Cedar Chests for Storage?

[Dr Bob]

Hello everyone.

My wife doesn't want me to add another gun safe to the house to store the additional  swords I had to bring home from the office when I retired.  I was thinking of buying an old cedar chest and adding stackable racks inside so I can store swords inside in layers.  Then it occurred to me that I have no idea if the fumes from the cedar would be detrimental to Nihonto or their fittings.  Anyone have any experience with this?  The swords are currently in a hard sided golf club case and I would really like to get them out of there.

 

Thanks,

Bob Gilmore

[b.hennick]

How about a lockable metal truck box?

[Dr Bob]

You know, if I suggest that option, my wife might counter-offer by letting me have another gun safe.

 

Bob

[ChrisW]

Smart! Also, I would not risk testing the cedar trunk theory as many a nihonto bringback has come out of a cedar trunk in less than optimal condition, so who knows?

[Ken-Hawaii]

 Cedar does outgas, although I don't know whether that would affect steel. You can also keep an eye out for a tansu, specifically a katanadansu, which are made to store swords long-term.

 

As a moden alternative, you can buy https://www.amazon.com/Weapon-Protection-Zerust-Prevention-Closure/dp/B00PJ4QN12/ which will protect the swords, & you can just put them in your existing gun safes. Not pretty, but inexpensive & practical. I used to be a dealer for these bags, until Amazon went into competition.

[Dr Bob]

Okay, I guess I should have just checked Dr. Google first.  Apparently Western Cedar and new Oak wood have a pH of about 3.5, and the acid fumes can affect nearby metals.  Glad I didn't proceed with the project.   In particular it mentions turning copper green.  That could really screw up some mounts.

 

Bob