Swords Cleaning and Maintaining

Protect your sword and always put choji olil on the blade when you finish using your sword. Do not touch the blade with your hands. The carbon component is very susceptible to rusting (every steel rusts, even stainless steel). The proper care and maintenance of swords is critical if they are to retain their condition.

A sword cleaning kit is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of your katana. If you do not own one, make sure you get one as soon as possible.

Our sword maintenance kit includes the following:

1. Brass Awl and hammer to dismantle the sword
2. Rice paper for cleaning oil from the blade, polishing and spreading oil on the blade
3. Extra large uchiko (powder ball), the pad contains non-abrasive powder that absorbs extra cleaning oil
4. Plastic container to store oiled cloth
5. Bottle of choji oil, to prevent rusting

Be careful of the live blade and it may cause serious injury. Make sure that the blade edge is never in a position where it could injure yourself or others.

Maintain the blade:

	First, use a sheet of rice paper to remove oil from previous maintenance, holding the edge away from you and working very carefully to avoid injury. (Note: if you wish to save the rice paper, a soft cotton cloth may be substituted).
Then tap the powder ball lightly against the blade every two inches or so along its length, dusting the blade very lightly with powder. (Note: when using the ball for the first time. You may need to tap the ball against the blade a few times to "start" the powder flow through the fabric of the ball.)
	Then use a clean piece of rice paper or cotton cloth to carefully rub over the powder to polish the blade. Repeat until both sides of the blade have been polished and the powder is removed. Do not inhale the powder.
Apply a few drops of oil along the length of each side of the blade.
	Use a piece of rice paper or cotton cloth to spread the oil evenly over the blade. Be sure not to touch the blade again before resheathing.

Maintaining the saya:

The saya is finished in many coats of black lacquer. To preserve the sheen, the scabbard needs only to be wiped occasionally with a very soft cloth. Handle the scabbard only by holding the wrapped section; otherwise fine scratches caused by handling the lacquered sections will dull the finish.