New Rencong Meucannge comments and advice

[A. G. Maisey]

Detlef, I have done this repair on hilts more times than I can remember, mostly keris hilts, but also a couple of rencongs and more than a few assorted knives. I have also done similar repairs on statuary and furniture.

It does require care, and it does require precision.

If the alignment of the pins is out by a few thousandths of an inch you simply enlarge the hole a little and fill with the adhesive, which when set is at least as strong as most hilt materials. A small misalignment can be hidden by recarve and stain.

Superglue will work, and superglue is what would be used in Indonesia --- well, not super glue exactly, but a similar product called Alteco. The problem with super glue is that it dries out after a few years and the joint comes adrift. If all you want to do is to recycle something on ebay, or sell out of a warung in some market in Jawa you use super glue. If you want a joint with integrity that will outlast you , you do a tradesman like job.

[Rick]

Possibly one might apply a very tiny drop of say, acrylic artist's paint or some substance that will leave a mark to the center of one part .
Then carefully and very lightly press the parts together in the proper aligned position .
Pull them apart and you will have, at least a rough idea from the residue of where to drill on each part .

Yeah, there was a previously repaired/restored break in that spot .

[Battara]

I agree with Alan, although I was thinking of water buffalo horn or strong wood. A metal pin will do to. I would use the epoxy instead of superglue for the reasons Alan mentions and for another reason - superglue does not fill in gaps.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Detlef, I have done this repair on hilts more times than I can remember, mostly keris hilts, but also a couple of rencongs and more than a few assorted knives. I have also done similar repairs on statuary and furniture.

It does require care, and it does require precision.

If the alignment of the pins is out by a few thousandths of an inch you simply enlarge the hole a little and fill with the adhesive, which when set is at least as strong as most hilt materials. A small misalignment can be hidden by recarve and stain.

Superglue will work, and superglue is what would be used in Indonesia --- well, not super glue exactly, but a similar product called Alteco. The problem with super glue is that it dries out after a few years and the joint comes adrift. If all you want to do is to recycle something on ebay, or sell out of a warung in some market in Jawa you use super glue. If you want a joint with integrity that will outlast you , you do a tradesman like job.

Hello Alan,

yes, I have done similar repairs in the same way you have described but have seen repairs which was done unprofessional and I have had a lot of work to open the break again to restore it in a better way. When someone is unused by repairs like this there is a big risk that the repair look ugly so my suggestion to use superglue. But I wasn't aware that the superglue dries out and the joint will come adrift. Anyway, agree complete with you, the way of repair you have described is the professional way.

Regards,

Detlef