Nihonto Care With Microdear Cloth

[XavY]

Hello everyone,

 

to clean swords, I have bought a Microdear Microfiber Deluxe Cleaning Cloth (just google it to figure what it is, if you don't know). I am just asking: how to wash it ? I fear that tap water and/or soap used for cleaning the cloth might damage the blade later. I also wonder if I should wash the cloth before first use.

 

Thanks for your answers

 

Xavier.

 

PS: great forum BTW. I seldom post but I come here often and I am learning a lot. It is a blessing to have so many knowledgeable and helpful people here

[Geraint]

Dear Xavier.

 

Since no one else is jumping in on this one can I suggest that as long as you rinse the cloth well and dry it thoroughly there should be no problem.  By the by if you go to FAQ at the top of the page there is a link to cleaning information which might help.

 

All the best.

[vajo]

It is unclear for me for what use this microfiber towel should be?

Removing oil? There is a rule to clean microfiber only with water. A wet microfiber is used for cleaning glasses or glas surface. But not for removing oil. How to clean it to become oil and dirt away from the towel?

Anywhere the microfiber holds perfect sand grain inside if its dirt.

[PhoenixDude]

I use a glasses cleaning cloth and alchohol to remove oil.

[vajo]

If you read carefully the physics of microfiber you would not use it on your expensive swords. The chemistry of the polycarbonats of a microfiber is extrem hard. You feel a smooth towel but that is because a microfiber is 10 times thiner than a hair. These fibers are very strong to hold dirt. Test it on plastic eye glases you will see scratches immediatly.

Maybe Marco could explain microfiber better?

 

I would use a better toiletpaper before to go with a microfiber

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Unsciented kleenex.

[Rich S]

Yes, similar to Carlo, I use a clean piece of toilet tissue (good grade :-) to remove old oil and to clean after the occasional uchigo-ing. I figure if it won't scratch my tender tush, it won't scratch my blades. So far,so good :-)

Rich

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello everyone,

 

to clean swords, I have bought a Microdear Microfiber Deluxe Cleaning Cloth (just google it to figure what it is, if you don't know). I am just asking: how to wash it ? I fear that tap water and/or soap used for cleaning the cloth might damage the blade later. I also wonder if I should wash the cloth before first use.

 

Thanks for your answers

 

Xavier.

 

 

 

 

Hello,

 

Arm and Hammer free of perfumes and dyes laundry detergent. Microdear clothes are designed for cleaning and not  scratch camera lenses. I use both of these products and have had absolutely no problems on polished swords or tosogu. Also, these microdear cloths are washed separately and drier sheets are not used.

[Brian]

Microdear Microfiber are among the most highly rated products used for handling and wiping swords. The best.
Correct me if I am wrong, but even Darcy advocates their use.
Wash in water, I doubt a little detergent used gently would do any hard, as long as it is properly rinsed and dried.

Edit: Yep..read here: https://yuhindo.com/ha/a-better-way/

[ROKUJURO]

Xavier,

most microfiber tissues do not use polycarbonate, so they are quite soft and well suited for cleaning blades. They are mainly made from polyester, Nylon, Acryl or cellulose. 

[Alex A]

I don't use microfiber, read its abrasive. (some time ago)

 

I buy lint free 100% cotton rags of ebay, cheap, just throw it away when its ran its coarse.

 

Used use old white tshirts, but none left lol

[SAS]

Y'all DO realize polishers use rocks to polish, right?  

[w.y.chan]

I have to say not all microfiber cloths are the same, some are cheap scatchy stuff, they are not made from the same materials or refined the same way.

Microdear are premium cloth that are sold by camera retailers for use on lens so I would say they are quite safe for swords. I don't use it to remove oil directly but use it to wipe the blade after oil is cleaned off with alcohol. It is useful for use as a fakusa during sword appraisal.

I bought my first Microdear cloth back in 2003 from Adorama when I got into photography. A few years later Paul Martin mentioned how good they are for swords so I got him to order me some more and it was cheaper than buying from the US.

[vajo]

Is there a difference between glas and iron?

 

Mineralglas is harder than iron, you can scratch in a file. Thats what i thought to read. Maybe i slept in school 

So you can threat with microfiber glas, ceran, tiles without scratching. Thats all physics and i'm only a noob.

 

Wah do you use the microfiber wet or with alcohol or dry?

[XavY]

Brian

Microdear Microfiber are among the most highly rated products used for handling and wiping swords. The best.
Correct me if I am wrong, but even Darcy advocates their use.

 

Yes, I'm following Darcy's advice indeed. Microdear products top-quality microfiber cloth, and I'm pretty confident that they don't scratch swords, whereas first-price microfiber cloth would. Microdear fabric is not cheap though, but what is an "expensive" one compared to a new polishing? I did not try them yet, but I am going to use them dry to wipe the oil (or possibly with isopropyl (IPA) 99% if the oil won't get out easily).

 

Wash in water, I doubt a little detergent used gently would do any hard, as long as it is properly rinsed and dried.

Fine, I'll do it. Do you recommand distilled water like for an iron? My tap water is quite hard. 

 

Please, don't open up again the debate microfiber vs uchiko here, there are lots of threads for that already, so it's up to everyone to make their mind.

[w.y.chan]

Is there a difference between glas and iron?

 

Mineralglas is harder than iron, you can scratch in a file. Thats what i thought to read. Maybe i slept in school 

So you can threat with microfiber glas, ceran, tiles without scratching. Thats all physics and i'm only a noob.

 

Wah do you use the microfiber wet or with alcohol or dry?

 

Probably not but camera lens has coatings which do tend to scratch and flake off when rubbed against anything that is abrasive. So I would say lens coating is less robust than either glass or steel. Japanese polish has a nugui finish, if Microdear is safe on lens coating then it should be safe for nugui finish.

 

I use it on blade when the alcohol is either almost dry or dry.

[Jean]

Wah,

 

FWIW, I just ask Paul Martin, if he has time, to find ten of them for our Token. I have one, Paul offered me years ago, I keep it preciously.

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello, thank you for this thread, I have some questions please:

 

- What product exactly do your recommend from Microdear? ANy links please

 

- So it is agreed that they should be washed with hot water only? Or may sopad be added if afterwards rinsed again in clean water?

 

- Do you use it for apllying alcohol hence removing old oil only or can it alos be used for applying new oil?

 

Personally I do not use uchigo at all. If I want to remove fingerprints or small rust I use Never Dull. This takes a while but is not abressive.

[Jean]

You can wash it in water 40º C with neutral soap (no added scent) and rince it afterward.

[Greg F]

I use tissue to remove oil and use quality microfiber to lightly oil. In regards to this topic I believe Darcy is spot on. Fwiw i definitely wouldn't touch a polished blade with uchiko.

 

Greg

[vajo]

Guys this thread is very good. Could me someone explain when did you use the microfiber.

 

1. Removing oil with a tissue or toiletpaper with alcohol (isopropanol 99%)

2. Now its time for the microfiber to remove rest of dirt from the blade.

3. Oiling the blade after enyoing with the microfiber?

 

How often do you wash it out hot water with mild soap? How many swords can i threat in that way befor washing the microdear?

 

Thanks 

 

Chris

[Jean]

Chris,

 

3) already addressed

 

 

Washing: when do you wash your shirts/pants?

 

« How many swords can I threat... » : never threat a blade by fear it slices back answer: it depends on too many factors. General answer when it is dirty, and this depends on your own perception of « dirty » meaning..

[Ed]

Micro fiber pollution

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/27/toxic-plastic-synthetic-microscopic-oceans-microbeads-microfibers-food-chain

 

I recycle 100% cotton flannel or hemp terry cloth. 

[Grey Doffin]

Luis,

Never Dull will make a stained gunto nice and shiny; it will make an older blade look like a shiny gunto.  I wouldn't use it.

Grey