107 001-019
STUDY OF RINAGO WEAVING AT KAMPUNG INUKIRAN WITH NEW
108 than timber, easy to transport and grows faster than trees. It is light, durable in a humid climate and relatively flexible.
Rattan is a very valuable raw material that is available in tropical forests. It is a high quality natural raw material. Locally, the art of weaving rattan is a local tradition that is unique and a national pride. Local designers have a high level of waving creativity integrating old and new ideas in producing rattan products. However, the production rate is very time-consuming. This is substantially because the producers employed manual craftsmanship. The local industry leaders have not been able to generate enough income to sustain nor expand the industry.
In modern industrial production and construction, the majority of the works are being done at the design and planning while the execution of the production and construction should take the least number of effort. In preparing the more systematic production, an accurate calculation and well- planned design are needed. A JIG (tools can move side to side) can be constructed to measure the mathematical needs in the rattan products’ construction.
This project proposes development of a type of custom-made tool used to control the location and/or motion of parts or other tools (JIG). Examples of geometrical mathematics structures that will be utilised are a measure of the angle, curvature, and the length of the radius that will promote the production of better equipment for woven products. To absorb the costs incurred, employers need to boost or hike the production level of rattan products. Thus, the tools to be developed in this project should help to improve and escalate the time taken to produce the rattan products. The JIG that is to be introduced to the local industry will increase the production rate of the local industry tenfold and maintain the quality of production consistently. This effort will ensure the sustainability of the industry and solve the low pay rate of local traditional rattan weavers in Sabah.
METHODOLOGY
On 29 - 30 October 2019, the study was conducted in Kampung Inukiran, Kudat, Sabah. A group known as Monungkus works on Rinago-based weaving products. The Monungkus group is led by Mr Hermond and the members of the group consist only of immediate family members. According to Mr Hermond, Monungkus in the Rungus language means to inherit or continue the ancestral tradition.
The establishment of Monungkus was the original idea of the group leader himself, Mr Hermond who has experience working with the Worldwide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF). He is involved in the development of alternatives in handicraft products. In 2016 Mr Hermond had formed the Monungkus group.
Prior to the establishment of the Monungkus Group, the villagers of Inukiran usually moved alone. According to Mr Hermond, residents only expect sales to the surrounding area and are unable to find a wide market for their products. Once Monungkus was created, they started using social media to introduce the products of Inukiran villagers. As a leader who leads the direction of Monungkus, En. Hermond is also directly involved in product marketing and advertising. He is also involved in product development to ensure that the products produced by Monungkus are relevant today.
109 Figure 1: Among the Members of The Monungkus Group
Ribu-Ribu is a wild forest plant that grows around the village of Inukiran, refer to Figure 2. The Ribu-Ribu plants need to be processed first before being used for Rinago weaving products. Large diameter Ribu-Ribu trees will be split into 4 parts. While a small diameter tree will be divided into 2 parts. The diameter of the material is based on the product to be produced.
Figure 2: Ribu-Ribu Trees
Some equipment was used to process of Ribu-Ribu trees before Rinago product weaving began.
Basic equipment is Pais and Peraut, refer to Figure 3. Pais is a type of small-edged knife wrought out of iron used to make of Ribu-Ribu tree splits. Peraut is a type of tool made by themselves that is innovated from used cans and can lids. Peraut used on the Ribu-Ribu tree splits to isolate its bark for use in Rinago weaving.
Figure 3: Ribu-Ribu’s tree processing tools
Figure 4: Ribu-Ribu trees that have been processed
110 Figure 5 shows the Ribu-Ribu tree that has been completed in the process. In this process accuracy and precision is essential to avoid disconnection and have uniform dimensions. One of the main factors of the strength of Rinago weaving is the bark of the Ribu-Ribu tree. If there is no splicing or minimal splicing in the Rinago weaving process, the product produced is stronger and more durable. Rinago weaving products are extremely delicate, meticulous and inclusive. Figure 6 shows some of the products produced by the Monungkus group.
Figure 5: Among the Rinago Weaving Products of the Monungkus Group
PROPOSED JIG DESIGN AND DISCUSSION
Figure 6: Proposed Pais Anatomy for left-handed Screw Handle
Thumb Pressure
Cutting Edge Adjustable
Guider
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Figure 7: Proposed Pais Blade
The Pais proposal, Figure 6 is a Pais for left-hand user has a comfortable handle to avoid hurting the user’s palms. The angle of the blade and handle is not 180°, unlike a normal knife. We proposed the angle between the blade and the handle is 165°-170° to allow the user to push the blade further.
Figure 7 shows a pie cutter eye augmented with a slits guard or size controller plate. Traditionally Ribu-Ribu trees split one by one at a time. With the addition of a guard plate, users can split more than one Ribu-Ribu tree that has nearly the uniform diameter. The blade angle is recommended between 15°-20° for smooth and does not break the splits and the blade is more durable.
There are springs placed on adjustable bolts. The Ribu-Ribu tree will tilt downwards during the process of splitting into 2 parts. Spring and guard plates will help the Ribu-Ribu tree to be in the right position before hitting the cutting eye. This will ensure that the Ribu-Ribu tree can be split longer.
Adjustable bolts are used to adjust the size required for the splitting of the Ribu-Ribu tree.
Figure 8: Proposed Peraut
Figure 8 above is proposed as a replacement for Peraut constructed from cans and used iron lids.
The proposed Peraut has a fine saw blade on each hole of a different diameter according to the requirements of the product to be produced. The rectangular Peraut hole space simplifies the process of isolating the bark of Ribu-Ribu trees. Having many fine saw blades can produce Ribu-Ribu of finer
15 - 20 Spring
Adjustable Guider
Handle
Different Diameter Saw
Saw Teeth
112 and smoother tree barks for use in Rinago weaving products.
CONCLUSION
This study succeeded in finding producer entrepreneurs for rattan products in Sabah, especially in Kampung Inukiran, Kudat. We studied and understood the technical concepts in rattan (Rinago) weaving techniques. This study also successfully produced a proposal for JIG aids in helping entrepreneurs speed up the production of weaving products. The study can be continued in helping to facilitate entrepreneurs to produce woven products with the help of better JIG aids and formalize the formula and calculation in preparing for a higher production system.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank University Malaysia Sabah for supporting our research. The research was fully supported under the grant UMS-SLB0156-2017.
REFERENCES
[1] Aminuddin, M. and Salleh M. Opportunities for commercial rattan planting in Malaysia. Planter 70 (816) (1994), 113-117.
[2] Aminuddin, M., Supardi, M. N. and Woon, W. C. Economics of cultivation of large diameter rattan. A guide to the cultivation of rattan, Malayan Forest Records. FRIM, Kepong (1992).
[3] Mohmod, Abd. L. Rattan waste as furniture component. Rattan Information Centre Bulletin 5 (3), (1986).
[4] Ratnasingam, J., Ramasamy, G., Ioras, F. and Thanasegaran, G. Potential co-generation of electrical energy from mill waste: A case study of the malaysian furniture manufacturing industry. BioResources 11(2) (2016), 5064-5074.
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