PDA

View Full Version : Question about saya care



Eugene
13th June 2008, 03:51
Hello:

I was told by Aoi-Budogu that the choji oil actually preserves the wood of the saya. In another forum, I was informed that the oil would cause rotting in the saya wood. Does anyone have any experience either way?

Thanks for your help.

Brian Owens
14th June 2008, 10:36
Originally, choji was pure clove bud oil. When the process of refining mineral oil became widespread, it replaced clove bud oil due to cost-effectiveness, although it was often mixed with enough clove oil to at least have a scent of cloves. Nowadays, some oil sold as choji lacks even that.

In any event, the small amount of oil that might transfer from the blade to the saya would be unlikely to promote "rot" of the magnolia from which saya are usually made.

Water would promote rot, but not oil. The fungi that cause rot "eat" the cellulose and lignin in the wood, but only if water is available. As long as the wood is dry (less than 20% moisture), rot cannot occur.

That's not to say you should saturate your saya with oil, but a light coating on the blade isn't going to cause problems over the typical life of a saya.

Eugene
14th June 2008, 16:49
Brian, thanks for that info.

pboylan
30th July 2008, 02:47
The other thing the oil does is it creates a moisture barrier in the wood. Generally the first few times you oil the sword in a new saya, you should put on a heavier coating of oil than normal. The new saya will absorb this oil and create a moisture barrier that keeps water away from the blade. As oil permeates the wood, it can also help to prevent it from becoming excessively dry in cold weather.