keris for comment..

BluErf · 13th October 2007, 02:13 AM

The swasa pegs were used in the past to nail the accent pieces to the hilt. They're made by the goldsmith commissioned to put the accent on the hilt. As such, they're not made for sale. I suppose it could always be commissioned now.

Anyhow, no one has used swasa pegs to secure the accents on tajong hilts in recent years, as far as we know. Swasa pegs are thin like needle, and hammered into the hilt. How the goldsmith did it is a bit of a mystery, as you could imagine, the needle-thin peg would bend quite easily if hammered slightly off-centre.

zartane · 13th October 2007, 11:54 AM

what does a peice of button shellac looks like? can i get it from any hardware store?

A. G. Maisey · 13th October 2007, 01:46 PM

Zartane, I live in Australia, and in this country you cannot buy button shellac from an ordinary hardware store.

However, it is available from cabinet makers supply stores.It is shellac, but instead of being in flake form, it comes in a button form. The buttons are about 1.25 to 1.5 inches across, and about three sixteenths of an inch thick.

I've just done a quick google on button shellac, and there are many entries for button shellac. If you are unable to buy locally, it is certainly available over the net.

Battara · 14th October 2007, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

Swasa pegs are thin like needle, and hammered into the hilt. How the goldsmith did it is a bit of a mystery, as you could imagine, the needle-thin peg would bend quite easily if hammered slightly off-centre.

Actually BluErf, swaasa is very hard compared to gold or even silver. I have made swaasa nails before and they are very tough. I think it is the copper content.

zartane · 14th October 2007, 02:13 PM

thanks for all the replies.. how old do you guys think this keris is??

BluErf · 15th October 2007, 04:29 PM

Yes, swasa is very hard because of the copper content, but the swasa pegs we've seen in tajong hilts are very thin. Considering that it has to be hammered into hard wood like kemuning or kenaung is still quite a feat.

I think this tajong is a early 20th century example judging from the form. I think there should have been an earlier thread on the evolution of the tajong hilt through the ages...

A. G. Maisey · 15th October 2007, 10:20 PM

I do not know how these craftsmen placed pins of relatively soft metal into relatively hard wood. In fact, until I read it here, I had no idea that these swasa fittings were sometimes pinned into place, however, I do know how this is done in the European tradition.

Basically, there are two ways of doing this, or a combination of those two ways.

You drill a "pipe hole" into the wood, of marginally smaller diameter than the pin you wish to insert, or you drill as small a hole as you are able, even though this hole may be bigger than the pin, and you then use an adhesive in the hole to grip the pin; a hotmix adhesive such as damar, shellac, or jewellers wax is suitable.

It would surprise me if the craftsmen who fixed these swasa fittings in place did not use similar methods to those used by the European tradition.

Battara · 16th October 2007, 12:50 AM

Thank you Maisy, this is how I would (and have) done it.

A. G. Maisey · 16th October 2007, 02:26 AM

Battara, A.G.Maisey is not a nickname, nor a nom de plume, it is my actual name.

My first name is Alan, and I would prefer that you used this part of my name to address me. Thanks for your consideration.

13th October 2007, 02:13 AM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The swasa pegs were used in the past to nail the accent pieces to the hilt. They're made by the goldsmith commissioned to put the accent on the hilt. As such, they're not made for sale. I suppose it could always be commissioned now. Anyhow, no one has used swasa pegs to secure the accents on tajong hilts in recent years, as far as we know. Swasa pegs are thin like needle, and hammered into the hilt. How the goldsmith did it is a bit of a mystery, as you could imagine, the needle-thin peg would bend quite easily if hammered slightly off-centre.

13th October 2007, 11:54 AM	#2
zartane Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 38	what does a peice of button shellac looks like? can i get it from any hardware store?

13th October 2007, 01:46 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Zartane, I live in Australia, and in this country you cannot buy button shellac from an ordinary hardware store. However, it is available from cabinet makers supply stores.It is shellac, but instead of being in flake form, it comes in a button form. The buttons are about 1.25 to 1.5 inches across, and about three sixteenths of an inch thick. I've just done a quick google on button shellac, and there are many entries for button shellac. If you are unable to buy locally, it is certainly available over the net.

14th October 2007, 02:13 PM	#5
zartane Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 38	thanks for all the replies.. how old do you guys think this keris is??

15th October 2007, 04:29 PM	#6
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Yes, swasa is very hard because of the copper content, but the swasa pegs we've seen in tajong hilts are very thin. Considering that it has to be hammered into hard wood like kemuning or kenaung is still quite a feat. I think this tajong is a early 20th century example judging from the form. I think there should have been an earlier thread on the evolution of the tajong hilt through the ages...

15th October 2007, 10:20 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	I do not know how these craftsmen placed pins of relatively soft metal into relatively hard wood. In fact, until I read it here, I had no idea that these swasa fittings were sometimes pinned into place, however, I do know how this is done in the European tradition. Basically, there are two ways of doing this, or a combination of those two ways. You drill a "pipe hole" into the wood, of marginally smaller diameter than the pin you wish to insert, or you drill as small a hole as you are able, even though this hole may be bigger than the pin, and you then use an adhesive in the hole to grip the pin; a hotmix adhesive such as damar, shellac, or jewellers wax is suitable. It would surprise me if the craftsmen who fixed these swasa fittings in place did not use similar methods to those used by the European tradition.

16th October 2007, 12:50 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Thank you Maisy, this is how I would (and have) done it.

16th October 2007, 02:26 AM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Battara, A.G.Maisey is not a nickname, nor a nom de plume, it is my actual name. My first name is Alan, and I would prefer that you used this part of my name to address me. Thanks for your consideration.