Titanium Keris

Raden Usman Djogja · 27th January 2008, 01:10 AM

dear ALan, Fearn and Richard,

I am goint to email my friend to read this thread. Then, he must decide what he will do.

Thank you for this valuable info.

warm salam,
Oes

fearn · 27th January 2008, 05:22 AM

Dear Richard and A.G.,

I'm glad you two spoke up!

My other question, for the keris collectors, is about the alternate course of action: forming the keris blade out of solid titanium, then anodizing the surface to simulate a pamor. How would you evaluate it? Assuming it could be done, would the result be a "keris-shaped object," or just an exotic keris, much like that brass-bladed specimen that showed up some time ago?

I'm not convinced that a solid titanium keris could be created at a traditional forge, through carving and/or simple forging (titanium is pretty tough to work with, and I have no idea what the anodizing rig looks like or costs), but I am curious as to whether this is even a viable alternative, or whether the titanium keris is just a bad idea.

F

A. G. Maisey · 27th January 2008, 06:31 AM

I've never worked with titanium, Fearn, but I have a mate who is a jeweller and fine art metal craftsman who has worked with it, and another mate who is a custom knife maker who has worked with it. Both reckon it is a swine of material to work with.

As far as I am concerned, any keris made of titanium just would not qualify as a keris. The whole "magic" of the keris is tied into the mystic smith and the reforging of souls. Once you move away from a traditional forge and the rebirth of iron, then you've lost the plot.

You could undoubtedly create a keris-like work of art from titanium, but it would not be a keris.

lemmythesmith · 27th January 2008, 03:54 PM

I've made jewellry from titanium and it is a difficult metal to work. A mendak or pendok made from it would be nice though... I remember the ring I made from titanium turning a gorgeous purple colour just by heating and allowing to cool in air.

27th January 2008, 01:10 AM	#1
Raden Usman Djogja Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 199	dear ALan, Fearn and Richard, I am goint to email my friend to read this thread. Then, he must decide what he will do. Thank you for this valuable info. warm salam, Oes

27th January 2008, 05:22 AM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Dear Richard and A.G., I'm glad you two spoke up! My other question, for the keris collectors, is about the alternate course of action: forming the keris blade out of solid titanium, then anodizing the surface to simulate a pamor. How would you evaluate it? Assuming it could be done, would the result be a "keris-shaped object," or just an exotic keris, much like that brass-bladed specimen that showed up some time ago? I'm not convinced that a solid titanium keris could be created at a traditional forge, through carving and/or simple forging (titanium is pretty tough to work with, and I have no idea what the anodizing rig looks like or costs), but I am curious as to whether this is even a viable alternative, or whether the titanium keris is just a bad idea. F

27th January 2008, 06:31 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,134	I've never worked with titanium, Fearn, but I have a mate who is a jeweller and fine art metal craftsman who has worked with it, and another mate who is a custom knife maker who has worked with it. Both reckon it is a swine of material to work with. As far as I am concerned, any keris made of titanium just would not qualify as a keris. The whole "magic" of the keris is tied into the mystic smith and the reforging of souls. Once you move away from a traditional forge and the rebirth of iron, then you've lost the plot. You could undoubtedly create a keris-like work of art from titanium, but it would not be a keris.

27th January 2008, 03:54 PM	#4
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	I've made jewellry from titanium and it is a difficult metal to work. A mendak or pendok made from it would be nice though... I remember the ring I made from titanium turning a gorgeous purple colour just by heating and allowing to cool in air.