Restoration project

GIO · 21st July 2011, 07:34 PM

I would like to submit the pics of the various step of a restoration of a keris.
The reason is mainly for obtaining comments and some advice of the reason of a deceiving result. Moreover: why the blade is about 3/4 corroded and the upper part seems almost new ? Maybe because of tempering ?
Thanks in advance

Before the treatment:

GIO · 21st July 2011, 07:36 PM

After cleaning :

GIO · 21st July 2011, 07:41 PM

Final result :

A. G. Maisey · 21st July 2011, 11:07 PM

Yes, the part of the blade that has been heat treated always shows more corrosion than the part that has not been heat treated.

It is not "tempering".

It is "heat treating"

The blade is brought to critical temperature and plunged into a cooling medium, water or oil.

This hardens it, and for a keris that is all that is done.

If it were to be tempered, the next step would be to heat it gently until a polished section of the blade showed the correct colour, typically for a knife blade, straw/blue.

This tempering, or "drawing of the temper" process is not carried out for keris, as it is not necessary:- the steel core which has been hardened is protected from damage by the pamor which does not contain steel, and hence is softer than the core.

Gustav · 22nd July 2011, 08:27 AM

One of seldom seen (on this forum) better quality Javanese blades. It would be nice to see a picture of the whole blade in correct upright position.

Looks like someone excessively tested it, if it's heat trated or not

I hope, these marks are not so deep.

GIO · 22nd July 2011, 03:26 PM

Mr Maisey, many thanks for explaining the correct definition. Often the less qualified books refer to the heat treatment as "tempering".
Gustav, shall post a pic of the whole blade as soon as I get a decent image.

GIO · 22nd July 2011, 03:28 PM

In my opinion the pamor is Tungak Semi/Udan Mas. Am I correct ?

GIO · 25th July 2011, 05:08 PM

[QUOTE=Gustav]One of seldom seen (on this forum) better quality Javanese blades. It would be nice to see a picture of the whole blade in correct upright position.

Hi Gustav,
Here are the pictures of the whole blade. Unfortunately I coudn't make the pics in good lighting conditions.

21st July 2011, 07:34 PM	#1
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	Restoration project I would like to submit the pics of the various step of a restoration of a keris. The reason is mainly for obtaining comments and some advice of the reason of a deceiving result. Moreover: why the blade is about 3/4 corroded and the upper part seems almost new ? Maybe because of tempering ? Thanks in advance Before the treatment: Attached Images

21st July 2011, 07:36 PM	#2
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	After cleaning : Attached Images

21st July 2011, 07:41 PM	#3
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	Final result : Attached Images

25th July 2011, 05:08 PM	#8
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	[QUOTE=Gustav]One of seldom seen (on this forum) better quality Javanese blades. It would be nice to see a picture of the whole blade in correct upright position. Hi Gustav, Here are the pictures of the whole blade. Unfortunately I coudn't make the pics in good lighting conditions. Attached Images

21st July 2011, 11:07 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,897	Yes, the part of the blade that has been heat treated always shows more corrosion than the part that has not been heat treated. It is not "tempering". It is "heat treating" The blade is brought to critical temperature and plunged into a cooling medium, water or oil. This hardens it, and for a keris that is all that is done. If it were to be tempered, the next step would be to heat it gently until a polished section of the blade showed the correct colour, typically for a knife blade, straw/blue. This tempering, or "drawing of the temper" process is not carried out for keris, as it is not necessary:- the steel core which has been hardened is protected from damage by the pamor which does not contain steel, and hence is softer than the core.

22nd July 2011, 08:27 AM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	One of seldom seen (on this forum) better quality Javanese blades. It would be nice to see a picture of the whole blade in correct upright position. Looks like someone excessively tested it, if it's heat trated or not I hope, these marks are not so deep.

22nd July 2011, 03:26 PM	#6
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	Mr Maisey, many thanks for explaining the correct definition. Often the less qualified books refer to the heat treatment as "tempering". Gustav, shall post a pic of the whole blade as soon as I get a decent image.

22nd July 2011, 03:28 PM	#7
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	In my opinion the pamor is Tungak Semi/Udan Mas. Am I correct ?