Choji oil a bad idea?

[h1st0ryhunter]

I see from the Aoi Art website that they suggest the use of Choji oil is not a good idea as it promotes oxidisation....machine oil being preferred. Should I now be considering thoroughly removing it from my blades and using sewing machine oil? If I do so, there could remain the possibility of cross-contamination between the oils, and I don't know if that could be a problem. Should I use something like surgical spirit to remove all the choji before re-oiling? :?

[Jean]

David,

 

Please sign all your posts by 1st name+initial as per the board rules, add it to your profile it will be easier

Again, to all out there: Go into your profile (top of the forum) and then select profile from the left menu. Then click Edit signature on the left , and add your name there. Voila..it signs all of your posts for you.

 

Edit to add: learn to use the search button at the top of the page, this subject has been explored at length in numerous topics :D

[h1st0ryhunter]

David,

 

Please sign all your posts by 1st name+initial as per the board rules, add it to your profile it will be easier

Again, to all out there: Go into your profile (top of the forum) and then select profile from the left menu. Then click Edit signature on the left , and add your name there. Voila..it signs all of your posts for you.

 

Edit to add: learn to use the search button at the top of the page, this subject has been explored at length in numerous topics :D

 

Sorry. Making changes now.

[Jean]

No harm but believe me it is friendlier to have to call you David rather than "h1storyhunter"

[Alex A]

Hi David, theres been a lot of discussion on NMB about choji oil. To cut a long story short, a lot of folk dont use any oil, some folk use choji oil and some folk use a light machine oil such as gun oil or sewing machine oil. I use plain old singer sewing machine oil, no additives. I presume you know only to use a very fine application. Do a search above, plenty on the subject.

 

Alex.

[David Flynn]

I use Camellia oil.

[Jean]

I don't use any oil

[paulb]

nor do I

[Jean]

Where do you live, David? Do you really need to use oil. This is the first question to ask.

[Bruno]

No oil for me either.

[Alex A]

Makes perfect sense not to, in the right climate. Ive developed a complex from inherently oxidising iron meteorites.

 

Alex.

[w.y.chan]

I use mineral oil. It is less likely to oxidise and when dried easy to remove than some gun oil.

I've heard choji oil can darken the ji over time and some like the look

Choji oil claims to be an insecticide.

 

Wah

[Brian]

I feel that we need to clarify for any novices that choji (clove) oil, is NOT clove oil. It is light machine oil with a FEW DROPS of clove oil added for scent. Using pure clove oil is a very bad idea.

 

Brian

[h1st0ryhunter]

Ah..I never thought about not using oil, simply because every article I've read about blade care tells you to leave a clean blade with a very fine coating of oil. I no longer use Uchigumori as I hear it can scratch a blade, and anyway, mine don't get 'dirty' as they're not handled at all and reside most of the time in their sayas. I usually remove and re-oil twice a year.

 

But not oiling them is a very valid point! They don't live outdoors and I never touch the blades with anything other than Japanese paper, so I can't see that they're likely to become damaged. Once I've made myself some decent sword stands, I'll display them out of their sayas, but boss-lady doesn't like them and I currently have to slink off to a hidey-hole to look at them. Ho hum

 

I live in Hertfordshire, England, Jean. A Yari's throw from London.

[hxv]

Just isopropyl alcohol and store dry (no oil) for me.

Hoanh

[paulb]

David

I live in Northumberland, so a lot colder and wetter than your tropical climate down south, but I have not used oil for more than 10 years. the only exception is when I am taking swords somewhere I will use a thin film of Choji while they are in transit.

I am a little more concerned about you intent to display them out of their saya. Ignoring any potential injury risk which I am sure you have already considered, one reason for storing a blade in a shirasaya is that it forms and almost air-tight fit between saya and habaki, thus keeping, dust moisture or any other potentially damaging substance out.

So while I dont think you need to oil your swords if they are stored in a modern centrally heated environment in the UK I do recommend they be stored in shirasaya.

[David Flynn]

As Kenji Mishina said at this years Yakatabune, please stop oiling your swords, so I can stay in business.

[paulb]

David

As Jean says it depends where you are. If I were in Japan, South East Asia or Australia I would oil my swords. In my part of the UK and in the way they are stored I took the decision that they were better kept dry. The chances of doing damage to the polish from the repeated application of uchiko to remove oil seemed a greater risk, and to date I am comfortable with that decision.

Like anything else in this field ultimately we must take responsibility for our own choices.

I think 10 years ago the vast majority here oiled their swords, I know many now who choose not to. In the next 10 years maybe it will go full circle again.

[cabowen]

That's why a microfiber cloth is preferable to uchiko! Ditch the uchiko and you can oil your blades without fear.

[Stephen]

once more, from right to left, if you have no other, yes, never

[Jean]

David,

 

I live in Paris, 10 minutes walk from the river Seine. In 40 years, I have never oiled a blade. Thay are kept in shirasaya, without any rust.

[cabowen]

Must be all the rich food you cook Jean!

[w.y.chan]

The Fujishiro uchiko ball is the only one I find that are safe to use on polished blades. I don't believe it is actually uchiko, quite possibly powdered deer horn polishers uses at various stages of polishing. The technique I use is alcohol to digest the oil, before it completely dries out use Microdear lens cloth to wipe off then apply Fujishiro "uchiko", which of course is not real uchiko, to get rid of any residue left over by the dried out alcohol. The key is avoid abrasive material and less amount of wiping.

 

Wah

[David Flynn]

A lot of people are now using, 99.5%(or above) Isopropyl Alcohol, instead of Uchiko. I was first put on to it when I was in Japan in 2009.

[Jean]

In fact Chris, flats in Paris are very very dry, furniture suffers from it

[Alex A]

Working shifts in winter, I feel there is far too much in temperature change to not oil my swords. I would prefer not to, but don't want to take an unnecessary gamble.

 

Ps, not a scrooge lol, the price of heating an home in the Uk is ridiculous!

 

Alex.

[Jean]

Alex,

 

It is a matter of hydrometry, you just have to measure it. Then you take the decision whether or not oiling them.

[Alex A]

Hi Jean, theres enough hydrometry on the inside of my windows to sink a pocket battle ship. Time to spend money on stuff I don't like spending money on , once solved, I can take it from there.

 

Alex.

[drdata]

Subjects seems beat, but I am bored today so why not another opinion?

 

I live in southern California. I could likely get away w/o oil, but really, why risk it?

 

Steel and oil have a long history. AFAIK, a high quality oil applied sparingly cannot hurt, and is good insurance.

 

I made some blades from 01 tool steel. Was surprised to see how fast rust formed. Granted, work in progress so perhaps water from the stone, or careless touching, but once the rust is there its too late.

 

I bought some clove oil and make my own choji starting with light mineral oil. Rarely use uchoko.

 

Just my .02 yen.

[kusunokimasahige]

I would advise everyone to wipe their blade free from oil from time to time and take a picture with full flash.

 

You will see the rust areas if there are any. No doubt.

 

Oil works. Not having oil on the blade is detrimental to the steel in the long term.

 

KM