3 worn out keris

A. G. Maisey · 26th January 2020, 06:30 AM

There is a heap of stuff in this Forum on cleaning and restoration, I don't know where it is, but maybe David can point you in the right direction, or tell you how to find it.

Apart from that, as Jaga has commented, just a decent cleanup with detergent and a toothbrush can work wonders on a blade if it is not too dirty. I think I'd be trying this on the top keris with the Bugis-style hilt. This actually looks like a pretty decent blade.

The middle blade that is thick with red rust needs a vinegar soak, when you find the cleaning stuff I've mentioned it will explain how to do this. This blade is what we call a "robahan" = a changeling. It has been altered to create the pudak setegal spurs on its side.

The bottom blade is an old very ordinary Javanese blade, this might respond OK to just a dishwash cleanup too.

The top blade does not belong with that Bugis pistol grip type hilt, but it would go pretty nicely with heavily carved hilt that is under the very rusty blade.

The bottom blade has a correct hilt already fitted.

The top scabbard can probably be glued together, but really, none of these blades belong in it.

The other wrongko parts look too far gone to do anything with. Put them into the spare parts box until something comes along that you can use them with.

EDIT

I just noticed the link that Jaga put into his post. The recommendations in that will certainly help, but apart from that there's a lot of other stuff too.

Mickey the Finn · 27th January 2020, 04:25 AM

Provided one thinks of it as a mindless automaton like a "toyol/tuyul", with essentially identical limitations to it's performance, the Search function in the Menu Bar above can be useful. Type in a pertinent word or two, and, provided the word(s) searched for have actually been written in a post (as spelled in the Search field), the posts will be brought up in a list. Searching for "rust removal" would fail to bring up posts with "remove corrosion", or "cleaning keris", unless these words also happened to appear in the same post. Like a toyol, the Search will return with results (if present) for "USD1" while ignoring any Krugerrands or Chilean Pesos which may also be present.

apolaki · 28th January 2020, 04:23 AM

Hello, thank you so much for this wealth of information!

I am interested to know are there specific dish detergents recommended to use or avoid such as citric scent because of acidic properties?

With regards to painting a slurry of bicarbonate of soda to remove the vinegar residue, what is a slurry? Sorry I am not familiar with that term in the US!

A. G. Maisey · 28th January 2020, 05:10 AM

A slurry is a watery paste. Some people consider it to be unnecessary caution, I do not.

I am very specific with my selection of dishwash liquid:- I specifically use the one that is on the kitchen sink.

David · 28th January 2020, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I am very specific with my selection of dishwash liquid:- I specifically use the one that is on the kitchen sink.

apolaki · 5th February 2020, 11:20 PM

Hello!

I bought regular vinegar jug at store. It says "diluted with water to 5% acidity"

How many cups should I add and how much vinegar should I pour afterwards for this bath for the rusted keris?

I am assuming I shouldn't just submerge the keris in straight vinegar even though it says already "diluted with water to 5% acidity."

Thanks again!

David · 6th February 2020, 01:43 AM

Actually i believe that vinegar diluted to 5% acidity is fine to use without further dilution.
Perhaps someone else knows different. I have always used pineapple juice on keris. I have used vinegar on Moro Kris however and have never found straight vinegar right out of the bottle to be too strong when etching the blades.

Rick · 6th February 2020, 02:16 AM

My Wife has been using a washing soda solution that has electrical current run through it from a trickle charger. It works very well and fairly quickly.
She has been de-rusting cast iron pans.
I know that the technique has been discussed in detail in the forums.

Apolaki, your blade in bugis dress seems very similar in technique to this example that I got some years ago.

27th January 2020, 04:25 AM	#2
Mickey the Finn Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 90	Re: Cleaning and restoration info. Provided one thinks of it as a mindless automaton like a "toyol/tuyul", with essentially identical limitations to it's performance, the Search function in the Menu Bar above can be useful. Type in a pertinent word or two, and, provided the word(s) searched for have actually been written in a post (as spelled in the Search field), the posts will be brought up in a list. Searching for "rust removal" would fail to bring up posts with "remove corrosion", or "cleaning keris", unless these words also happened to appear in the same post. Like a toyol, the Search will return with results (if present) for "USD1" while ignoring any Krugerrands or Chilean Pesos which may also be present.

6th February 2020, 02:16 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	My Wife has been using a washing soda solution that has electrical current run through it from a trickle charger. It works very well and fairly quickly. She has been de-rusting cast iron pans. I know that the technique has been discussed in detail in the forums. Apolaki, your blade in bugis dress seems very similar in technique to this example that I got some years ago. Attached Images

26th January 2020, 06:30 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	There is a heap of stuff in this Forum on cleaning and restoration, I don't know where it is, but maybe David can point you in the right direction, or tell you how to find it. Apart from that, as Jaga has commented, just a decent cleanup with detergent and a toothbrush can work wonders on a blade if it is not too dirty. I think I'd be trying this on the top keris with the Bugis-style hilt. This actually looks like a pretty decent blade. The middle blade that is thick with red rust needs a vinegar soak, when you find the cleaning stuff I've mentioned it will explain how to do this. This blade is what we call a "robahan" = a changeling. It has been altered to create the pudak setegal spurs on its side. The bottom blade is an old very ordinary Javanese blade, this might respond OK to just a dishwash cleanup too. The top blade does not belong with that Bugis pistol grip type hilt, but it would go pretty nicely with heavily carved hilt that is under the very rusty blade. The bottom blade has a correct hilt already fitted. The top scabbard can probably be glued together, but really, none of these blades belong in it. The other wrongko parts look too far gone to do anything with. Put them into the spare parts box until something comes along that you can use them with. EDIT I just noticed the link that Jaga put into his post. The recommendations in that will certainly help, but apart from that there's a lot of other stuff too.

28th January 2020, 04:23 AM	#3
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	Hello, thank you so much for this wealth of information! I am interested to know are there specific dish detergents recommended to use or avoid such as citric scent because of acidic properties? With regards to painting a slurry of bicarbonate of soda to remove the vinegar residue, what is a slurry? Sorry I am not familiar with that term in the US!

28th January 2020, 05:10 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	A slurry is a watery paste. Some people consider it to be unnecessary caution, I do not. I am very specific with my selection of dishwash liquid:- I specifically use the one that is on the kitchen sink.

5th February 2020, 11:20 PM	#6
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	Hello! I bought regular vinegar jug at store. It says "diluted with water to 5% acidity" How many cups should I add and how much vinegar should I pour afterwards for this bath for the rusted keris? I am assuming I shouldn't just submerge the keris in straight vinegar even though it says already "diluted with water to 5% acidity." Thanks again!

6th February 2020, 01:43 AM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Actually i believe that vinegar diluted to 5% acidity is fine to use without further dilution. Perhaps someone else knows different. I have always used pineapple juice on keris. I have used vinegar on Moro Kris however and have never found straight vinegar right out of the bottle to be too strong when etching the blades.