade (friction fitted) Are all keris blades made so that the blade and pesi are formed together from the same material?