Restaining kris?

ronpakis · 16th January 2009, 07:19 PM

Hello Erik,

Look on www.dekris.nl. This is the very recently started site from the dutch keris knowledge club... Or whatever tot call it. Several members stain keris. I think if you put your question there they will help you.

greetings Ron

Spunjer · 6th November 2011, 01:15 AM

David, is there anyone around here that does that? I mean stains keris?

David · 6th November 2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

David, is there anyone around here that does that? I mean stains keris?

Well Ron, i've been known to do my own, but i don't generally do it as a service since i hardly feel that my skills are of a professional quality.

Sajen · 6th November 2011, 02:48 PM

Hi Spunjer,

why don't try it byself? You will find here several threads where it is described how to do it.

Regards,

Detlef

Spunjer · 6th November 2011, 02:49 PM

lol, that's cool. as you may well know, this is not my area, but every now and then i do come across a keris or two. just wanna know where i could take it to bring out the pamor...

A. G. Maisey · 6th November 2011, 08:09 PM

Ron, if you just want to see the pamor pattern you can clean up the blade --- heaps on this in various threads --- and then hit it with ferric chloride, same stuff knife makers use to stain damascus, and used to etch electrical circuit boards.

A proper stain job becomes a bit more difficult, because you need to be able to get hold of some laboratory quality white arsenic ( arsenic tri-oxide), and some fresh limes.

However, if you want to pay somebody to do it in a western country, you could be looking at paying more than the blade is worth.

I've been staining blades since I was a kid, and I've had instruction from some of the best m'ranggi in Central Jawa. I have spent as long as several days in staining just one blade. The method I use is the same one that is used on high quality blades, it is not the quick mass production method, but my way of doing it is the only really practical one if you want to do just the occasional blade and you want a good, solid, long lasting finish.

Now, if you've got to pay somebody to do that job, even at a very low hourly rate, its going to cost money.

There might be a few people around who are still learning, and who are prepared to do the job for free, or charge just sufficient to cover expenses, so that they can gain experience, but really, it is best to try to do it yourself.

Spunjer · 7th November 2011, 12:09 AM

Sajen and Alan, thank you... i've thought about it and actually searched the archive regarding this topic, and what i've read so far, i thought i'd better leave it to the more experienced before i ended screwing it all up. screwing up as in not coming out the way i've seen here. with that said, i'll give it a try on this most recent one i've picked up.

A. G. Maisey · 7th November 2011, 12:31 AM

Ron, with staining it doesn't matter if you make a mess of it, because you can just clean it off and start again.

One of the keris I made myself, I spent more than 3 days on. I was not going to be satisfied with anything less than perfection.

I reckon I must have cleaned it off with steel wool and powder sink cleaner (Ajax) at least 10 times before I got a result that could not be improved on.

16th January 2009, 07:19 PM	#1
ronpakis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: netherlands Posts: 75	staining in NL Hello Erik, Look on www.dekris.nl. This is the very recently started site from the dutch keris knowledge club... Or whatever tot call it. Several members stain keris. I think if you put your question there they will help you. greetings Ron

6th November 2011, 01:15 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	David, is there anyone around here that does that? I mean stains keris?

6th November 2011, 02:48 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	Hi Spunjer, why don't try it byself? You will find here several threads where it is described how to do it. Regards, Detlef

6th November 2011, 02:49 PM	#5
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	lol, that's cool. as you may well know, this is not my area, but every now and then i do come across a keris or two. just wanna know where i could take it to bring out the pamor...

6th November 2011, 08:09 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Ron, if you just want to see the pamor pattern you can clean up the blade --- heaps on this in various threads --- and then hit it with ferric chloride, same stuff knife makers use to stain damascus, and used to etch electrical circuit boards. A proper stain job becomes a bit more difficult, because you need to be able to get hold of some laboratory quality white arsenic ( arsenic tri-oxide), and some fresh limes. However, if you want to pay somebody to do it in a western country, you could be looking at paying more than the blade is worth. I've been staining blades since I was a kid, and I've had instruction from some of the best m'ranggi in Central Jawa. I have spent as long as several days in staining just one blade. The method I use is the same one that is used on high quality blades, it is not the quick mass production method, but my way of doing it is the only really practical one if you want to do just the occasional blade and you want a good, solid, long lasting finish. Now, if you've got to pay somebody to do that job, even at a very low hourly rate, its going to cost money. There might be a few people around who are still learning, and who are prepared to do the job for free, or charge just sufficient to cover expenses, so that they can gain experience, but really, it is best to try to do it yourself.

7th November 2011, 12:09 AM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Sajen and Alan, thank you... i've thought about it and actually searched the archive regarding this topic, and what i've read so far, i thought i'd better leave it to the more experienced before i ended screwing it all up. screwing up as in not coming out the way i've seen here. with that said, i'll give it a try on this most recent one i've picked up.

7th November 2011, 12:31 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Ron, with staining it doesn't matter if you make a mess of it, because you can just clean it off and start again. One of the keris I made myself, I spent more than 3 days on. I was not going to be satisfied with anything less than perfection. I reckon I must have cleaned it off with steel wool and powder sink cleaner (Ajax) at least 10 times before I got a result that could not be improved on.