uchiko must die

[Darcy]

Almost every sword I work on I see these marks. These are not swords mishandled in the USA, these are mishandled in Japan. This particular sword is in very old polish so has accumulated wear and tear from uchiko. But this heartbreak happens all the time. The saddest case for me was an incredible polish by Fujishiro on a Tokubetsu Juyo Soshu sword that was only a couple years old and the owner immediately ruined it by slamming uchiko into the sword creating these meteor strikes every 6 inches down the blade.

 

When this happens there is only one solution which is to repolish the sword.

 

 

Uchiko I believe is the biggest threat we have to swords these days. Every time an owner ruins a polish with uchiko and it goes to a new owner, the decision is going to be made about a polish or not. If this new owner polishes it then goes on to ruin the polish with uchiko it will again face threat when it changes hands again. So just by polishing away entirely avoidable uchiko marks we're chewing up these swords.

 

On the worst cases I have seen clear imprints of the fabric on the uchiko ball left on the sword. These I believe are from long term use of an old uchiko ball. They are slapped into oily swords and the uchiko and oil combine into a sludge which infuses the uchiko ball. This coats the fabric and turns it into an abrasive itself. Then the owner slams the uchiko ball into the sword like he is Keith Moon and leaves an imprint behind all down the blade. One particular person provided me three swords over the years to photograph, Koto Juyo blades by high level smiths, and I could have looked at them and identified the owner by the pattern of the uchiko marks as they were distinctive to his old screwed up uchiko ball. He had no idea he was damaging his swords.

 

Solutions:

 

1. Don't use uchiko! It's not necessary, really. You wouldn't clean your blade with sandpaper, so why clean it with uchiko when a microfiber cloth will do the job.

 

2. If you must use uchiko, replace your uchiko ball every now and then. You wouldn't wipe the sword with a dirty grimy cloth that has been dragged over the road outside (or I hope not) so why touch it with a dirty grimy uchiko ball!

 

3. If you must use uchiko, remove excess oil first, so as to keep your uchiko ball clean as possible and avoid creation of the dried sludge infusion.

 

4. apply it gently and absolutely do not drag the ball or snap your wrist when applying it (which will cause it to bounce and drag), and do it near the shinogi

 

Most people will not realize they are damaging the sword when applying uchiko. I was one of them. You may not see the scratches until they are oriented so as to reflect the light directly into your eyes. But they are there.

 

These marks are entirely avoidable... and I see them on the majority of swords. Not on a few, on the majority of swords there is at least one. This is not even getting to the linear abrasions which are caused when the uchiko is not 100% removed from the sword, and embeds itself into the shirasaya and becomes permanent sandpaper. Also this is before getting to swords with horimono that cause disruptions in the even collection of uchiko on the rice paper used to scrub the blade, causing linear marks in the polish. Or even that kitae ware cause the same thing.

 

I had Ted in the past clean horimono that have become filled with embedded uchiko-oil sludge and I routinely see both grain in the sword and kitae ware or other defects filled with uchiko and have these linear scrub patterns put into the polish as a result.

 

A lot may say, "this won't happen to me, I use it right and mine is good quality" but things like horimono, kitae ware, and getting your sword 100% clear of uchiko before you put it back in the shirasaya just make it nearly impossible to get away with no damage to your polish over the long haul even with using proper technique. It just should be avoided. I think mostly everyone here does already, I am just documenting.

[Stephen]

Its been repeatedly stated here, not to use uchiko on any polished blades. Old cloudy blades out of polish that one wants to pull out a hamon or hada, yes.

[bone]

???? *blink* Thank you.

[Brian]

Steve,

You are becoming increasingly cryptic

 

Brian

[Jean]

Years ago, before this matter was raised on the Board, I put uchiko on a blade. Did not notice but much later that there were three thin scatches (about 8 inches each) parallell to the cutting edge, one of it in the hamon. Mind you, if there is one of this scratch in the hamon you are doomed, a new polish is to be envisaged. Best is to meft it as is because it avoids removing metal.

 

Now removing hike or avoiding them when polishing is becoming a challenge. The size and number of hike can also be an indicator of quality of materials. This is difficult these days as quality stones are nearly impossible to get. Quality stones of today are middle ones of 20 years ago. Good stones as Komanagura, chunagura, binsui are no more available. Mines have been shut. Nariti stones fron whoch are made Jizuya stone are becoming very difficult to find. So hike can be a challenge for even the best polisher if higher quality materials are not available.

 

I don't want to be pessimistic but top polish could be jeopardize in the years to come if new sources of polishing stones are not found. So take care of your polishes.

 

Removing hike is one thing, removing scratches is another, but the cost is prohibitive if you have to send it to Japan and don't forget that any polish implies removing metal.

[bone]

Cryptic? Sounds like a cross between a burial place and a blood sucking insect... Congress? Anyway I meant that in all the thousands of posts I've read here this is the first I've heard of anti-uchiko. Now I know. Microfiber cloths instead. Did you know that microfiber cloths were invented in in the 1960's to replace dish cloths? They were called sponges. 'Course they were macrofiber cloths...

[cabowen]

I don't want to be pessimistic but top polish could be jeopardize in the years to come if new sources of polishing stones are not found. So take care of your polishes.

 

Many togi-shi have complained about the shortage of stones for many years now, just as many saya-shi complain about the poor quality of ho wood, and smiths complain about the decrease in quality of the tamahagane. Fortunately, most experienced togi-shi have a large stock of toishi but new togi-shi are in a difficult position...

 

We should indeed endeavor to preserve polishes and forgoing the uchiko is a step in the right direction. But let's remember that while uchiko can ruin a polish, it has never ruined a sword. Far more damage is done to swords by those not properly trained to polish them. It usually necessitates a complete repolishing, if possible, to correct the damage. This is why a cheap polish is really the most expensive, both in terms of the financial costs and in terms of the steel that is lost.

 

As for uchiko, it produces what are called hike-kizu. They are very fine scratches. Any experienced polisher can remove them in most cases rather easily as they do not require a complete, new polish, rather, just the shiage, or finishing work. The amount of steel removed is next to nothing. I have had this done several times. Some togi-shi do not want to do this work though if the shitaji, or foundation polish, is poor. Obviously it is preferable to avoid the issue in the first place.

 

I see no reason to use uchiko these days. It think it telling that the first microfiber cloth I received came as a gift perhaps 15 years ago from a very famous and highly rated togi-shi. I haven't used uchiko since. Somehow though, sadly, the cleaning ritual just seems to lack a certain je ne sais quoi when done with microfiber, don't you think, Jean?

[Jean]

In fact, Chris what you have said is absolutelly true. Few issues on Uchiko:

 

- the first one is undoubtedly the poor quality of Uchiko easily obtainable on the web which will ruin the polish of any blade.

 

- the second one is more pernicious, it is the NBTHK care manual. It indicates how to maintain a sword. How to remove oil. How to apply uchiko. How to wipe it. How to oil swords. Unfortunatelly, it has not be updated on several points:

 

1 - this manual has been made for Japanese and does not indicate the most important thing: the Reasons of each steps

2 - it is traditional and had been used for centuries and not updated

 

Why oil the blade: to prevent it from rusting, why does it rust: because in Japan the rate of humidity is very high as in tropical countries, it does not rain cats and dogs, but hallebards (sansaku yari, naginata ...) like mousson in India. The air is so damp that steel rusts.

 

The oil dries, so we have to remove this with the uchiko (abrasive powder coming from polishing process)

 

Then after wiping the uchiko which often results in Hike if not worse, re-oil the blade.

 

This process if not managed correctly will bring some abrasive inside the saya and bring scratches on your blade and not only hike. Now too much oil will clog the inside of the saya, that will have to be opened to be cleaned and rice glued again.

 

In our Western countries (beware of Hawaï) at 98%, this process is useless, no uchiko and mineral oil

Just a gentle wipe with a fiber cloth do the trick and often it is not even necessarily.

 

For example, It will be stupid to uchiko and oil a blade in Paris.

[Cornerst0ne]

Let's say were in feudal times.

 

Your a samurai with a priceless heirloom sword. Your duty is going to take you through all kinds of weather, and all kinds of terrain.

 

You must be wearing your daisho and ready to fight.

 

So your sword is going to get rusty. Imagine bringing your best sword camping in the winter for a week.. And having to wear it in the rain because your campground is full of ninjas...

 

No trained polisher within a fortnight of travel on foot.

 

Would you use a rock on your swords rust?

 

Would you let the rust eat its fill while you were traveling?

 

The best thing for your blade would be a uchiko ball. And an oily cloth. It also would not weigh very much. And could probably be kept nice and dry in a gourd with some paper..

 

I don't believe a samurai had their swords polished at every little scratch. It would use the blade up,way too fast.

 

So as i see it uchiko has had its place. A bushi in feudal times is not going to be ocd about uchiko scratches and perfect polish all the time.

 

Also in a culture where swords were so prevalent I think a polish would be like getti g a oil change is today...

 

Just my 2¢ hope no one's offended.

 

+1 microfiber for preservation. +1 uchiko if camping with swords is your thing..

 

Hank

[bone]

Ok. Low humidity = don't use uchiko. I live in Arkansas. I assume the microfiber works here ok, right?

[cabowen]

Low or high humidity, don't use uchiko. High humidity, oil more frequently, use microfiber to remove oil, or, if the oil has dried, remove it with alcohol on a clean cotton patch, then wipe with microfiber, then reoil with oil on a clean cotton flannel patch.

 

While doubtful that samurai trapped out in the rain carried priceless swords, it is almost certainly the case that the polish on practical blades in use was not obsessed over and most likely not done to the standard seen today on art swords.

 

Jean, I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the NBTHK care instructions. Out of date for sure, and without instruction, if followed blindly, sure to cause issues for a polish.

 

Anyone near water or in a humid climate surely need to oil; those who aren't best keep an eye on things, as the Patron Saint of All Thing Steel, Neil Young, warns us, "rust never sleeps"....

[Cornerst0ne]

OK well probably not priceless, but let's still say their most valued possession.

 

I haven't heard of many samurai with a 'winter' sword..

 

I should add I think uchiko has had its place in history, but today with the conveniences of modern society, and the larrrrge amount it costs to polish a blade its probably not a good idea unless already far out of polish.

 

Microfiber is definitely the friendliest to the blade.

 

Don't forget oil

 

Hank

[DanC]

So, it seems to be a battle of custom vs conservation. The general feeling I'm getting from the posts, is that we should focus on preserving these historic works by using modern means, while respecting the traditions associated with the work. My plan will now be to preserve historic swords using the the modern micro fiber and performing the historic cleaning method on a cheap modern sword. Not that I can afford a historic sword worth preserving, so maybe just the historic method on cheap sword plan.

[Guido]

Anyway I meant that in all the thousands of posts I've read here this is the first I've heard of anti-uchiko.

Subconcious selective reading, I guess …

 

This topic used to come up every other week, so I wrote "Polishing and Conservation of the Japanese Sword" almost exactly six years ago, which can be found at the articles forum. My article obviously had a huge impact, since the topic of which oil to use, uchiko or not, mulberry paper or microdear, now only comes up every fifteen days …

 

I'm not that arrogant to think that my article is the alpha and omega of sword care, but it's like really bad déjà vu for me every time I read about it yet again.

 

Dary's photo is quite interesting in that it shows horizontal hike, unlike the hike parallel to the edge (and going straight through the bōshi) that are usually seen. Either the guy who produced them is a complete moron, or he did the "look how the sword slices through emery paper" routine.

 

Uchiko has its place in sword maintenance, but usually not when it comes to blades in good polish. It's kind of ironic that the NBTHK still distributes that flyer at the museum, and has it online, when they don't use that method themselves, as I can attest to.

[Jean]

To summarize:

 

If you have a sword in good polish, check the humidity of the room where they are stored. If it is ok, don't oil or uchiko your blade, just wipe it from time to time with microfiber tissue.

 

Oil has its drawback also, so avoid it if possible, because an overoiled blade will clog any saya.

 

Air humidity is the key word. That is the reason why koshirae and blades ideally must be stored separately.

 

 

Dan wrote:

 

So, it seems to be a battle of custom vs conservation.

 

Not exactly, it is rather the problem of generalizing something very specific.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning all,

 

Here's a seemingly dumb question.

 

What was the polishing really like in Sengoku and Edo periods?

 

Was a polisher really a sharpener?

 

I've heard tales of stone lanterns and particular sections of a wall which have gouges and lines where Yari and Katana were supposedly sharpened by warriors prior to battle.

 

Is this true or Fantasy Island?

 

Admittedly these tales are usually fueled by elegant cups Sake or chilled cans what certain denizens charmingly refer to in the U.K. as "Wife Beater".

 

Cheers

[nagamaki - Franco]

While recommending having and using a quartz halogen lamp preferably with a low and high watt bulb setting for viewing nihonto, it is a mixed blessing in that it will reveal incredible detail in your sword as well as virtually every flaw including hike from uchiko. A 100W incandescent bulb does a pretty good job of it too, but it takes some playing around with angles more than the quartz.

It is possible to escape getting scratches from uchiko, but sure awfully difficult especially with repeated use as it only takes a moment of changed concentration, pressure, and/or direction and suddenly there they are, fine, fine scratches. And sometimes not so fine as I have seen on freshly polished swords, not my own.

On two separate occasions, once with Kajiwara sensei and another time with Jimmy Hayashi san who both used a lot of uchiko on my swords shown to them, when looking at these swords carefully once back home under quartz there were no hike from their uchiko use. Good uchiko and feather light finger pressure along with correct direction are key.

While I cannot say that I will not use uchiko again and haven't in a long time, I have switched to using Microdear cloths that clean very well and do not scratch, and the fact that they are washable and reusable is a big plus.

[Brian]

Guido is correct, the use of uchiko has been cautioned against for many years on the forum. General consensus is that on totally out of polish blades or ones with overall rust, it can show where the hamon is, but on swords in polish, it is to be avoided. If used, it must be top quality uchiko and used within the guidelines mentioned here. But preferably rather use microfiber cloth and isopropyl alchohol.

Even in dryer climates, there is no harm in periodically wiping off old oil with microfiber and isopropyl alchohol, and then a very thin wiping of oil.

Those that claim that uchiko should still be used on in-polish swords should note that Darcy, Chris and Guido all agree on avoiding uchiko generally...so that says something :D

 

Brian

[w.y.chan]

I must agree collectors should really move away from using uchiko on polished blades. I know some die hard collectors swear by it because it works for them and it is traditional but not all things traditional means it is the better. Uchiko damages a polish every time it is used and I'm surprise some cannot see damage done but then I can understand because as you get older your eyesight goes. However if you take high resolution photos of a blade before and after uchiko you can see the different even if eyesight is not so good to see.

 

 

Wah

[Jean]

Fantastic, speachless, I am wondering if I should not lock this topic and have it framed while

 

Everybody agrees on the topic

[raven2]

Fantastic, speachless, I am wondering if I should not lock this topic and have it framed while

 

Everybody agrees on the topic

 

That really is the most amazing thing :D

[cabowen]

Fantastic, speachless, I am wondering if I should not lock this topic and have it framed while

 

Everybody agrees on the topic

 

Ah, the restorative powers of uchiko.....

[Jean]

[DanC]

It is topics like this that I find most valuable on NMB, as someone new to this field of study. There is a clear debate of the hows and whys based on years of practical experience, as apposed to the 'you do it this way because I do it this way and I'm an expert' feeling I tend to get from reading books on the subject.

 

Keep up the good work NMB.

[Stephen]

Esp when the three bright stars aline and agree, somethings are just too good.

[Jean]

[GARY WORTHAM]

Ok, I must add my 20 years of influence and experience.

 

This is a 2 direction effort. Fully polished blades, are not uchiko material !!! I agree to the max !!!

 

However, blades in poor polish, little polish, and maybe old polish or no polish; a different critter.

 

The break down even extends to era; koto as to shinto as to shinshinto.

 

When I use uchiko on the koto blades [ not in polish ] ; I see the removal of oxidized metal; to a greater degree than the shin shinto blades; which i believe is due to the construction being less tight in the koto years as to the improved techniques as the years pass.

 

This lack of metal preservatives, inherent to the metal, leads to the natural degradation by nature.

 

The diligent and cautious use of uchiko, does keep the metal of the blade in it's most prominent status,as well as the preservative use of the choji oil.

[brannow]

On high end polished blades I use good quality uchiko only when absolutely necessary. I very softly put it on the blade. Most of the time I just use a microfiber cloth with the little fingers (which I sell) and just wipe the blade in one direction in a single wipe. It seems to lift stuff out of the blade. If there is higher humidity a little oil on the blade does not hurt. This has worked very well for me for many years.

 

One other thing please dont have the blade re-polished!

[sanjuro]

Quick Brian.........Lock it up now, the dissenters are gathering. Once you get one 'Yes but this' (or that), you are starting to lose that wonderful 'we all agree' feeling. :D :D

 

"We all live in a yellow submarine.....yellow submarine ......yellow submarine"........."La lala lalalala".

[Jean]

Ite missa est...

 

GARY, THIS TOPIC IS ABOUT BLADES IN FULL POLISH.

 

Now, I had once a blade slightly rusted (a pink veil) which disappeared with uchiko.

 

Deo gratias

 

I am going to lock this topic and if someone is willing to open a new topic on out of polish blades....you are welcome.