Palembang Keris for your comment

[jwkiernan]

Alan and Jean thank you so much for your input! Thank you Sajen as well...looking forward to seeing your keris.

I'd like to do as little as possible to these (and the others I will post in the coming days) as long as I can prevent further corrosion/erosion of the blades. Alan, years ago I posted a photo of a donoriko hilted keris and I remembered the baby oil suggestion...the first thing I did after receiving this lot was to hit the ivory with baby oil...I didn't realize the second one had a horn hilt until closer examination so it was lemon oiled initially)...I do lemon oil all the wood.

I do not see any evidence of the second blade having ever been stained (to my knowledge...which is growing thanks to ya'll).

I think I may try a good long soak in WD 40 (can't hurt anyway) to start. I do not have any experience with suing acid for this...I think I'll stick with the less evasive...Alan, what about the EvapoRust you posted about? Thanks again for all the info and advice...it is greatly appreciated!

Respectfully,

John

[A. G. Maisey]

John, I did contribute a comment to the evapo thread but I did not start it, and I know nothing about evaporust.

My favourite for cleaning used to be pure pineapple juice, I used that for over 40 years, but I cannot buy it anymore, so these days I use vinegar, and I think citric acid also has a future. In Jawa we use coconut water or lime juice.

In fact, any mild acid will do the job --- tomato juice,coca-cola, anything, but it helps if you know the stuff doesn't keep on working, that way you can leave it for a day instead of watching it. Household vinegar is safe.

NB:- my mention of hydrochloric acid was only for spotting, not ever for a soak, and when you spot with the stuff you stay right there and watch it.

[jwkiernan]

NB:- my mention of hydrochloric acid was only for spotting, not ever for a soak, and when you spot with the stuff you stay right there and watch it.[/QUOTE]

Alan, I was on the same track as you when you were talking about using acid on the rust...it would be plain bad to put that stuff anywhere but where you'd want it to work.

I have used vinegar to re-etch Moro blades, but never used it as a cleaner as well...I will also have to see if I can find some unsweetened pineapple juice here as well...again, thanks for all your inputs and suggestions...I am grateful.

Respectfully,

John

[A. G. Maisey]

John, I used to use real pineapple juice:- fresh pineapples from Queensland taken from the fields and immediately run through a press, then canned.

It was excellent for cleaning rust, and even better for drinking.

I can still buy pineapple juice but its made from imported concentrate and it is totally undrinkable and no good at all for cleaning keris.

I'm betting that the only pineapple juice you will be able to find is reconstituted rubbish from Brazil or somewhere. Don't waste your time or your money.

[jwkiernan]

Thanks Alan...vinegar and WD 40 it is! When you mentioned "wrapping the blade in plastic" I am guessing a seran-wrap/cling wrap type of thing, and if so, can it still be stored in the sheath this way? Again, thank you for all your help with this...as if I didn't see it before, learning and understanding the weapons we preserve and appreciate is a lifelong pursuit...one I think most all of us happily accept!

all my best,

John

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by jwkiernan

Thank you Sajen as well...looking forward to seeing your keris.

Hello John,

here some pictures of my Palembang keris with wooden gana hilt.

Regards,

Detlef