Kris hilt problems, solution anybody?

S.Workman · 8th May 2014, 03:13 PM

Hello everyone,
I am in the process of rejuvenating a (probably) Bali kris. I got some great tips from lurking on this forum, especially concerning blade care and restoration. When I removed the blade, it proved to be very easy as the tang was wrapped in rotten cloth which I guess was used to take up the extra room in the hulu, which has a very much larger hole than the kris has a tang. Is there a traditional or rational method for securing the undersized tang? I was thinking along the lines of jute twine secured with pine tar.
On another note, before I cleaned the blade, this kris had a very unpleasant smell, like fish and rotten eggs combined. Very odd...

David · 9th May 2014, 07:26 PM

Welcome to the forum Mr. Workman. Don't know about the smell as i tend to find them more pleasantly scented with floral oils. But folks use all kinds of things to tighten up hilts. I've found all kinds if string, yarn and twine used and i have had a number of old keris that have used human hair for the purpose. I would not add any pine tar to the mix unless you plan on going into battle with your keris. I think it is better to leave it more moveable than not and pine tar will be sticky and messy, even if not exactly permanent. I generally cut linen cloth into long strips for securing hilts. I like to use natural fibers.

David · 9th May 2014, 07:31 PM

BTW, keris are almost always kept tight to the hilt in a similar manner. This is not unusual in the lest bit.
I have deleted your other post because it is a repeat of this one in your questioning. As a new member you will be on moderated status for a little while and will have to wait until myself or Rick (the other keris forum moderator) clears your post. Please be patient and we will get to you…promise.

S.Workman · 10th May 2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

BTW, keris are almost always kept tight to the hilt in a similar manner. This is not unusual in the lest bit.
I have deleted your other post because it is a repeat of this one in your questioning. As a new member you will be on moderated status for a little while and will have to wait until myself or Rick (the other keris forum moderator) clears your post. Please be patient and we will get to you…promise.

Thank you for your welcome, your information, and for deleting the duplicated post. I had assumed that I had made a mistake and inadvertently hit the back arrow instead of the submit reply button. I am on an ipad and it's a common enough mistake of mine.
I live in a cold, cloudy place but I am hoping to have sufficient sun this weekend to finish up the blade to this keris. Cross your fingers for me.

Sajen · 10th May 2014, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.Workman

I live in a cold, cloudy place but I am hoping to have sufficient sun this weekend to finish up the blade to this keris. Cross your fingers for me.

Welcome to the forum S.,

good luck! Hope we get to see some pictures!

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 10th May 2014, 08:20 PM

There are a few fixes for hole bigger than tang.

Where the tang is very thin, you can make a miniature cone out of thin steel, a piece of old tin can is the sort of material to use. Fit it to the tang and hold it in place with damar or jabung, or even epoxy resin.

If the problem is a far too big hole in the tang, just plug the hole with a dowel, glue in place, and redrill.

I prefer knitting wool as the material to use for a friction fit of tang to hilt, because it compresses. Fabric and the various twines do not compress to the same degree as wool. It is pretty easy to split a hilt if you force it on.

8th May 2014, 03:13 PM	#1
S.Workman Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 116	Kris hilt problems, solution anybody? Hello everyone, I am in the process of rejuvenating a (probably) Bali kris. I got some great tips from lurking on this forum, especially concerning blade care and restoration. When I removed the blade, it proved to be very easy as the tang was wrapped in rotten cloth which I guess was used to take up the extra room in the hulu, which has a very much larger hole than the kris has a tang. Is there a traditional or rational method for securing the undersized tang? I was thinking along the lines of jute twine secured with pine tar. On another note, before I cleaned the blade, this kris had a very unpleasant smell, like fish and rotten eggs combined. Very odd...

9th May 2014, 07:26 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Welcome to the forum Mr. Workman. Don't know about the smell as i tend to find them more pleasantly scented with floral oils. But folks use all kinds of things to tighten up hilts. I've found all kinds if string, yarn and twine used and i have had a number of old keris that have used human hair for the purpose. I would not add any pine tar to the mix unless you plan on going into battle with your keris. I think it is better to leave it more moveable than not and pine tar will be sticky and messy, even if not exactly permanent. I generally cut linen cloth into long strips for securing hilts. I like to use natural fibers.

9th May 2014, 07:31 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	BTW, keris are almost always kept tight to the hilt in a similar manner. This is not unusual in the lest bit. I have deleted your other post because it is a repeat of this one in your questioning. As a new member you will be on moderated status for a little while and will have to wait until myself or Rick (the other keris forum moderator) clears your post. Please be patient and we will get to you…promise.

10th May 2014, 08:20 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	There are a few fixes for hole bigger than tang. Where the tang is very thin, you can make a miniature cone out of thin steel, a piece of old tin can is the sort of material to use. Fit it to the tang and hold it in place with damar or jabung, or even epoxy resin. If the problem is a far too big hole in the tang, just plug the hole with a dowel, glue in place, and redrill. I prefer knitting wool as the material to use for a friction fit of tang to hilt, because it compresses. Fabric and the various twines do not compress to the same degree as wool. It is pretty easy to split a hilt if you force it on.