Black stain spreading on keris during vinegar cleaning

A. G. Maisey · 21st March 2020, 09:20 AM

I reckon that for the type of material it is, it is a pretty good job.

Long time since I used the rice water method, but I'm pretty certain that my rice water was produced by boiling rice in too much water, then draining the water off. Also, I left the blade in the slurry of sulphur + salt + rice water for (I think) about a week, it was wrapped in plastic, the original recipe called for wrapping in a palm leaf.

The sulphur would have been bought in a hardware or garden supplier, the salt would have been from the kitchen.

This was the result.

Incidentally, this blade was stained more than 60 years ago, it has been maintained by infrequent oiling during that time, and for the last +/- 50 years by oiling + a plastic sleeve.

jagabuwana · 23rd March 2020, 02:08 AM

That looks like a nice result. In the absence of warangan I'd be happy with it.

Just to clarify Alan, did it have any of the warangan stain on it prior to doing the rice water + sulphur + salt method?

I think I'll give this another go soon. All of a sudden got a lot more time on my hands with this pandemic lockdown situation. Hope everyone stays healthy and safe

A. G. Maisey · 23rd March 2020, 03:38 AM

I really don't remember Jaga.

I think I was only about 17 or 18 when I did this, it was the first keris I ever stained, I did not know any other way at that time. I remember broadly what I did, but no detail.

21st March 2020, 09:20 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	I reckon that for the type of material it is, it is a pretty good job. Long time since I used the rice water method, but I'm pretty certain that my rice water was produced by boiling rice in too much water, then draining the water off. Also, I left the blade in the slurry of sulphur + salt + rice water for (I think) about a week, it was wrapped in plastic, the original recipe called for wrapping in a palm leaf. The sulphur would have been bought in a hardware or garden supplier, the salt would have been from the kitchen. This was the result. Incidentally, this blade was stained more than 60 years ago, it has been maintained by infrequent oiling during that time, and for the last +/- 50 years by oiling + a plastic sleeve. Attached Images Last edited by A. G. Maisey; 21st March 2020 at 09:42 AM.

23rd March 2020, 02:08 AM	#2
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 292	That looks like a nice result. In the absence of warangan I'd be happy with it. Just to clarify Alan, did it have any of the warangan stain on it prior to doing the rice water + sulphur + salt method? I think I'll give this another go soon. All of a sudden got a lot more time on my hands with this pandemic lockdown situation. Hope everyone stays healthy and safe

23rd March 2020, 03:38 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	I really don't remember Jaga. I think I was only about 17 or 18 when I did this, it was the first keris I ever stained, I did not know any other way at that time. I remember broadly what I did, but no detail.