VOCs/Fumes and Nihonto

[BryanW]

I bought a nice crafted wooden sword box for storage off etsy of all places on a whim.  It looks decent in person but when it arrived it was off-gassing fumes that I suspect are VOCs from the stain though I cannot rule out glue used somewhere (though I suspect its the stain used on the exterior).  

 

I'm letting it air out but I suspect I won't be using it anywhere near anything antique including nihonto.  That said, for any of the woodworkers or crafts-people out there, are these fumes dangerous to a blade (and if so, how long until something is ok to use...a week...a month....never?)?  I can't seem to find anything definitive on a quick search.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Bryan,

Please post pictures of the box.

Grey

[Stephen]

Grey will till you for sure.

I'd leave it on the back porch or outside out of the elements. 

[BryanW]

Thanks Grey (and Stephen)!

 

Hopefully the pictures come through. (EDIT: If you need a photo of something specific let me know.  Thanks again.)

[ROKUJURO]

Bryan,

that looks new, quite solid but pretty un-Japanese. You never know what it might have been treated with so I think a few days out in the sun might reduce the smell.  Glue, lacquer, wood stains may not be of "Bio" standard, and some woods are even treated with hazardous substances....  

I would ask the seller how it was made or where it came from.

[Stephen]

It is handsome, maybe made for a gun??

 

If mine I'd remove the two brace and replace  with two curved  cut outs to house two swords, or one shirasaya  and one Koshirae .

 

Or you may have a large daito in a sword bag then just pad the existing brace. Just thoughts. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Personally I would want to remove the red velvet cloth to see how it looks underneath, and to give it some sunlight in there.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Bryan,

Looks like a stain was used on the wood before a finish was applied. If you air it out, as recommended, you should lose most of the odor but probably not all of the chemical residue. Should be OK for swords but I can't guarantee it.

My personal taste: I think this is too busy (hade') for Nihonto; I much prefer the plain, unfinished Japanese sword boxes.

Grey

[BryanW]

Thanks everyone!