Javanese Keris

[David]

Originally Posted by Green

I've voiced in this forum several times that the westerners are wont to 'over clean' the blades into shiny surface, whereas most locals (at least in Malaysia) prefer to leave the blade in the original texture which is usually somewhat grainy almost like v fine sandpaper texture. Hence the usual mode of aggresive cleaning is merely using hard tootbrush after a long dip in coconut juice or merely clean it with lime juice with hard rub with thumb and finger? (that's how i saw Bugis people clean their keris anyway).

Yes Green, you have voiced this opinion on numerous occasions and each time we have discussed that methods for keris cleaning are different in different parts of Indonesia. I am get just a little tired on you blaming what you see as "over cleaning" on Western preferences. Alan's suggestions have nothing to do with Western ideas on this. How Bugis clean their blades and how Javanese clean their blades are simple not the same process. The Balinese are likely to actually polish their blades in the cleaning process. Like Detlef i have also seen many Peninsula and Bugis blades that have never left Indonesia that have been maintained with very smooth finishes. As for you own keris panjang i cannot really see the abrasions you speak of in the photographs provided, but an old blade is bound to have obvious wear on the high points and edges.
You should also understand, in case you are unaware, that steel wool comes in many different grades of coarseness up to, i believe #0000. At that fine level it won't even scratch stainless steel. Alan probably should have stated what grade of steel wool he was talking about, but i would image he probably would suggest something around #00, which is still too fine to do any damage unless you were really using some excessive force when working.

[A. G. Maisey]

I understand what you're saying Green, and I do not disagree with your sentiments, however, as others here have said, the way in which people clean a keris blade varies from place to place.

Sometimes mechanical cleaning is the best way to go, sometimes chemical cleaning is the best way to go.

In respect of steel wool, to the best of my knowledge that is not available in Indonesia, at least it is not available in Central Jawa. The grade I mentioned above:- Medium is in fact grade 1. The steel wool manufacturers in Australia changed their designations a couple of years back:- COURSE = grade 2-3, MEDIUM = grade 1, FINE = grade 00, very fine = grade 0000.

Grade 2-3 is ideal for removing heavy corrosion, or for cleaning metal before soldering, grade 1 is the all-round grade that you will find in every metal-worker's or carpenter's tool box, grade 00 is good for early coats in a french polish and for cleaning metals like silver and gold, 0000 is good for finish coats in a french polish and to raise the polish in precious metals.

The way in which to use steel wool to spot clean a keris blade, or any other ferric metal for that matter, is to take a sate stick, split the end of it, open the split and place a few strands of steel wool into the split, then wind those strands around the end of the stick. I sometimes use grade 2-3 for this, sometimes grade 1.

As with any procedure in any field, the operator needs to know what he is doing, an untrained or inexperienced operator should learn from those who have the knowledge, before he attempts anything.

For example:- Araldite; its wonderful stuff, best adhesive known to man --- however, in my opinion it should require a certificate of competence before anybody is permitted to buy it.

[A. G. Maisey]

Athanase, your carpenter friend may be able to assist you, especially so if he has experience in the field of fine art cabinet making, however, although you should be receptive to his advice, it might be a good idea if you ran his suggestions past the members of this Forum, many of whom have lengthy experience in the restoration of S.E. Asian weaponry.