SE Asia tree resin

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

The resin you speak of is not the same as you have Jeff, well it is from the same tree but the way it is made is by using broken down dry leaf dust and the black tar lacquer resin from the tree, which is black like tar when it is collected, the charcoal is already in it from the burned trunk hole in the base of the tree, it is used to make fire in wet jungle and damp and it will burn in rain, but it is also used to set blades which I have pm'd you about and how to use it, you will not see it today as most of the guys who made it are dead, the modern age does not need it it seems, but it can still be bought in Thailand if you know where to find it, Chiangmai - Chiangrai out of the way regions in the north you may find it, they use it in Burma to and laos, but it is called by many names, I know it as Kitai, but there are many more modern things used in making it today.
Today they simply do a burn in for the tang, then push a plastic carrier bag inside and push in the heated tang heated to blue and let it cool where as they used to put in little pieces if kitai and do the same, it does the same as Kitai resin and is recycling at its best as I see it.

Real kitai is here in the pics, the bars are 10 inches long by 2 inches by 1 inch and wrapped in a leaf wrap, I have had it for many years, it can be used to fix holes in boats, anything really, and it will not come undone unless heated, but you will not stick 2 pieces of timber together with it, it is not a wood glue.
All dha and daab blades are set with this or another type of resin mix from the same tree that when you heat the blade at the forte the heat will travel into the hilt and allow you to remove the blade, re set it, etc etc, but it sets fast, 2 to 5 mins max, and when it does set hard it is like concrete and will last for hundreds of years.

Charcoal powder might work and maybe a little bees wax, trial and error really and you might get the same type of consistency as the kitai resin I know and have.

I would not however try to heat it or render it down as suggested here by one member, especially not indoors, the fumes from it when heated are very very poisonous, if it sticks to your skin it will burn you badly and not come off until your skin does.
Believe me I have used this resin many times and have been burned by it to, be careful when you make it up, gloves maybe a good idea and do it outside if you are going to heat it and do not breath it in, dried cow dung is also used to thicken it in some regions, and in others burned powdered egg shells or even earth dust.
Hope this helps. Snody