Choji oil versus other stuff.

[johnb]

I've lived in Sydney, Jakarta and now Singapore...I've never had any rust issues. And this is my oil of choice! (Sounds like a retail advertisement). At AU$24 it's a lot cheaper than choji, which is, as I understand it, light mineral with a spot or two of oil of cloves added to make it smell nice. And frankly I spilt some neat oil of cloves on a saya and it left a mark.

 

http://www.carbatec.com.au/camellia-oil_c6250

[Hermes]

I agree about the cloves oil leaving marks John, for me it was on the blades, staining them, i stay away from using anything with cloves oil in it myself now, i use the 3 oils below, all good IMO, never had the chance to use Camellia Oil?

 

Rem oil

Hoppe's oil

Outer oil

[jason_mazzy]

Are any of the above better than pure mineral oil?

[Mark]

I use Sheath oil, it removes easy with a mirco cloth, no need to use uchuko.

 

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/downloads ... T_8200.pdf

[ububob]

Other than tradition what does chojo\i oil have going for it that current oils and synthetics don't?

[David Flynn]

John thanks for the link. Except in America or Japan, I haven't known where to get Camellia oil in Oz. I for one prefer Camellia oil to Choji.

[sanjuro]

David.

 

There is no outlet for camellia oil in OZ as far as I know, and believe me I have looked into it. Any good quality cleaning kit from Japan has what is referred to as Token Abura (choji oil which is I understand, a vegetable oil (plus a tiny amount of clove oil).

Pure Camellia oil is a yellow oil and absorbs moisture and salt and is easily oxidised. It is a cleaning agent. This reference comes from a book put out by the All Japan Swordsmith Association.

 

Pure clove oil is acidic and it does mark almost anything it comes into contact with. As I understand it, it is only added to other oils to give them the correct PH to use on a sword; others may be able to expand on this or refute it. (Correct me if I'm wrong )

 

As far as the question of Choji versus the sythetics and mineral oil goes, I'm something of a traditionalist. I have used Token Abura for over twenty years now and it works. I'm a great believer in 'If it aint broke dont fix it', so i guess its unlikely I'll switch to an alternative. However, mineral oils are being used and they are acceptable to the above authority (AJSA). I would be interested if someone has conducted an analysis of the various alternative oils to see if they are in fact more appropriate for sword care.

[moss]

Gidday Keith,

 

Carbatec is based in Brizzy.

They sell a few Japanese saws,chisels ,files,and Camelia oil.

 

Cheers

Moss

[sanjuro]

Thanks Moss.

 

Its been a few years since I was trying to source camelia oil in Australia, so this must have become available since then. Good to know though. :D We might actually be approaching becoming civilised in OZ! Although civilisation originating in Queensland is a bit hard to swallow!

 

OK....... I'll go back to being nice now.

[moss]

Keith,

 

No chance of becoming civilised in Qld.but we are the' Smart State 'according to our fearless state leader

If you like I can pick up a bottle or 2 for you next time I pass by.

 

 

Cheers

Moss

[johnb]

Boys!!!

 

Carba-Tec NSW Pty Ltd, 113 Station Rd, Sydney, Auburn NSW 2144. They pretty much have outlets in most Aus States. Don't buy it all! I'm living in Singapore at the moment and have just ordered a couple.

 

Johnb

[David Flynn]

Keith, there is even a Carba-tec outlet in Perth. Also I never use clove oil (can't stand the smell) I was introduced to camellia oil many years ago and have always been happy with it. If I haven't been able to aquire Camellia oil, I've used General purpose home oil (singer sewingmachine oil, castrol handy oil etc) and never had a problem there either.

[sanjuro]

Singer????? Castrol??????????????? Heresy I say! Do you hear that rumbling sound? That is the sound of thousands of swordsmiths turning in their graves. May your tatami curl up at the corners!

 

Seriously though, there are a lot of highly refined and specialised oils out there now that were unheard of in former times. It would not surprise me to find that one or two of them were in fact suitable for sword care. I wont be changing over to them myself because I'm a traditionalist and what was good enough for sword care in the 1500's is good enough for me. Some things should just not be messed with.

 

Cheers guys :D

[johnb]

On quickly checking the internet, it seems that camillia oil has another benefit. It rejuvenates ageing skin.

(I've just ordered 4 more bottles!)

[Lindus]

Think as the chap on the kashima sisters site said way back, any good refined mineral or vegetable oil was as good if not better than Choji.

Roy

[Stephen]

hope someday this sticks, the one on the left is for your teeth, never a sword, it will stain it. The Middle one is for Nihonto and wont give you anything other than a light scent and has been used for years ya cant go wrong with it. The one on the right works in a pinch and cleans old choji oil and all kinds of crude well.

 

"the Middle path you should take"

Yoda or was that Buddha?

[Lindus]

How about baby oil...............should not halm should it Stephen

Roy

[sanjuro]

Sword oil for swords......... Baby oil for babies. End of story. Baby oil is water soluble DUH!

 

Baby oil must work well on babies though....... I cant remember ever having seen a rusty baby! :D

 

The above statement makes about as much sense and reflects the same naive logic as the use of baby oil on the blade of a nihonto.

[Jean]

"the Middle path you should take"

Yoda or was that Buddha?

 

Confucius/Buddha/Tao

[David Flynn]

you mean I may take my pick? Ok then I'll take Buddha.

[Brian]

Did I stumble into a Monty Python movie perchance?

 

Brian

[sanjuro]

Damn...... I wanted Buddha

 

David.Tell you what....... I'll swap you a Confuscius and Tao for Buddha......?

 

Oh.... Hello Brian. Pull up a Yoda and sit down. We could use a little Sage advice