contrast in pamor

A. G. Maisey · 21st July 2008, 10:48 PM

An old Bali keris with its original stain, is something that should be preserved as is.

Even if that stain has deteriorated a little, it still should be kept original.

In my experience, it is now impossible to get an authentic Bali clean and stain job done in Bali, by Balinese. It seems that everybody I talk to sends their blades away to Jawa or Madura to have them done. The result is a lot different to an authentic Bali stain. This has been the case for many years. I think it is likely that this keris was stained pre-WWII.

I have stained blades using the Balinese methods, and the work involved is many times the work involved for a Javanese stain.

This keris should be preserved exactly as it is. It is a very good example of an old Bali keris; it is not a top quality piece, but it is a good keris, and a very scarce commodity.

My advice on cleaning would vary a little from Pak Gonjo's advice.

Remove the hilt and hilt ring. Using hot water, a soft toothbrush , and dishwash detergent, thoroughly clean and rinse the blade. Dry with a soft, lint free cloth, follow this by drying with a hairdryer, then drench with WD40, and allow to stand overnight before applying a good oil. Traditional, coconut based, keris oil should be avoided for this type of blade. If you want a scented oil, make your own from medicinal paraffin and sandalwood oil; if the scent is not important to you, use a good quality gun oil. When the blade has been oiled, store it in a plastic sleeve, or wrap with plastic lunch wrap. It should not be put straight back into the wood wrongko. Ferric material against cellulose material is guaranteed to eventually cause corrosion, and in the case of this keris, preservation and conservation should be prioritised.

After this initial treatment, you might like to consider coming back to the blade in a few weeks, and using magnification and a strong light, carefully remove any active rust from the blade. Needles of various sizes are good for this job, and the most useful is a small saddler's needle mounted in an awl.You need to work pit by pit.

Forget all about any restaining. This keris is beautiful just the way it is.

asomotif · 22nd July 2008, 12:39 AM

Sjors,

Agree with all the previous speakers. Do not restain.

I wish I could find a keris like yours nowadays.

In case you get bored with it, you can PM me

PenangsangII · 22nd July 2008, 05:00 AM

Alan, can the cleaning techniques be applied to other than balinese keris, say Javanese or Buginese or even Peninsula kerises. Will it get the same optimum effect?

A. G. Maisey · 22nd July 2008, 05:34 AM

No, you cannot change the nature of the material by using a different clean/stain technique, nor can you undo erosion to the surface by using the Balinese clean technique.

In very simple terms, the Balinese cleaning process is to a large degree mechanical, in that the blade is polished before it is stained, it is not just soaked in acid a la Javanese blades.The polished surface allows a cleaner definition between dark and light colour areas, which creates the impression of high contrast.

If you took a Javanese blade that had its surface eroded, and repolished it to a Balinese type surface, you would see a similar effect to the finish on a Balinese blade---but you might lose the lighter coloured pamor material along the way.

However, I repeat:- you cannot change the nature of the material. If the material is grey on grey, it will still be grey on grey after it is repolished.

sjors · 22nd July 2008, 06:08 AM

Gentlemen,

thank you for your elaborate answers. You made one thing very clear to me: no restaining !

Dear Ganjawulung and Mr. Maisey: thank you for your advices about the cleaning process.

@ asomotif: I'm afraid this keris is gonna stay a little bit longer at its present home

pakana · 22nd July 2008, 07:16 AM

Alan,

it's a question that maybe its a silly one but, when I clean my keris I don't clean the peksi as well. I just hold the keris from the hilt, and clean it. Is it a huge mistake?

george

A. G. Maisey · 22nd July 2008, 09:15 AM

What sort of cleaning are we talking about George?

Just a light maintenance clean, or a thorough clean preceding a stain that you expect to last for a very long time?

In any case, if it involves anything more than just a light brushing, it is best to demount the blade.

21st July 2008, 10:48 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	An old Bali keris with its original stain, is something that should be preserved as is. Even if that stain has deteriorated a little, it still should be kept original. In my experience, it is now impossible to get an authentic Bali clean and stain job done in Bali, by Balinese. It seems that everybody I talk to sends their blades away to Jawa or Madura to have them done. The result is a lot different to an authentic Bali stain. This has been the case for many years. I think it is likely that this keris was stained pre-WWII. I have stained blades using the Balinese methods, and the work involved is many times the work involved for a Javanese stain. This keris should be preserved exactly as it is. It is a very good example of an old Bali keris; it is not a top quality piece, but it is a good keris, and a very scarce commodity. My advice on cleaning would vary a little from Pak Gonjo's advice. Remove the hilt and hilt ring. Using hot water, a soft toothbrush , and dishwash detergent, thoroughly clean and rinse the blade. Dry with a soft, lint free cloth, follow this by drying with a hairdryer, then drench with WD40, and allow to stand overnight before applying a good oil. Traditional, coconut based, keris oil should be avoided for this type of blade. If you want a scented oil, make your own from medicinal paraffin and sandalwood oil; if the scent is not important to you, use a good quality gun oil. When the blade has been oiled, store it in a plastic sleeve, or wrap with plastic lunch wrap. It should not be put straight back into the wood wrongko. Ferric material against cellulose material is guaranteed to eventually cause corrosion, and in the case of this keris, preservation and conservation should be prioritised. After this initial treatment, you might like to consider coming back to the blade in a few weeks, and using magnification and a strong light, carefully remove any active rust from the blade. Needles of various sizes are good for this job, and the most useful is a small saddler's needle mounted in an awl.You need to work pit by pit. Forget all about any restaining. This keris is beautiful just the way it is.

22nd July 2008, 12:39 AM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Sjors, Agree with all the previous speakers. Do not restain. I wish I could find a keris like yours nowadays. In case you get bored with it, you can PM me

22nd July 2008, 05:00 AM	#3
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	Alan, can the cleaning techniques be applied to other than balinese keris, say Javanese or Buginese or even Peninsula kerises. Will it get the same optimum effect?

22nd July 2008, 05:34 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	No, you cannot change the nature of the material by using a different clean/stain technique, nor can you undo erosion to the surface by using the Balinese clean technique. In very simple terms, the Balinese cleaning process is to a large degree mechanical, in that the blade is polished before it is stained, it is not just soaked in acid a la Javanese blades.The polished surface allows a cleaner definition between dark and light colour areas, which creates the impression of high contrast. If you took a Javanese blade that had its surface eroded, and repolished it to a Balinese type surface, you would see a similar effect to the finish on a Balinese blade---but you might lose the lighter coloured pamor material along the way. However, I repeat:- you cannot change the nature of the material. If the material is grey on grey, it will still be grey on grey after it is repolished.

22nd July 2008, 06:08 AM	#5
sjors Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 68	Gentlemen, thank you for your elaborate answers. You made one thing very clear to me: no restaining ! Dear Ganjawulung and Mr. Maisey: thank you for your advices about the cleaning process. @ asomotif: I'm afraid this keris is gonna stay a little bit longer at its present home

22nd July 2008, 07:16 AM	#6
pakana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 74	Alan, it's a question that maybe its a silly one but, when I clean my keris I don't clean the peksi as well. I just hold the keris from the hilt, and clean it. Is it a huge mistake? george

22nd July 2008, 09:15 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	What sort of cleaning are we talking about George? Just a light maintenance clean, or a thorough clean preceding a stain that you expect to last for a very long time? In any case, if it involves anything more than just a light brushing, it is best to demount the blade.