Arsenic or realgar for Keris etching?

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2009, 03:17 PM

Semar, I have not purchased warangan in Surabaya.

Please re-read what I wrote so that you will understand clearly what I am saying.

I will repeat my message in the most simple terms possible in order that there can be no misunderstanding:-

1)--- the warangan that I have purchased in Solo, and have used, over a 30 year period does not look like the photos of warangan shown in this thread.

2)--- the warangan currently available in Solo is unreliable in producing satisfactory results.

3)--- since at least 1962 I have stained keris with laboratory quality arsenic trioxide; the results I am able to obtain with this are consistent, and in most cases I get a superior result to that which I am accustomed to seeing from professional blade stainers in Indonesia.

One thing I did not say in my previous post is that I pay to have approximately 100 blades stained during each 12 month period; I normally have to return half of these blades to the tukang because they are unsatisfactory; of the half I return I normally have to return about 15 or 20 blades a second time; of those blades I usually have five or so blades to stain myself. I use laboratory quality arsenic trioxide on these failed blades, and my staining is always successful.

semar · 10th August 2009, 05:24 PM

oke I understand sorry bud my engels is not verry good and thats te reson
that I somtimes not understand whats say in the mail

regards semar

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2009, 10:44 PM

Yes Semar, it can be difficult to understand clearly if you are struggling with a language other than your own.

I was not casting any aspersions upon your comments, simply recounting my own experience.

10th August 2009, 03:17 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,017	Semar, I have not purchased warangan in Surabaya. Please re-read what I wrote so that you will understand clearly what I am saying. I will repeat my message in the most simple terms possible in order that there can be no misunderstanding:- 1)--- the warangan that I have purchased in Solo, and have used, over a 30 year period does not look like the photos of warangan shown in this thread. 2)--- the warangan currently available in Solo is unreliable in producing satisfactory results. 3)--- since at least 1962 I have stained keris with laboratory quality arsenic trioxide; the results I am able to obtain with this are consistent, and in most cases I get a superior result to that which I am accustomed to seeing from professional blade stainers in Indonesia. One thing I did not say in my previous post is that I pay to have approximately 100 blades stained during each 12 month period; I normally have to return half of these blades to the tukang because they are unsatisfactory; of the half I return I normally have to return about 15 or 20 blades a second time; of those blades I usually have five or so blades to stain myself. I use laboratory quality arsenic trioxide on these failed blades, and my staining is always successful.

10th August 2009, 05:24 PM	#2
semar Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 272	oke I understand sorry bud my engels is not verry good and thats te reson that I somtimes not understand whats say in the mail regards semar

10th August 2009, 10:44 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,017	Yes Semar, it can be difficult to understand clearly if you are struggling with a language other than your own. I was not casting any aspersions upon your comments, simply recounting my own experience.