Gunong

[T. Koch]

Wow Robert, what a transformation! We're talking pure necromancy here!

It's very inspiring to see your work and you did good bringing honor to the old piece. I aim to slowly and gradually increase my own restoration skills and hope to one day be able to pull off this caliber of work too. I'll look forward to see you antiquing the brass and hope you'll be detailed in your description here as well. -I'm considering this on one of my own swords, so would love to see whats possible.


Thanks for sharing, - Thor

[Sajen]

Perfect!

[Robert]

Thank you all very much for your kind words. I will be posting pictures of the scabbard as the work progresses. It will take time though as I am (as usual) trying to do ten things all at the same time.
Best,
Robert

[imas560]

Hello Robert,
any chance of an update on progress?

Also I was wondering what kind of wax you used for polishing the hilt?
I've just got some Natural Beeswax Finisher's Formula with Manuka Oil & Honey made in NZ. Am building up courage to use on a couple of handles.

And what you used as the bonding agent (resin, glue etc)?
I've been trying to look for damar but am not sure what kind to get (white versus red).

Apologies for all the questions, but threads like this on restoration/care and maintenance are most informative.
thanks

[Robert]

Imas560, Very sorry for not responding to your questions earlier, but it has been quite hectic here at the old homestead this summer. I haven't done much of anything other than taking care of the endless list of chores around the house that "she who must be obeyed" keeps finding to occupy my time with. That being said, I hope to be able to post a few new photos early next week. To answer your inquiry on the wax, I use Renaissance wax on all the pieces in my collection. On this piece however because of the wood being so dried out I used artist linseed oil to refresh the wood (after the glue had dried for several days) before applying the Ren wax. As to the adhesive, I use my own homemade cutlers resin/damar. Here is the recipe that I use:

8 oz pine pitch,
1/4 cup carnauba wax
4 oz beeswax
Powdered black paint pigment for color
and as a hardening agent for when it sets

The amount of pigment used varies depending on how hard you want this to set up after it cools. After this is all carefully melted together in a double boiler I pour it into silicon ice cube trays to cool for later use.
Most all of these items can be found at your local hardware store other than the pine pitch which I found on epray. I hope that this has answered your questions and will be of some help to you.

Best,
Robert

[imas560]

Hello Robert,
very helpful thanks. I've just ordered some beeswax and am trying to hunt down some gum, might have a line for some kauri gum, but I might be able to scrounge some pine gum from some local trees.
Things seem to be coming together nicely, just need some time for some alchemy in the backyard.
thanks

[Robert]

Hello Everyone, I've been meaning to up-date this thread for awhile and never seemed to remember to get around to it. Here are a couple of photos of the gunong after doing a little work to the scabbard. These were taken before I oil finished the wood and aged the brass bits. I will have to take a couple more photos of it to post in the next day or so as I never got around to doing it after I was finished with this piece. I hope that you approve of my efforts at restoring this and trying to give it back some of the dignity it had lost over years of neglect by its previous owners.

Best,
Robert