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Post by herkaf on Oct 25, 2019 21:06:09 GMT
First, thanks to mods for approving the account creation, and hello everyone!
I recently took the jump and decided on my first sword, which is a katana (daring aren't we ). It's barely been a month and I already have ran into severe issues regarding this stain (and possibly rust?) on the photo
Now, a bit of data regarding the circumstances,I live in a country with tropical maritime climate with a hot, humid, rainy season (May through to December) and a short dry season (January through to May). humidity levels roam around 25-35% on a normal day, and a alarming 80% when sun and rain decide to tango together. I did some maintenance reading prior to getting the sword, for cleaning, I use 70% alcohol, and 3 in 1 mineral oil as a rust preventer, sword is only used for iaido katas, no chopping since its unsharpened.
I happened to over-oil a little bit before returning the sword to the saya, thinking that it should be fine, and I was wrong, sword accumulated as droplets while the katana was stored edge facing up, I may have forgotten for a couple days but the intensity of the stain is really frightening.
For removal, I have tried to no avail, Nail polish, Windex, 70% alcohol, baking soda and vinegar,laca thinner, stainless steel polisher, I have some Uchiko powder in route for another attempt.
I suspect the saya may also be complicit on this matter (mold)?, since the stains happen to be near the handguard, a flashlight inspection allows only view into a few inches inside the scabbard, but I genuinely can't tell whether the wood is stained from before or after the mold takes place. Also,the oil seems also culprit, as in it accumulates as droplets the following day after storage, and the paranoia is eating into me since I'm cleaning and re-oiling daily, I think I need to change the oil for something else...
What would be the ideal approach to this situation? so far all attempts have been non abrasive items, would it be a good time to bring the big guns? (Flitz,metal glo etc etc)
Also, the ideal way to clean a saya? There are LOTS of articles regarding how to clean a katana, but pretty much nothing for the saya.... which is pretty puzzling considering its very much a part of the sword itself. I'm considering getting a shirasaya sheath but then again, if the oil itself at hand is the culprit, there isn't much of a point to getting another sheath.
Thanks in advance for any insights provided!
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Post by MOK on Oct 25, 2019 21:49:04 GMT
It sounds like you're using too much oil, for one. When you're done spreading it, you should wipe off all of it that will come off with a soft rag (over time the rag will accumulate oil to the point that you only need to wipe down the sword with it, rather than apply new oil from the can). And you really shouldn't need to re-oil daily, either, even in a humid climate, since you're not cutting with the sword at all.
PS. I don't see rust in the photo. Might be some kind of sap or glue or lacquer residue from the scabbard, dried up excess oil, or something... mold doesn't seem likely, but who knows. Have you tried just rubbing it with some new oil?
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,647
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Post by stormmaster on Oct 25, 2019 22:20:39 GMT
dont use too much oil, a thin coat with a cloth is enough for a few weeks, honestly if its a powdery substance i would expect it form cheaper sayas and scabbards which are just not as well done
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Post by herkaf on Oct 25, 2019 23:01:26 GMT
It sounds like you're using too much oil, for one. When you're done spreading it, you should wipe off all of it that will come off with a soft rag (over time the rag will accumulate oil to the point that you only need to wipe down the sword with it, rather than apply new oil from the can). And you really shouldn't need to re-oil daily, either, even in a humid climate, since you're not cutting with the sword at all. PS. I don't see rust in the photo. Might be some kind of sap or glue or lacquer residue from the scabbard, dried up excess oil, or something... mold doesn't seem likely, but who knows. Have you tried just rubbing it with some new oil?
Yes, I have tried with new oil, stain is still there, I might have to take a new photo but there are some pale chocolate dots on the sword, not sure if I should label it as rust since every time I run a paper or rag on it, I don't feel any bumps on the surface path.
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Post by herkaf on Oct 25, 2019 23:02:56 GMT
It sounds like you're using too much oil, for one. When you're done spreading it, you should wipe off all of it that will come off with a soft rag (over time the rag will accumulate oil to the point that you only need to wipe down the sword with it, rather than apply new oil from the can). And you really shouldn't need to re-oil daily, either, even in a humid climate, since you're not cutting with the sword at all. PS. I don't see rust in the photo. Might be some kind of sap or glue or lacquer residue from the scabbard, dried up excess oil, or something... mold doesn't seem likely, but who knows. Have you tried just rubbing it with some new oil?
Yes, I have tried with new oil, stain is still there, I might have to take a new photo but there are some pale chocolate dots on the sword, not sure if I should label it as rust since every time I run a paper or rag on it, I don't feel any bumps on the surface path.
Should also mention that I have tried tapping the saya to see if any residue or stuff fell off, nothing falls out but somehow dust still gets in while oiled inside the saya.
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Post by zsg1313 on Oct 25, 2019 23:29:52 GMT
The saya itself could definitely be causing the rust. I had a secondhand bugei blade that would rust overnight when kept in the saya. I stored it outside the saya with no issues. Not saying thats whats going on here but too much oil is quite bad. It will gunk up the saya and start causing rust issues pretty quickly. I would use a metal polish but try to stay away from the hamon unless you want that frosty white gone. As for cleaning the saya you could get a nicholson file and weld a long handle on it to reach all the way in.
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