Interesting comments from Aoi-art re cleaning swords

[markturner]

Hi, reading in the sword care and treatment section on Tsuruta-san's website, he recommends using high quality gun oil or machine oil instead of the usual choji-oil, as he says in their experience the choji oil can promote oxidisation.

 

What do you guys think? I would say he is somewhat of an expert, and after all, advances in technology and materials often throw up better alternatives than traditional materials sometimes ( modern synthetic oils for use in high performance engines spring to mind here)

 

Myself, I have often considered how beneficial a product called renaissance wax would be in protecting swords? I use it on all my hand tools ( I make furniture and have many high quality hand tools that get handled a lot and need protecting from rust etc in the same way as a sword blade) It's a microcrystalline wax that once applied can be polished and leaves a microscopic layer impervious to liquid and oils from sweat etc. The good thing is, once applied, it is dry and does not attract dust etc and also does not need cleaning off the blade to appreciate the activity in the metal when viewing.

 

I expect many will say that 1000 years of experience cant be wrong, but I thought it would be good to throw it out for discussion!

 

Cheers, Mark

[runagmc]

As far as oils go, there are options... I've heard that clear, light weight machine oil is good, but I'm not sure about gun oil. Mineral/choji oil IS tried and true, and I have never heard of it promoting oxidation. I think that would only be possible if the blade wasn't oiled well enough. From my own personal experience, I've never had any problems with oxidation and choji oil... even on newly polished swords.

 

Renessaince wax is used on sword fittings and armour, but is normally not used on polished swords because a swords features are most prominant after it has been cleaned with uchiko. There also might be a problem with it rubbing off on the inside of the saya where it could collect dirt, although the same could be said for oil...

[kusunokimasahige]

If you want to use oil apart from Choji I would go for mineral sowing machine oil.

 

Gun oil like for instance Ballistol will get dirty and thick. Especially when in contact with water.

 

Would not go there.

 

KM

[Ken-Hawaii]

Mark, choji oil is simply mineral oil with about 2% clove oil. Mineral oil cannot cause oxidation because it isn't organic.

 

Ken

[Lingonberry]

I'd refrain from using most gun oils as many of them contain powerful solvents. They're typically meant for cleaning copper and brass particles as well as carbon residue out of barrels. Hoppes 9 in particular is one gun oil that should NEVER go anywhere near a sword.