My eBay Venture

dbhmgb · 1st May 2012, 01:45 AM

Hello everyone!

Another member of this forum pointed out this auction to me, so I bid and won. I just received it today and I'm pretty excited. It's going to be an easy clean up - I already started shining up the pendok, the blade is in pineapple juice and I've done some rudimentary repairs to the warangka. I'm really happy becuase this is my first ladrang sheath.

A big "Thank you" yo the tipster!

Sajen · 1st May 2012, 04:10 AM

Congrats for this nice 13 luk keris. Try to polish the wood with car polish, I have received this tip one day from Alan G. Maisey. After this use a good wood oil or antique wax.

Regards,

Detlef

dbhmgb · 1st May 2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Congrats for this nice 13 luk keris. Try to polish the wood with car polish, I have received this tip one day from Alan G. Maisey. After this use a good wood oil or antique wax.

Regards,

Detlef

Thank you on many levels, Detlef! Pretty soon this will be a fine example - the pictures make it look pretty bad, but it is merely cosmetics.

dbhmgb · 5th May 2012, 04:31 PM

Well, here is this keris as of today...

David · 5th May 2012, 04:39 PM

Dan, the hilt is facing in the wrong direction in these latest photos. Spin it around 180º.
Nice job on the clean-up so far...

Greybeard · 5th May 2012, 05:09 PM

Hi Dan. Great results! Great blade -- I just love this type of luk! Congratulations on this fine piece!

Sajen · 5th May 2012, 05:17 PM

Hello Dan,

very nice clean up so far, the wood of the wrongko look very nice, what you use for cleaning? The new hilt you attach is wrong, the original one is matching, why you change it? The sheath type is branggah from Yogya so should use a Yogya hilt.

Regards,

Detlef

Rick · 5th May 2012, 05:43 PM

I agree with Detlef .

The hilt should be Jogja style .
Otherwise, nice ....

David · 5th May 2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

The new hilt you attach is wrong, the original one is matching, why you change it? The sheath type is branggah from Yogya so use a Yogya hilt.

Detlef is right. I was focussing on the clean-up and didn't notice this was a different hilt. This is a Surakarta style hilt and doesn't go with the rest of this ensemble. I would think that the hilt that came with this keris should clean up as well as the sheath did.

dbhmgb · 5th May 2012, 06:26 PM

Don't worry everyone. I have the original hilt, but I found an issue at the last minute that precluded me from using it for the pictures, so I just slapped that one on. I'll take one more when it's done...

dbhmgb · 5th May 2012, 07:44 PM

Here's the original hilt - it's really not quite ready, but you can see the improvement.

Greybeard - thanks! I feel fortunate to have won this keris!

For cleaning I use a fine grade steel wool and work out all the imperfections, then is use light coat of a very light stain with polyurethane. When that dries I use a high grade wood oil and let that soak in. The results are usually good.

The blade is just pineapple juice, stiff brushes and fine grade steel wool.

Greybeard · 5th May 2012, 08:38 PM

Dan, now I'm really tempted to try pinapple juice instead of my usual deluted vinegar -- your results are just too good!

dbhmgb · 5th May 2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Dan, now I'm really tempted to try pinapple juice instead of my usual deluted vinegar -- your results are just too good!

I have to be honest, I'm shocked at the results (plus very pleased)!

asomotif · 5th May 2012, 10:44 PM

Nice job !

I like the mendak. looks almost like suasa

David · 6th May 2012, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

I like the mendak. looks almost like suasa

I'd say that is unlikely given how tarnished it was at the beginning. More likely copper or brass.

dbhmgb · 6th May 2012, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I'd say that is unlikely given how tarnished it was at the beginning. More likely copper or brass.

You're right! It's copper...

Rick · 6th May 2012, 04:36 AM

If I may give a bit of advice as a retired Finisher about your Jogja hilt and scabbards in general .

These urethane/stain combinations are bad for achieving a finish that would be acceptable within the culture .

I would suggest either some form of 'Lac' finish, or failing that , tung or gunstock oil; Watco oil is also an option .

I would strongly advise against using any artificial/plastic formula for finish .

dbhmgb · 6th May 2012, 03:57 PM

Rick,

I am so glad you said something! I liked the way the sheath looked, but, intuitively, something seemed out of place. I need more "live" exposure to kerises. Except for my collection, I've only seen one other keris in person and that was a poor example. This is an easy issue to rectify and I'm going to make it right.

Dan

dbhmgb · 6th May 2012, 07:33 PM

Okay, I jumped the gun yesterday. A good sized chunk of the original hilt broke off when I tried to attach it to the blade, so I needed to fix it - but I was so excited about the results I couldn't wait to post pictures and I threw on that unmatched hilt.

Well, now the original hilt is repaired and the polyurethane has, for the most part, been removed. This has been a great learning experience - thanks to all!

1st May 2012, 01:45 AM	#1
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	My eBay Venture Hello everyone! Another member of this forum pointed out this auction to me, so I bid and won. I just received it today and I'm pretty excited. It's going to be an easy clean up - I already started shining up the pendok, the blade is in pineapple juice and I've done some rudimentary repairs to the warangka. I'm really happy becuase this is my first ladrang sheath. A big "Thank you" yo the tipster! Attached Images

5th May 2012, 04:31 PM	#4
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	UPDATE! Well, here is this keris as of today... Attached Images Last edited by dbhmgb; 6th May 2012 at 04:00 PM.

5th May 2012, 05:17 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Dan, very nice clean up so far, the wood of the wrongko look very nice, what you use for cleaning? The new hilt you attach is wrong, the original one is matching, why you change it? The sheath type is branggah from Yogya so should use a Yogya hilt. Regards, Detlef Last edited by Sajen; 5th May 2012 at 05:49 PM.

5th May 2012, 07:44 PM	#11
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	Here's the original hilt - it's really not quite ready, but you can see the improvement. Greybeard - thanks! I feel fortunate to have won this keris! For cleaning I use a fine grade steel wool and work out all the imperfections, then is use light coat of a very light stain with polyurethane. When that dries I use a high grade wood oil and let that soak in. The results are usually good. The blade is just pineapple juice, stiff brushes and fine grade steel wool. Attached Images

6th May 2012, 07:33 PM	#19
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	Okay, I jumped the gun yesterday. A good sized chunk of the original hilt broke off when I tried to attach it to the blade, so I needed to fix it - but I was so excited about the results I couldn't wait to post pictures and I threw on that unmatched hilt. Well, now the original hilt is repaired and the polyurethane has, for the most part, been removed. This has been a great learning experience - thanks to all! Attached Images

1st May 2012, 04:10 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Congrats for this nice 13 luk keris. Try to polish the wood with car polish, I have received this tip one day from Alan G. Maisey. After this use a good wood oil or antique wax. Regards, Detlef

5th May 2012, 04:39 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Dan, the hilt is facing in the wrong direction in these latest photos. Spin it around 180º. Nice job on the clean-up so far...

5th May 2012, 05:09 PM	#6
Greybeard Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Switzerland Posts: 124	Hi Dan. Great results! Great blade -- I just love this type of luk! Congratulations on this fine piece!

5th May 2012, 05:43 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I agree with Detlef . The hilt should be Jogja style . Otherwise, nice ....

5th May 2012, 06:26 PM	#10
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	Don't worry everyone. I have the original hilt, but I found an issue at the last minute that precluded me from using it for the pictures, so I just slapped that one on. I'll take one more when it's done...

5th May 2012, 08:38 PM	#12
Greybeard Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Switzerland Posts: 124	Dan, now I'm really tempted to try pinapple juice instead of my usual deluted vinegar -- your results are just too good!

5th May 2012, 10:44 PM	#14
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice job ! I like the mendak. looks almost like suasa

6th May 2012, 04:36 AM	#17
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	If I may give a bit of advice as a retired Finisher about your Jogja hilt and scabbards in general . These urethane/stain combinations are bad for achieving a finish that would be acceptable within the culture . I would suggest either some form of 'Lac' finish, or failing that , tung or gunstock oil; Watco oil is also an option . I would strongly advise against using any artificial/plastic formula for finish .

6th May 2012, 03:57 PM	#18
dbhmgb Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 112	Rick, I am so glad you said something! I liked the way the sheath looked, but, intuitively, something seemed out of place. I need more "live" exposure to kerises. Except for my collection, I've only seen one other keris in person and that was a poor example. This is an easy issue to rectify and I'm going to make it right. Dan