Question for you metal heads

blue lander

blue lander

Joined
Aug 16, 2011
Messages
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So the Keris I recently posted in the "Recent Additions" thread is missing it's ganja, which is sort of like a cross guard at the base of the blade. In the below picture it's #11. It's just a piece of metal, maybe half an inch thick, with a hole for the tang to pass through. Nothing fancy

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It was suggested to me on another board that I might make my own ganja by filing a mild piece of steel into the appropriate shape. Obviously I wouldn't try to make any of those notches along the edge, I'd keep it as simple and unadorned as possible.

I think this is within my capabilities, but I don't know what a good source of easily filed steel would be. I'd want the steel to be as soft as possible to make my job easier. Do you guys have any idea on what a good source would be, something I could get at the local hardware store ideally? My first thought would be a large bolt if I could find one thick enough, but I have no idea how hard that steel is.
 
Most any thick industrial steel in construction would work...a thick leaf spring....a chunk of burned off heavy plate...anywhere they weld should have scraps aplenty....look up temper/anneal/magnet for info on annealing....annealed will be perfect for working and left annealed as a guard.....1/4" thick is plenty and gives plenty to file into a pleasing rounded gentle curve or what have you....good bolts are heat treated and tough....bolt alloys easily looked up but flat scrap stock is what appears to be needed...and a cheap torch hot enough to reach cherry red in a shaded room...
 
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I'm not sure if I know where any welding shops are around here... I'm not in a very industrial area. Do you think there's anything I can pick up cheaply at Home Depot that would suffice? It sounds like bolts would be a bad match.

Here's another picture of a very simple ganja, more along the lines of what I have in mind. A very simple shape, no artistic flourishes. Just a rectangle basically.

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You might be able to find some manner of anchor plate or angle made from mild steel at a large hardware store but hard to imagine any area devoid of a mechanic or welder or machinist even for strictly auto and trailer trade...a trailer shop comes to mind and anyone messing with frames....something will come up....the larger the piece the more work to remove everything not it....drill small and SLOW and file by hand....power tools will just convert work to scrap.
 
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Home Depot type stores should have flat mild steel bar stock in short lengths in some different sizes.
 
If it were mine id form me one out of Bondo or epoxy putty carve it to shape then paint on some JB Weld to match the blade. Looks like about the same texture. That way you could carve all the stuff you want while it hardens. Much easier than grinding and filing. You dont plan to use it anyway....I guess? That might be blastphemy to the keris gods tho?:rolleyes:
 
gunstockjack said:
Home Depot type stores should have flat mild steel bar stock in short lengths in some different sizes.
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1/4" seems to be the thickest they have. 3-foot lengths.

Crown Bolt
Model # 44860
Internet # 202183568
Store SKU # 482684
1-1/4 in. x 36 in. Plain Steel Flat Bar with 1/4 in. Thick
$8.21 / each
 
PM me ill send you a piece. Even better stick the tang through a piece of graph paper and trace the outline of the blade and post the outline here and ill transfer it to my graph paper and cut you a piece. You can do the finish work.
 
blue lander said:
Really? Thanks! Once it arrives I'll take some pictures.
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Yeah! No problem:thumbup: I already dug up a few pieces that would work. I just need to know length and width. The closer I can get to actual the less you gotta file:p
 
steel is not an absolute requirement. silver, brass, bronze, gold (;)) any white metal would work. while rare, they did make ganjas out of other materials. i have a nice filipino kris with a silver ganja. it's great for killing werewolves.

if you can get an appropriate chunk of pattern welded steel that might look best tho. (FeCl etched of course to show the pattern)
 
If Ndog, doesn't send you a suitable piece, I'll send you a piece of plain, ol' hot rolled steel. Hot rolled is what you get at the stores like Lowe's, Home Depot,Ace, and Tru-value. It don't get softer or less expensive. It's forgiving, files easy, and saws easier. When it comes to thicker pieces of scrap steel, it is probably the most common you'll find most anywhere. Any blacksmith, welding shop, junk or salvage yard will have more of it than you can use in your life time.
 
I Had a piece of pattern welded which I already milled out a tang hole in and put in a special place. Now I cant find that special place? Hate it when that happens:rolleyes:
 
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