Arsenic or realgar for Keris etching?

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2009, 11:23 AM

Over more than 30 years I have purchased and used traditional warangan in Solo.

It has never looked like any of the examples I've seen photos of here.

The warangan that has been available in Solo over the last couple of years has been very inconsistent in producing satisfactory results.

Since the early 1960's, and predating my use of Javanese warangan I have used laboratory grade arsenic tri-oxide. This has invariably produced very satisfactory and very consistent results.

Here are examples of these results:-

semar · 10th August 2009, 12:36 PM

this warangan that i show you
comes from a friend of my from surabaya
mij friend cleaning the keris for a living
and i think whem you cleaning the keris everyday
you know wich warangan works the best

regards semar

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2009, 03:17 PM

Semar, I have not purchased warangan in Surabaya.

Please re-read what I wrote so that you will understand clearly what I am saying.

I will repeat my message in the most simple terms possible in order that there can be no misunderstanding:-

1)--- the warangan that I have purchased in Solo, and have used, over a 30 year period does not look like the photos of warangan shown in this thread.

2)--- the warangan currently available in Solo is unreliable in producing satisfactory results.

3)--- since at least 1962 I have stained keris with laboratory quality arsenic trioxide; the results I am able to obtain with this are consistent, and in most cases I get a superior result to that which I am accustomed to seeing from professional blade stainers in Indonesia.

One thing I did not say in my previous post is that I pay to have approximately 100 blades stained during each 12 month period; I normally have to return half of these blades to the tukang because they are unsatisfactory; of the half I return I normally have to return about 15 or 20 blades a second time; of those blades I usually have five or so blades to stain myself. I use laboratory quality arsenic trioxide on these failed blades, and my staining is always successful.

semar · 10th August 2009, 05:24 PM

oke I understand sorry bud my engels is not verry good and thats te reson
that I somtimes not understand whats say in the mail

regards semar

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2009, 10:44 PM

Yes Semar, it can be difficult to understand clearly if you are struggling with a language other than your own.

I was not casting any aspersions upon your comments, simply recounting my own experience.

10th August 2009, 11:23 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Over more than 30 years I have purchased and used traditional warangan in Solo. It has never looked like any of the examples I've seen photos of here. The warangan that has been available in Solo over the last couple of years has been very inconsistent in producing satisfactory results. Since the early 1960's, and predating my use of Javanese warangan I have used laboratory grade arsenic tri-oxide. This has invariably produced very satisfactory and very consistent results. Here are examples of these results:- Attached Images

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10th August 2009, 12:36 PM	#2
semar Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 272	this warangan that i show you comes from a friend of my from surabaya mij friend cleaning the keris for a living and i think whem you cleaning the keris everyday you know wich warangan works the best regards semar

10th August 2009, 03:17 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Semar, I have not purchased warangan in Surabaya. Please re-read what I wrote so that you will understand clearly what I am saying. I will repeat my message in the most simple terms possible in order that there can be no misunderstanding:- 1)--- the warangan that I have purchased in Solo, and have used, over a 30 year period does not look like the photos of warangan shown in this thread. 2)--- the warangan currently available in Solo is unreliable in producing satisfactory results. 3)--- since at least 1962 I have stained keris with laboratory quality arsenic trioxide; the results I am able to obtain with this are consistent, and in most cases I get a superior result to that which I am accustomed to seeing from professional blade stainers in Indonesia. One thing I did not say in my previous post is that I pay to have approximately 100 blades stained during each 12 month period; I normally have to return half of these blades to the tukang because they are unsatisfactory; of the half I return I normally have to return about 15 or 20 blades a second time; of those blades I usually have five or so blades to stain myself. I use laboratory quality arsenic trioxide on these failed blades, and my staining is always successful.

10th August 2009, 05:24 PM	#4
semar Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 272	oke I understand sorry bud my engels is not verry good and thats te reson that I somtimes not understand whats say in the mail regards semar

10th August 2009, 10:44 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Yes Semar, it can be difficult to understand clearly if you are struggling with a language other than your own. I was not casting any aspersions upon your comments, simply recounting my own experience.