A question about a Keris

[Flavio]

Hi all. I have just got this keris from a swap with a very respectable member of this forum. This is my first keris and i like it very much.
Now, the keris doesn't show rust but the blade is quite opaque. I have already read other threads on how to clean keris (also in old forum), but now i want to ask you if is it so wrong to use iron wool on keris with oil (like i usually use on african weapons). The first two pics show the blade of my keris, the others show how i'd like that my blade was (the third and the fourth one are taken from another thread and is a Lew's keris {sorry Lew }). Thank you

[Lew]

Flavio

I use #0000 steel wool to remove any loose rust.


Lew

[Flavio]

Ah, thank you very much Lew, i will use steel wool n. 0000 and than i will post some pictures. Thanks again

[Lew]

Flavio

I see you to have been bitten by the keris bug. One cannot live by African blades alone


Lew

[Flavio]

Lew,

you know eat always meat is not so good you must change sometimes

[nechesh]

Originally Posted by Flavio

Hi all. I have just got this keris from a swap with a very respectable member of this forum. This is my first keris and i like it very much.
Now, the keris doesn't show rust but the blade is quite opaque. I have already read other threads on how to clean keris (also in old forum), but now i want to ask you if is it so wrong to use iron wool on keris with oil (like i usually use on african weapons). The first two pics show the blade of my keris, the others show how i'd like that my blade was (the third and the fourth one are taken from another thread and is a Lew's keris {sorry Lew }). Thank you

Poor, poor Flavio, there is no going back now. You are a kerisoholic!
About this keris and how you would like to see it. I think it is very important that you understand that the 3rd and 4th examples (and possible the 5th and 6th as well) are Balinese keris while yours appears to be of the Javanese variety. The smooth finish on the Balinese keris is tradition to keris from this island, but it is NOT presently the style of finish on Javanese blades which generally have a deeper etch with a rougher finish. So i wouldn't think to much about trying to make you Jawa keris look like Lew's Bali Keris.
That being said, i agree with Lew that a #0000 steel wool is not likely to do damage to your keris and may help loosen some dirt and rust from it. You might also try soaking it in pineapple juice for a few days with a frequent brushing over with a toothbrush.

[Flavio]

Hello nechesh, thank you for your informations. Anyway i like keris but my heart is 95% still with my african weapons !!!! This doesn't mean that my collection of keris will not grow (i like also the philippine kris, but still I haven't one ).
Hello Mans thank you also to you. This time i will try with steel wool, but for my next keris i will use cocount water.
After the cleaning i will post some pictures. Thank you

[nechesh]

Flavio, what the coconut water and the pineapple juice will do that the stell wool never can is to actually etch your keris to help bring out the pamor pattern. Then, if you are adventurous, you can try applying arsenic and lime juice to darken the iron further and allow the pamor material to really stand out. None of that is capable with steel wool, which will merely help to remove some of the dirt.

[Flavio]

Nechesh, to tell you the truth i don't want to risk my life with arsenic or some other poisons. I think that the steel wool is quite good, maybe i'll try with the pineapple juice that is more safe

[Flavio]

This is the keris cleaning.
Well, I have studied a little, tell me if i'm right or completely wrong

Dapur: Carita (11 luk)
Urikan: Solo Yudo Winatan
Gayaman: Yava solo
Pendok: Lewehan or Slorok (Yogya)
Pamor: (maybe) Kulit Semangka

So the keris would have to be Javanese (as necheshalready told me).
Sorry if i wrote some stupid things.

[Mans]

Originally Posted by Flavio

Hi all. I have just got this keris from a swap with a very respectable member of this forum. This is my first keris and i like it very much.
Now, the keris doesn't show rust but the blade is quite opaque. I have already read other threads on how to clean keris (also in old forum), but now i want to ask you if is it so wrong to use iron wool on keris with oil (like i usually use on african weapons). The first two pics show the blade of my keris, the others show how i'd like that my blade was (the third and the fourth one are taken from another thread and is a Lew's keris {sorry Lew }). Thank you

Hi,

Nice keris, Flavio. Congrat. !
To remove the rust and clean the keris, you can use the Coconut water. Get the ripe coconut. Put your keris into coconut water then waiting for 1-2 days. It can take 3-4 days too, dependt with the rust which patched at the blade. Cleaning the blade with shoap every 6 hours.The rust will remove and you will get the pamor pattern.