Comments on: Caring For your Katana: A brief guide to cleaning your blade

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:46:03 +0000

I had unintetionally left my sword packed away for too long (time flies), won’t make that mistake again. It was coated with oil (from the kit) but still developed some small rust spots).

My sword has been done with a special polish so that you can see the fold lines in the blade. Any abrasive cleaner will ruin the look of your sword, possibly destroying the hamon, or at least leaving big ugly scratches on it.

I used CLR (calcium, lime, rust) to clean and treat the rust spots first with cotton buds. I then cleaned the whole blade with CLR and wiped it all off. I then polished the whole blade with Brasso metal polish, which will not scratch a shiny steel surface (I tested it on a kitchen pot first), and wiped it all off. To finish, of course, I oiled the blade.

Discovering those spots gave me a heart attack, so you can be sure I will keep a closer eye on it. Although CLR is acid based and actually treats the rust, the rust may still come back.

By: woodro

woodro — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:07:15 +0000

Thanks Joseph, good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:05:50 +0000

@Tracy Rainey

Storing your sword in its saya is actually hard on the blade. Moister builds up, and rust will start to form. The best way to display a sword is out of the saya. If you must display the sword in it’s saya (i think it looks better) then you need to oil it a lot more. Make sure your not just coating the blade, as then you’ll get moister from that, and it will damage the saya. If you can get a thick grease, and but that on the blade, it will do wonders. Also, if rust is building up in one location, that generally means there is rust in the blade. You need to get fine, fine steel wires and rub it. If you can get it professionally done it would be better. I believe ColdSteel is one company that will do it for you.

@woodro

Honestly, anything soft works. Rice paper is soft, yet grainy enough to actually rub oil against the blade. Diaper cloths (i think that’s what they are called.) work very well. Just find a cloth that is not ruff, but not “flat”. Some hand rags are acceptable because they are grainy, yet extremely soft.

By: woodro

woodro — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:47:55 +0000

What kind of ‘cotton cloth’ would y’all recommend for cleaning the blade in place of the rice paper? considering the economy right now, trying to save every penny and all lol

By: Tracey Rainey

Tracey Rainey — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:38:22 +0000

My sword is taken care of very well, I clean it and oil it and I’ve never cut anything with it. On the mune of the blade it wants to rust in the same place every time its put in the saya and on display? and this takes place in only 1 week and thats with a clean oiled blade. It must be the saya doing this and this is a 9 year old sword and it hasn’t always done this, so my question is what do I do??? Help I love my sword but this seems to be getting worse!!

By: kenan k

kenan k — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:18:04 +0000

mineral oil, I just buy a traditional cleaning kit. So I don’t know the exact type of oil

By: admin

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:14:08 +0000

@Kenkan : usually there’s no wax inside but it’s possible that too much grease/wax is stocking up in your saya. What kind of product are you using to oil your blade ?

Dave

By: kenan k

kenan k — Sat, 07 May 2011 08:06:40 +0000

Hey I’m 14 and I have a vast sword collection about 30+ pieces including 15 japanese katanas, it was started by my grandfather and he left it to me when he died and I have the basics of cleaning and I know all of their components and I do kendo but y is there wax inside the scabbard of the katana? Because I have to wipe it of every time I have to draw my sword to show my friends or when I want to show my sensei, and does anyine know how I can stop the wax from stucking to my blade?

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:39:46 +0000

I bought a katana off a friend when he needed so money. But its not in good condition, he decided to cut tree branches with it and the bark and possibly sap is on the blade how can i clean this off?

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:11:24 +0000

Simon,

Metal glo (assuming that is what you are talking about) is a polish that can help prevent rust.. but if you put that on a sword, and use a very vine steel wool (0000 grade or under) on it.. the rust should come out. NOTE: After a certain amount of time, rust cannot be taken out of the steel, because it has set in.. and after that, microscopic cracks begin to appear in your sword (of course you can’t see them… but they are there). Thus, it will (again…over time) destroy your sword, so handle rust as soon as possible.

As to if you can buy them in Queensland, I don’t know. I am not familiar with the geography of the area, so i don’t know what places sell what. HOWEVER, you can buy all of this stuff online at various websites.