Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 22:04:22 GMT
I've seen maintenance kits for Japanese swords selling for under $10.00 on Amazon.com. Are these worthwhile having for my new wakizashi? Or would I just be wasting my money?
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SlayerofDarkness
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"Always give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 18, 2010 22:11:11 GMT
You'd be using this on a NIHONTO? In that case, I'm no expert, but every fiber of my gut screams "BAD IDEA", man. I'm sure someone like AJustice will have much better insight, but nihonto+cheap cleaning kit does not mesh well in my mind, sorry. Hope this helps! ;D -Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 22:17:33 GMT
By new wakizashi, do you mean the handmadesword...or something like that...one? If so, go for it. It won't do anything too terrible to it.
If it's a nihonto, then definitely no, but I don't think we're talking about a nihonto.
Also, for just plain cleaning, 91% rubbing alcohol and sewing machine oil work fine.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 22:28:53 GMT
By new wakizashi, do you mean the handmadesword...or something like that...one? If so, go for it. It won't do anything too terrible to it. If it's a nihonto, then definitely no, but I don't think we're talking about a nihonto. Also, for just plain cleaning, 91% rubbing alcohol and sewing machine oil work fine. Yes, it's the Furubushidoo one. Would RemOil work OK? I keep that around for my guns anyway.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 23:44:55 GMT
Rem oil should work fine.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 23:46:59 GMT
The good part of the kits is the little brass hammer to tap your mekugi out. You can buy these hammers seperately. No need for the whole kit.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2010 23:53:26 GMT
The problem with the $10 and less kits is your doubtfully getting the actual real products. The uchiko is often just talc powder and choji oil is often made by them rather than authentic from Japan.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2010 15:31:31 GMT
The "Japanese Sword Care Kits" commonly found online are in my mind worthless.
Hyoujinsama is correct about using rubbing alcohol to clean the sword. I also use *gasp* Windex if the sword gets gummy from cutting water bottles and adhesive gets on it... or sap, melon juice etc. Afterwards I wipe it dry, spray with WD-40 to evacuate the water and wipe dry again. Then I treat the blade with Militec-1 grease... and wipe till its dry to the touch. The Militec-1 is amazing stuff - bonds on a molecular level to the steel and provides a dry lube and rust prevention that I love. I've purposely left a blade sitting dirty in its scabbard for months after cutting green vegetation (tall grass at a friend's house). I can say from experience that the juices from the grass can and usually do rust a blade in just 24 hrs if left uncleaned. This blade only experienced minor rusting along the spine and I think that was just because I had failed to apply the Militec-1 evenly along the spine prior to cutting.
Anyway back to the point - imho those cleaning kits are useless. You can use stuff you have laying around the house to care for your swords. Btw don't just oil a dirty blade. Clean the blade with a solvent first then oil it. If you don't have Militec-1(can be purchased from their website, just google them) you can use synthetic motor oil or grease too. Just make sure to wipe it down so its only got a very thin invisible layer.
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