Question about preserving a keris

A. G. Maisey · 1st February 2022, 08:45 PM

SJ, in respect of using a foam cleaner on any part of keris silver, think about this carefully.

When we clean embossed or engraved silver, we want the impressions in the silver to retain their patina, we do not want to remove that black or bluish patina that permits the motif to be seen.

The ideal way, and also the easiest way in which to clean a tarnished pendok is to do an initial clean with 0000 steel wool, then follow up with a silver polish cloth.

All pastes and fluids cause more problems than they solve where keris are concerned. Pastes and foams and powders and fluids are great for silver platters and large items of silver ware, this is what they are designed for.

They have the potential to break your heart if you use them on keris fittings.

Bob A · 1st February 2022, 09:30 PM

For preservation of ferrous metals, I've long used a product called "Eezox" which is comprised of a solvent/carrier with cleaning properties, dissolved in which there is a surface protectant, left behind when the solvent evaporates. I use it on firearms, swords and knives of various types. If the object is to be stored, I give it a light coat of Renaissance Wax, which serves to seal against moisture even more.

I have not used Eezox on keris, as I'm not sure of its effect on surfaces layered in differing metals. Nor does Ren Wax seem appropriate on keris, given the occasional roughened surfaces.

Someone did extensive anti-corrosion testing, using 46 different products. The results were interesting, though the testing environment is not one I'd imagine any of my objects being exposed to:

https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

A. G. Maisey · 1st February 2022, 10:11 PM

I had a look at that Bob, really impressive.

But where keris are concerned I like to use an aromatic oil, my preference is a mix of a base oil, usually medicinal paraffin or Singer sewing machine oil, and the sandalwood oil with a touch of kenongo oil. But in Jawa, although my mix is probably the most frequently encountered, some people will use other aromatic oils, such as rose, or jasmin.

The reason I like to use aromatic oil is threefold, I like the smell, I don't want to insult any presence that might be in the blade (just because I cannot detect a presence doesn't mean that there is none), and lastly:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw

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1st February 2022, 08:45 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	SJ, in respect of using a foam cleaner on any part of keris silver, think about this carefully. When we clean embossed or engraved silver, we want the impressions in the silver to retain their patina, we do not want to remove that black or bluish patina that permits the motif to be seen. The ideal way, and also the easiest way in which to clean a tarnished pendok is to do an initial clean with 0000 steel wool, then follow up with a silver polish cloth. All pastes and fluids cause more problems than they solve where keris are concerned. Pastes and foams and powders and fluids are great for silver platters and large items of silver ware, this is what they are designed for. They have the potential to break your heart if you use them on keris fittings.

1st February 2022, 09:30 PM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 439	For preservation of ferrous metals, I've long used a product called "Eezox" which is comprised of a solvent/carrier with cleaning properties, dissolved in which there is a surface protectant, left behind when the solvent evaporates. I use it on firearms, swords and knives of various types. If the object is to be stored, I give it a light coat of Renaissance Wax, which serves to seal against moisture even more. I have not used Eezox on keris, as I'm not sure of its effect on surfaces layered in differing metals. Nor does Ren Wax seem appropriate on keris, given the occasional roughened surfaces. Someone did extensive anti-corrosion testing, using 46 different products. The results were interesting, though the testing environment is not one I'd imagine any of my objects being exposed to: https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

1st February 2022, 10:11 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	I had a look at that Bob, really impressive. But where keris are concerned I like to use an aromatic oil, my preference is a mix of a base oil, usually medicinal paraffin or Singer sewing machine oil, and the sandalwood oil with a touch of kenongo oil. But in Jawa, although my mix is probably the most frequently encountered, some people will use other aromatic oils, such as rose, or jasmin. The reason I like to use aromatic oil is threefold, I like the smell, I don't want to insult any presence that might be in the blade (just because I cannot detect a presence doesn't mean that there is none), and lastly:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw