Microfibre lens cloth for Nihonto Yes or no?

[Uechi]

I have read and been told that microfibre lens cloths are just as good as the cleaning paper provided in qualith nihonto cleaning kits. Interested in experiences with the cloth and any recommendations on brands. Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

J Dromm

[Stephen]

JD

 

Most would agree that MF is better

[nagamaki - Franco]

Microdear cloth is strongly suggested and work great. Just make sure when you wash them you use detergents that do not have and leave unwanted residues.

[drbvac]

So I am asking that these are the small tightly woven kleenex size cloths - not the "micro fibre" towels that are available ? Same name - different sizes and surface texture but both a long way from rough or abrasive ??

 

The micro fibre cloths for cleaning LCD screens are supposed to be pretty non-abrasive as well ?

[Uechi]

The key word is lens cloth. Yes the the small square cloths.

 

 

J Dromm

[steve0]

I have good results with the ones they give out at the optometrists

[Christophe]

Can we use it to clean tosogu too ?

christophe

[Stephen]

Sams club sells a large mf cloth, apx 10 x 15 in optics. it could be cut into four and you have cloth for years.

[Darcy]

Microfiber forever.

 

In particular stay away from uchiko for the following reasons:

 

1. it constantly abrades the sword, and this is contrary to the principles of preservation... the abrading effect is particularly seen on swords with horimono, as the horimono cause the uchiko to collect during rubbing the blade and leave long streaks... the worst are seen after koshibi.

 

2. it often stays on the sword, and when inserted to the shirasaya, can become embedded and then repeatedly abrade the same spot on the sword, eventually causing either a deep scratch or burnishing... either of these will eventually encourage a collector to polish the sword which of course removes material that will never come back. If the new collector then uses uchiko and traditional cleaning methodology, the cycle begins again.

 

3. some collectors believe that uchiko "improves" a polish, but if the polisher has skill and felt this to be true, he would have presented the sword in the same state that the uchiko eventually produces. Ultimately, preferred taste is left to the taster, but in general I will choose and defer to a polisher's abilities. If I don't think that he can produce a completely finished sword I wouldn't and shouldn't be using his services. That's just my opinion in it, the above two are objective, but this part is indeed subjective.

 

Overall, too much damage is caused by uchiko. Buy a microfiber cloth and don't touch the stuff unless it's really needed. And when you do, don't cheap out. Sometimes uchiko is needed in stubborn cases and for these the Fujishiro kit is the way to go. Super high quality.