Restoration Workshop Library.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

Quick question about maintaining old wooden hilts.

I have an old kris whose handle "drinks" up any moisture my hand lets up on it. The patina is beautiful and i do not want to affect it or change it potentially with any kind of artificial finish, but I do want to make sure that this piece outlives me by ages and to do that I would like to maintain the handle somehow. It does not have that old wood smell, but rather smells a little musty like it has not been cared for.

All I've done to it was clean it with a toothbrush and mineral spirits, then added a very very light coat of Tru-oil (Which I believe is primarily boiled Linseed Oil) diluted with more mineral spirits to better penetrate the wood. I applied this finish with a cotton cloth.

It still looks its age and I'm not looking to shine it up at all (Rather I would like to keep it as it is -- a satin/matte finish -- as opposed to adding an overly glossy/glass-like finish), but I feel as if more should be done to it to ensure that it is preserved, as the wood still rapidly "drinks" up any moisture it encounters from my hand when compared to other pieces I have.

Should I apply more coats of oil? Would using 00000 Steel Wool be appripriate for this old wood? I do not want to remove any of the patina, just preserve it as best I can without damaging or changing how it looks.

(Photos are courtesy of Erik Farrow, who I acquired this particular piece from. the handle looks the same currently, but after the toothbrush and mineral spirits the dust from the crevices are gone.)

You may have removed old lime accents that have discolored over time .

[ThePepperSkull]

Originally Posted by Rick

You may have removed old lime accents that have discolored over time .

This is why I should have waited before I did anything

[kai]

Hello Rick,

You may have removed old lime accents that have discolored over time .

I can't see any hints for lime accents on this kris hilt - looks like genuine dirt to me from the before pics. Lime is not that rare on kampilan pommels and guards (away from the gripping area); I doubt that lime would last for any reasonable period on small kris hilts though...

Regards,
Kai

[Rick]

Okay Kai .
Now, what about moving forward with what you Gentlemen wish for .

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Rick

Okay Kai .
Now, what about moving forward with what you Gentlemen wish for .

Salaams,
Thankyou. I agree that this requires a forum members input solution backed and supported by moderator staff.

Thinking aloud~ I see initially a sticky to carry the concepts onto an alphabetical index. I suggest that this is such a good idea that access should only be to forum members and in a way this would attract non members to join. It is therefor a marketing tool in addition to being an excellent aspect of the forum site.

Personally I believe strongly in the restoration workshop idea because it is continuous and always therefor being updated and relies upon everyone to input. It is therefor live and current and underlines the live debate and continuous interchange of ideas in our Forum. I strongly suggest that a general e mail to all members introducing this quite vital and lively restoration workshop library be sent ..

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Atlantia]

This is such a huge subject, it would need it's own sub-forum where articles on specific elements of restoration could be posted or moved.

[Mefidk]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

This is such a huge subject, it would need it's own sub-forum where articles on specific elements of restoration could be posted or moved.

Sounds like an excellent idea to me. There is lots of information out there in the forums regarding 'looking after' our artefacts, but it is sometimes hard to find. A sub-forum would make it both centralized, and more easily accessible than a few sticky threads. That way preservation, conservation and restoration could all be given enough space to grow into a really useful library.

[Rick]

A passworded private subforum can possibly be created for this effort's researchers/compilers .
I would think a half dozen dedicated people would suffice for the effort .
A lot will be search engine work on this site and others; gleaning if you will .

After the resource effort is completed then it could be made a regular subforum or page .

There will probably be additions to be made in the future to the list; I would suggest that they be made as PM's to that forum's future Moderator .

I strongly believe that at least *some* vetting of submitted tips and hints should be carried out .

I also think that public posting in this sub-forum should not be allowed .
We want to get information across clearly and simply; chatter would only make sorting things out harder .

This site has no commercial interests at all nor does it want to have any; everything is paid for; ain't life grand .

Rick