Cleaning Horimono

[Bencld]

Hi all. Just wondering if peoples have some suggestions on the above ? I have one and there is a little gunk in it, old oil, dust, colony of super duper micro bugs etc.

 

Looking for the least invasive/damaging method(s)

Ta in advance.

[Logan09]

Isopropyl Alcohol.

[eternal_newbie]

I second Logan's recommendation of isopropyl alcohol, wiped down vigorously with a thick microfibre towel/cloth to make sure all the little crevices get cleaned.

[Guido]

Not just any isopropyl alcohol - most has about 12.5% water in it, so dehydrated alcohol (99.9%) should be used for flushing out the gunk.

 

... , wiped down vigorously with a thick microfibre towel/cloth to make sure all the little crevices get cleaned.

 

This pretty much will guarantee that the loosened dirt of the horimono (usually old uchiko) gets rubbed into the surface of the blade; the result will be hike.

[Brian]

Anhydrous ethanol (dehydrated alcohol) with a soft clean toothbrush.

[eternal_newbie]

Not just any isopropyl alcohol - most has about 12.5% water in it, so dehydrated alcohol (99.9%) should be used for flushing out the gunk.

 

 

This pretty much will guarantee that the loosened dirt of the horimono (usually old uchiko) gets rubbed into the surface of the blade; the result will be hike.

 

That's a good point, I'm used to not using uchiko and hadn't considered the effect of leftover uchiko from prior owners.

[Fuuten]

I'm not speaking from experience, but perhaps those cotton swabs to clean ears work well with above mentioned alcohol. They're nice and small and perhaps more precise than a toothbrush.

[nagamaki - Franco]

A recent purchase, https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Electronics/dp/B004SPJP5O/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1VUTGNYTG0HI&keywords=mg+chemicals+99.9+isopropyl+alcohol&qid=1559587653&s=gateway&sprefix=mg+chemicals%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-7

 

Used once so far and was impressed.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Thanks, Franco - wasn't aware that anhydrous isopropyl alcohol was available.

 

Of course, I just discovered that Amazon won't ship it to Hawaii....

[ROKUJURO]

Ken,

that stuff is so flammable, and with all your volcanos.....better be careful!!

[Guido]

Of course, I just discovered that Amazon won't ship it to Hawaii....

 

I buy mine at the local pharmacy - after all, it's usually intended for desinfection.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Here in Finland you can get "the good stuff" from pharmacy too. You have to ask the staff (as it is not publically available in here) and they'll ask the purpose for it, she was bit puzzled when I told it was for swords.

[Dave R]

 Bought my bottle of "the stuff" on Ebay.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Interestingly, there's no source of 99% isopropanol that I can find on the island, but Grey's idea of buying on eBay worked for me, too.

[Dave R]

Who are you calling "Grey"!

[Ooitame]

A recent purchase, https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Electronics/dp/B004SPJP5O/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1VUTGNYTG0HI&keywords=mg+chemicals+99.9+isopropyl+alcohol&qid=1559587653&s=gateway&sprefix=mg+chemicals%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-7

 

Used once so far and was impressed.

Seconded, same stuff I used.

[Vermithrax16]

Being a scientist has it's advantages: