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Post by Student of Sword on Oct 26, 2010 23:17:39 GMT
I just found out I have to deploy oversea for 6 months next year. What is the best way to store swords for 6-7 months period? Would Renaissance Wax works? Should I remove the fittings on my katana and store them seperately?
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Post by Student of Sword on Oct 27, 2010 0:06:28 GMT
Thanks,
I plan to have a temperature controlled storage facility for all of my furniture while I am gone. My deployment paper allow me to break my lease so it will be much cheaper to put everything in storage.
Six months is not a long time, but I don't want to return and found them all rusted.
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Post by 14thforsaken on Oct 27, 2010 0:18:27 GMT
You can also put a heavy coat of grease or vaselane on the blades. I do this for long term storage and it has worked perfectly so far and I did this while in a humid environment.
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Post by Student of Sword on Oct 27, 2010 6:00:50 GMT
This is very annoying. I wish I have somebody to care for swords while I am gone. Without any cutting it only need to be oiled no more than once a month, even once every two months. But 6 months is way too long for no oiling.
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Post by CivilSavage on Oct 27, 2010 7:05:33 GMT
I'm assuming these are all katana or a mixture of types? From what I gather with katana, a nice even coating of appropriate oil and left undisturbed in the driest but cool place for storage is about the best. Ambient moisture will be effectively sealed out if left undisturbed. Euro swords, however, can rust in the scabbard. Too much possibility of moisture penetration because of the lack of laquer and the presence of leather(which draws in moisture). The are best left well oiled and in a cool dry place. That's really the best plan unless you have access to a vacuum seal storage bag. Best of luck with this.
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Post by Student of Sword on Oct 27, 2010 7:26:47 GMT
Everything I have is katana. So you say that oil them normally and then leave them for 6 months undisturbed will be fine. I live in East Bay San Francisco and it is not too humid.
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Post by CivilSavage on Oct 28, 2010 5:14:37 GMT
Humidity is your worst enemy in regards to storage under normal circumstances. The most important factor I feel is to get an oil that doesn't separate on the surface of the blade. Lower viscosity oils will pull apart on the mirror polished shinogi or if the whole blade exhibits a fine polish thus exposing parts of the blade to the air(even if trapped in the saya). So a higher viscosity I feel would be best for long term storage. Also, the day or days you pack the blades in should be the lowest humidity possible as to limit the amount of humidity that will be latent in the saya. Once sealed, leave them be if at all possible. You might even use the sageo to tie them closed to prevent any 'back out' during placement or during storage. In my mind it is the best possible solution. Once again though there is no guarantee that you might not find a little oxidation upon your return. DO NOT OVER OIL. All it creates is a mess and does not add any more protection.
One more thing...when you are preparing your blades be sure to wipe them down as completely as possible to hopefully remove any stray salt-acids that mave have come in contact wiht the blades. The reason being is that they can be trapped under the oil and still etch or oxidize the steel.
Hope this helps.
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,331
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Post by ghost on Oct 30, 2010 21:27:09 GMT
It sounds like you will be leaving them in storage irregardless unless some options come up. These places are nightmarish especially the larger ones such as public storage since they seem to use hoses to wash down the cement nearby.
I would clean and oil the katana blades, then wrap them super tightly in paraffin/food wrap a lot of times rubber band it, etc. Throw em into a rifle foam case with silica packs/ open box of baking soda (lol I use Tide powder)
I guess this is the cheapo version of the spacebags options mentioned above.
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Herron's Flight by Brendan of Fable Blades
