Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Mandau Sanaman Mantikei mix with Djangkarang

ariel · 13th July 2013, 06:05 PM

From my high school chemistry class ( long ago, alas!), the only metal capable of floating on water is lithium. And it oxidized immediately.
Sodium and potassium in metallic form also are slightly lighter than water, but totally unsuitable for forming blades or other objects. .

Also, here is one of the processes suitable to obtain metallic lithium.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2062993_obtain-lithium.html

Doubt very much that Dyaks possessed enough knowledge :-)

Thus, the "floating mandau" story sounds like a fairy tale to me.

13th July 2013, 06:05 PM	#14
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	From my high school chemistry class ( long ago, alas!), the only metal capable of floating on water is lithium. And it oxidized immediately. Sodium and potassium in metallic form also are slightly lighter than water, but totally unsuitable for forming blades or other objects. . Also, here is one of the processes suitable to obtain metallic lithium. http://www.ehow.com/how_2062993_obtain-lithium.html Doubt very much that Dyaks possessed enough knowledge :-) Thus, the "floating mandau" story sounds like a fairy tale to me.