Nihonto Oil - A Study Part 2

[Derek]

Breakfree CLP......

 

Smell = Average oil. 

Consistency = Yellow, thick.

Protection = A

 

Overall = I used this stuff forever on my firearms, and it works well.  It has the cleaning aspect,  which worries me on my nihonto though, especially residue in the shirasaya.

 

 

$6 for 4 ounce bottle, at most stores.

[Derek]

Eezox......

 

Smell = Very bad.  Gives me a headache. 

Consistency = Very light yellow, evaporates leaving very light film.

Protection = A+

 

Overall = This one is very interesting.  It stinks, but may have the best protection of everything I tested.  It seems to have a cleaning chemical, along with something like a wax.  After looking at the msds, I would be worried about using this long term.  Very mixed reviews online.  If I were to move to a climate that exposed my sword to constant salt, humidity,and dampness, I would be tempted to use it.

 

 

$10 for 1.5 ounce bottle, sold online.

[Derek]

Breakfree Collector......

 

Smell = Average oil. 

Consistency = Yellow, thick.

Protection = A+

 

Overall =  Also an interesting option.  It seems to behave like CLP without the cleaning part, with better protection.  This stuff never showed even a hint of corrosion.  My only problem with it, is that it leaves a very sticky residue, probably the most of anything I tested; it is like a magnet for dirt and dust.  Again, If I were in a very humid climate, I would really look at this.

 

 

$10 for 4 ounce bottle, online.

[Derek]

Mineral Oil......

 

Smell = None.

Consistency = Clear, average thickness.

Protection = B-

 

Overall = No color, no smell, thick.  Safe to consume, in case you ever need to use your nihonto to cut supper…

 

$3 for 1 pint bottle, at most stores.

[Derek]

Ohota Katsuhisa Syouten Co Choji Oil ......

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Clear, medium sticky.

Protection = B-

 

Overall = Probably based on mineral oil.  Similar performance.  I've used this for a long time, and no complaints.

 

 

$20  for 18cc glass bottle, from Japanese dealer.

[Derek]

Camillia Oil ......

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Light yellow color, ligh medium sticky.

Protection = B

 

Overall = Tool and knife makers seem to like this stuff.  It went on easy, no residue, I like it.

 

 

$10  for 4 oz  bottle, on ebay.

[Derek]

OHS Okamure Heibei Shoten Choji Oil.....

 

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Light yellow color, ligh medium sticky.

Protection = B

 

Overall = Probably based on camellia oil.  Similar performance. 

 

 

$30  for 10cc glass bottle, from Japanese dealer.

[Derek]

Rem Oil.....

 

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Clear, very light.

Protection = B+

 

Overall = Very good performer.  It is very light, and probably doesn't hold up well on firearms, which could explain why it is considered average in reviews.  But it goes on smoothly, with no color, or stickiness.  Cheap and sold everywhere. 

 

 

$4  for 2 ounce bottle, in most sporting goods stores.

[Derek]

御刀油・最高精製錆止丁子油  Choji Oil....

 

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Clear, very light.

Protection = B+

 

Overall = Reminds me of Rem oil, actually.....   The little glass bottle looks nice, but the top is just an open hole, which makes applying it a bit messy.  Really nice stuff.

 

 

$20  for 20cc glass bottle, from Japanese dealer.

[kissakai]

_{Brilliant to sum up all your hard work and diligence}

 

 

_Thanks

_{Grev UK}

[Derek]

Fujishiro Oil.....

 

Smell = None

Consistency = Clear, very light.

Protection = A-

 

 

 

Overall = Not quite Eezox or Collector, but almost CLP level for protection.  Clear, no smell. 

Before this test, I never really knew much about this stuff.  It is clearly an excellent product, and is what I will use from now on.

 

 

$60  for 3.5 oz  bottle, from Fujishiro San.

 

 

 

 

[Brian]

You went all out on this study

I think there are the makings of a decent JSSUS or NCJSC article in that. Well done Derek, this is going to be a constant resource. Might have to try and compile it into a pdf article and upload it here.

 

Brian

[Derek]

I have had several members ask me how I purchased Fujishiro Oil.....

 

Fujishiro San's email is:   post@nihontou.net

 

 

I wrote:

 

Hello,

I am interested in buying:

 

○刀剣油最上(無色)
大瓶100cc

 

and shipping it to the USA.

Please let me know if this is possible.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

 

 

 

I received a response in English a few days later; I assume a family member with excellent English?  (FYI, It went to spam filter!)  I paid with paypal, and it was shipped very quickly. 

The total to paypal was 6,600 yen, for the 3.3 oz bottle.

[w.y.chan]

Hi Derek,

Thank you for your time doing these tests.

This oil do smell like choji so I'm a bit curious why you think there is no smell. Also do you find it a bit oily and don't dry very easily? I stopped using it after it stained my shirasaya.

 

 

Wah

[Derek]

Wah, I can only compare it to the others.  I didn't notice an overpowering smell of anything, especially compared to something like the Eezox or motor oil.  All the oils leave something of a film, but this wasn't more than average.  Perhaps there are differences in batches?  As I noted, the bottle opening on this one is a bit weird, so easy to over-oil? 

 

Again, my point was to try what was currently available, and share what I found.  It doesn't really matter to me what people choose to use.  I am not a chemist, so I could be off on the interpretations of my observations!   Also, please remember that I was testing on mild steel blanks, with no shirasaya.  I still think this is a valid test to compare corrosion resistance, but obviously not perfect. 

 

I used OKS choji for a long time, then tried Collector recently.  I was thinking of using Eezox, but will pass after testing it.  I had never tried Fujishiro oil before this test, but will use it now. 

 

Thank you for your feedback.

[b.hennick]

I have made a table to summarise Derek's experimental results.  The table is followed by his comments on the oils/preparations. The table and comments are in the attached PDF. I organized the table based on the results with the A+ results at the top and D results at the bottom. Edited to add ounces and mL so both show for each sample.

Experiment results summary revised.pdf

[drbvac]

Well done Barry - tough to get them all straight reading through the posts - considering the cost of the blades this stuff is protecting the cost may not be an issue but it would be neat to see the cost per ml or oz. The $60.00 bottle of Fujishiro oil which is 3.3 Oz is almost 100ml is less expensive than the choji oil at $1 a ml.

True :??

[b.hennick]

Hi Brian:

3.3 oz is 95.6 mL. I have updated the file to include both oz. (US) and mL

 

[Derek]

Very true Brian.  I hesitated to add prices, as they reflect what I paid.  Some, like WD40 were already in my garage.  Tufglide is really expensive for the size bottle.  The oils from Japan were more expensive since I had to pay for shipping to USA.  Some of these were also available in different sizes; I bought the larger Fujishiro bottle, but a small was available.  I already had OKS choji oil, but the Small choji oil was really expensive to get it to me considering its size.... a larger one was available though.  CLP is at almost every sporting goods store, but I had to buy Collector on ebay. 

[w.y.chan]

Wah, I can only compare it to the others.  I didn't notice an overpowering smell of anything, especially compared to something like the Eezox or motor oil.  All the oils leave something of a film, but this wasn't more than average.  Perhaps there are differences in batches?  As I noted, the bottle opening on this one is a bit weird, so easy to over-oil? 

 

Hi Derek,

Thankyou for your test, I was hoping someone will eventually take the time and effort to do it and now here it is

I guess after sniffing something like Eezox everything else seems less noticeable. The smell of this oil is fairly subtle, this was marketed as an insecticide because of its choji content

 

OKS oil is quite good but when "choji oil" is mentioned I believe this is the version most people had in mind, it was the first type of sword oil I have used and not really that good compare to many of the others

 

 

Wah

[Sporkkaji]

Now that's what I call a Pepsi challenge! Awesome test, thanks for going through all that trouble to post this.

 

I have limited experience with most of the listed products but I would definitely give a thumbs down to Rem Oil, and I've been told to stay away from WD-40 because it actually contains an abrasive.

 

Personally I am very impressed with Wilson Combat's Ultima-Lube. Since Wilson arguably makes the world's best custom handguns I tried using their oil on my blades and have been very happy with it. It comes in several viscosities ranging from extra light oil to grease and I have found the standard oil is my favorite.

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Derek, using Eezox is most definitely hazardous to your health!! One of the major ingredients is trichloroethylene, which is considered as a carcinogen. Dry cleaning used to use this chemical, & it was banned quite a few years ago. This is the first compound I've seen it in for a long time. Check out http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Trichloroethylene& http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/epa_risk_assessment_finds_tric.html for more information on why it shouldn't be used.

 

Ken

[Derek]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the comment.  I believe that's what Darcy and Chris were refering to... the Trichloroethylene is some nasty stuff.  The smell is... unique.   

 

CLewis, thank you for your kind words.  My point was to see what was available out there, and try to make some comparisons.  There are many other oils available, but after doing these tests, I'll stick to traditional choji oil.  It's worked for hundreds of years, and unless you are exposing your nihonto to very extreme conditions, a very light layer of a nice quality choji oil should be more than enough.  I will only use Fujishiro oil now, but again, it doesn't matter to me what anyone else uses.  As Jean always points out, many climates don't even require oil on their nihonto.

[Clement]

Just a little note on Fujishiro's smell : i must agree with Derek, Fujishiro's choji is very subtle, you can easy say that it is odorless compare to my old choji oil which i bought from a nihonto dealer.

 

Just received a new Fujishiro kit, pretty stunning.

(No need oiling in my area but if i need it for somereason, rather be a top quality one)

[Jamie]

I agree that fujishiro oil seems best for Nihonto.

[TheGermanBastard]

Sorry for bringing up this old thread but I do have a question.

 

First of all, this is an excellent thread! Thanky ou very much for the great work you have done.

 

After reading everything and giving it some thought I decided that Rem Oil loosk to be my favorable product.

 

However I read on its bottle that it contains Teflon Lubricant

 

Teflon = Plastic.

 

Any thoughts on this?

 

Thank you

[TheGermanBastard]

Looking for it, I cam also up with this product:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Remington-REM-OIL-with-TEFLON-LUBRICANT-Gun-Care-HQ-CLEANS-LUBRICATES-PROTECTS/222705356440?epid=2254777676&hash=item33da460e98:g:FA0AAOSwPHxbCJC6

 

It says it contains cleaning chemicals. That seems to be Petroleum Destilates. So same thing as in Neverdull whoch I have found to be safe and good on swords. But I can not comment on the other indigrents?

 

This makes me think twice.

[TheGermanBastard]

Also, has anboy happened to use this product?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16-oz-Choji-Oil-for-Katana-Sword-and-Knives-from-Japan/200722030480

[Ken-Hawaii]

The last one claims to be choji oil, Luis, which is really an inorganic oil with a bit of choji "flavoring."

 

What do you want to know about the Remington oil? I'm a bit surprised that petroleum distillates are listed before lubricating oil, as the distillates will evaporate quickly, compared to the oil, & so shouldn't be the major ingredient.

[TheGermanBastard]

Well, I wanted to hear if somebody has been using this Remington Oil with some longterm expirience.