contrast in pamor

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.

sjors · 22nd July 2008, 10:15 AM

Dear David,

I am pleased to be able to reassure you. It is not rust but dirt in the sogakan, (and a lot of it

)
regards, sjors

pakana · 22nd July 2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

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.

Hi Alan,

I was reffering to a simple cleaning with a toothbrush, and some soap, to get rid of the excess oil on the blade, and maybe to bright a little more the blade. Then oil it, and store it. Is it nesessery to clean the peksi too, and then oil it? I guess yes, but what do you think?

George

A. G. Maisey · 22nd July 2008, 11:39 PM

George, for any cleaning involving soap and water, I would most definitely remove the hilt, not because I think the pesi should be cleaned, but to ensure that the top of the gonjo was properly cleaned, and that the hilt and mendak were not damaged by the water.

It is a very minor thing to remove and replace a hilt. Yes, if the hilt is a long term fixture, and has been put in place with jabung, or shellac, or is rusted tight, it can be a major thing to remove it, but if that is the case, the blade probably needs more than a light clean anyway.

Speaking for myself, if I find it necessary to really give a blade a good clean, I use mineral turpentine, not soap and water, however, you need a degree of experience to be able gauge the effect of the turps on the stain:- with some recently applied commercial stains, the turps can lighten or remove the colour in the blade.

In any case, why would one wish to remove excess oil on a blade by washing?

All I ever do is pat it dry and redistribute it with a dry toothbrush.I almost never use soap and water on a blade, and when I do it is invariably followed by a WD40 drench.

22nd July 2008, 05:34 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	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	#2
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	#3
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	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	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.

22nd July 2008, 10:15 AM	#5
sjors Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 68	Dear David, I am pleased to be able to reassure you. It is not rust but dirt in the sogakan, (and a lot of it ) regards, sjors

22nd July 2008, 11:39 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	George, for any cleaning involving soap and water, I would most definitely remove the hilt, not because I think the pesi should be cleaned, but to ensure that the top of the gonjo was properly cleaned, and that the hilt and mendak were not damaged by the water. It is a very minor thing to remove and replace a hilt. Yes, if the hilt is a long term fixture, and has been put in place with jabung, or shellac, or is rusted tight, it can be a major thing to remove it, but if that is the case, the blade probably needs more than a light clean anyway. Speaking for myself, if I find it necessary to really give a blade a good clean, I use mineral turpentine, not soap and water, however, you need a degree of experience to be able gauge the effect of the turps on the stain:- with some recently applied commercial stains, the turps can lighten or remove the colour in the blade. In any case, why would one wish to remove excess oil on a blade by washing? All I ever do is pat it dry and redistribute it with a dry toothbrush.I almost never use soap and water on a blade, and when I do it is invariably followed by a WD40 drench.