Resin, traditional recipies

[tunggulametung]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

In western Visayas particularly in Panay, the sap from the breadfruit tree (local name is kamansi) is traditionally used as blade tang adhesive.

Migueldiaz, thanks, I recognized this as kluwih in Java. I will try to experiment sometime

I read some articles about what might be used on mandau: nyatu/nyatoh and sambun, some mention getah merah and getah putih which might relate but I can't tell how they differ.

Attached is gum/resin product from Indonesian forestry dept. website.

[Gavin Nugent]

This is great stuff guys, Pandora's box has been opened.....

Thanks heaps for the efforts.

Gav

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

I read some articles about what might be used on mandau: nyatu/nyatoh and sambun, some mention getah merah and getah putih which might relate but I can't tell how they differ.

In the old books about Borneo I've read, they are repeatedly speaking of "Guta Percha".

[tunggulametung]

Originally Posted by Maurice

In the old books about Borneo I've read, they are repeatedly speaking of "Guta Percha".

I'm not familiar with it but this gutta percha (getah perca) really looks like one on mandau indeed .

I would like to add: this could be the one used for keris/pedang hilt core which incorporated silver wrapping.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

Migueldiaz, thanks, I recognized this as kluwih in Java. I will try to experiment sometime .

Tunggulametung, thanks too for the info!

Closely related to what we call kamansi would be rimas, which in Malaysia or Indonesia is sukun. Additional info is here and here. Perhaps the sap of rimas/sukun will also do the job.

By the way, getah in your language is gata in ours, and they mean the same thing.

[Spunjer]

yep, galgal is indeed used, but i'm not sure if that's the colloquial term for sap, or the name of the tree itself.
incidentally, i'm working on a kris right now that somehow the tang of the blade is protruding from the handle; i believe the wood shrunk and eventually pushed it out. fortunately, i was able to salvage the galgal, first time i've done that, so i could actually refit the blade using the original resin. here's the picture of the galgal: