blade cleaning.. need some advice!!

[A. G. Maisey]

What I mean by re-shaping is this:-

when the cleaning process is finished, there will be an irregular edge to the blade, possibly some of the greneng and kembang kacang will be irregular and poorly shaped; file the edges of the blade to give a more regular edge; it may not be advisable to clean away all the irregularities, for to do this could leave the blade looking too thin, but you can lessen the irregular appearance by removing some of the small gaps, and reducing in size some of the big gaps; the greneng and kembang kacang can be tidied up.

All this is not as easy as it sounds and you must have a very good mental image of what the blade looked like when it was new, and try in so far as possible to retain the same balance, proportion, and feeling. To do this reshaping well is really a job for a very experienced pandai keris or mranggi, not because using the tools is difficult, but because you need a lot of experience to reshape the blade without destroying the effect.You need to have a clear mental picture of the finished shape you want to achieve---don't forget:- you are restoring a work of art.

When it has been reshaped the edges should be smoothed of file marks with a stone and wet and dry paper. Crushed terracotta used with water is also good. When the file marks have been smoothed away you can rub a little salt along the edges and encourage rust, this will allow the old surface to blend with the newly finished surface; then you clean everything again and continue with your staining.

[ferrylaki]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

What I mean by re-shaping is this:-

when the cleaning process is finished, there will be an irregular edge to the blade, possibly some of the greneng and kembang kacang will be irregular and poorly shaped; file the edges of the blade to give a more regular edge; it may not be advisable to clean away all the irregularities, for to do this could leave the blade looking too thin, but you can lessen the irregular appearance by removing some of the small gaps, and reducing in size some of the big gaps; the greneng and kembang kacang can be tidied up.

All this is not as easy as it sounds and you must have a very good mental image of what the blade looked like when it was new, and try in so far as possible to retain the same balance, proportion, and feeling. To do this reshaping well is really a job for a very experienced pandai keris or mranggi, not because using the tools is difficult, but because you need a lot of experience to reshape the blade without destroying the effect.You need to have a clear mental picture of the finished shape you want to achieve---don't forget:- you are restoring a work of art.

When it has been reshaped the edges should be smoothed of file marks with a stone and wet and dry paper. Crushed terracotta used with water is also good. When the file marks have been smoothed away you can rub a little salt along the edges and encourage rust, this will allow the old surface to blend with the newly finished surface; then you clean everything again and continue with your staining.

I'm very curious about this reshaping discussion.
Do you think it is possible to reshape this damaged greneng to its proper greneng shape?
This might be a new made keris, but I really Like the dhapur jalak ngore couse the blade still show a healthy shape.

[A. G. Maisey]

Personally, I would not touch that greneng. Others might, but I would not.

[ferrylaki]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Personally, I would not touch that greneng. Others might, but I would not.

me neither. I will leave it that way.