My first post and lots of questions!!

David · 30th November 2006, 03:18 AM

Hi John, welcome aboard.
I agree with Rick that your keris appears to be made up of parts from different regions. Lovely ivory hilt. I have used small amounts of mineral oil on some of my ivory pieces. A soft Toothbrush works well as you have noted. But your ukiran does not look too dry in the pics.
I see the rust. on your blade. Can't tell for sure but it looks like it is a fairly surface problem. I bit of oil or WD-40 and a toothbrush might help alot. You shuld, of course, keep your keris oiled regularly. Many of us use a combination of sandalwood and mineral oil or singer oil and other scented oils.
If this doesn't help you may have no choice but to fully clean the blade, striping the stain. Depending on where you live there are people who can restain a keris for you. You are correct that it would be dangerous to leave any active rust on the blade.
There is a very good thread on how to clean a keris on the old forum here. A search of that forum should bring it up.

A. G. Maisey · 30th November 2006, 04:23 AM

G'day John,

I'd be inclined to give that handle a good workout with a worn, soft old toothbrush, and a few drops of baby oil, then hand rub it until all the oil disappears. I'd repeat this a few times at intervals of a couple of days.Take it off the keris first and remove the selut.

With the blade, WD40 soak, allow to drain dry, brisk rub with a stiff nail brush. Any deeper rust, use a needle and a jewellers loupe so you can see what you are doing, and carefully pick the rust out of the individual pores of the metal. I once did a Bali blade like this----about an hour most nights for the best part of a year.Keep coming back to the blade every couple of weeks, and just keep working on it with the oil and brush until all the active rust is gone. In between times, it doesn't do any harm toi keep it wet with oil, wrapped in a plastic film---lunch wrap or plastic sleeve, or even a plastic bag.You might be able to make the blade look pretty presentable without going to a full stain.

30th November 2006, 03:18 AM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Hi John, welcome aboard. I agree with Rick that your keris appears to be made up of parts from different regions. Lovely ivory hilt. I have used small amounts of mineral oil on some of my ivory pieces. A soft Toothbrush works well as you have noted. But your ukiran does not look too dry in the pics. I see the rust. on your blade. Can't tell for sure but it looks like it is a fairly surface problem. I bit of oil or WD-40 and a toothbrush might help alot. You shuld, of course, keep your keris oiled regularly. Many of us use a combination of sandalwood and mineral oil or singer oil and other scented oils. If this doesn't help you may have no choice but to fully clean the blade, striping the stain. Depending on where you live there are people who can restain a keris for you. You are correct that it would be dangerous to leave any active rust on the blade. There is a very good thread on how to clean a keris on the old forum here. A search of that forum should bring it up.

30th November 2006, 04:23 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	G'day John, I'd be inclined to give that handle a good workout with a worn, soft old toothbrush, and a few drops of baby oil, then hand rub it until all the oil disappears. I'd repeat this a few times at intervals of a couple of days.Take it off the keris first and remove the selut. With the blade, WD40 soak, allow to drain dry, brisk rub with a stiff nail brush. Any deeper rust, use a needle and a jewellers loupe so you can see what you are doing, and carefully pick the rust out of the individual pores of the metal. I once did a Bali blade like this----about an hour most nights for the best part of a year.Keep coming back to the blade every couple of weeks, and just keep working on it with the oil and brush until all the active rust is gone. In between times, it doesn't do any harm toi keep it wet with oil, wrapped in a plastic film---lunch wrap or plastic sleeve, or even a plastic bag.You might be able to make the blade look pretty presentable without going to a full stain.