Using old Shinai Again

[Andoy]

Last year i bought a shinai from e-bogu (oval grip 39"). Back at the time I honestly thought that i would be able to use it right away but i just kept it in storage (pretty much in my room) until now. Now that I want to start using it agaom, I was just wondering if you guys can give me some pointers of how to condition the shinai into safe working condition? I don't want to risk having it cracking into splinters and possibly hurting my fellow kenshi or myself.

Thanks

[xvikingx]

take it apart, lightly sand it, oil it (a nice thick coat) give it some time to soak in the wipe off the rest. after putting it back together it should be good to go. i had one of those oval grips and i really liked it.

[Fraz]

Hi. There's a section on shinai Maintenance in our beginners manual...
Edinburgh Kendo Club Beginners Manual. (http://www.kendo.org.uk/clubs/edinburghkendo/manual.html)

Hope this helps..:)

[Andoy]

Thanks! That is a great site. The diagrams are very clear and easy to follow. I strongly urge fellow kenshi to use this guide when maintaining their shinai. Thanks again Fraz!

[Fraz]

No problems... Happy to help..:)

[wonabe kenshi]

Last year i bought a shinai from e-bogu (oval grip 39"). Back at the time I honestly thought that i would be able to use it right away but i just kept it in storage (pretty much in my room) until now. Now that I want to start using it agaom, I was just wondering if you guys can give me some pointers of how to condition the shinai into safe working condition? I don't want to risk having it cracking into splinters and possibly hurting my fellow kenshi or myself.

Thanks
I have one of those too I really like it. Like you I wont have any use of it for awhile but I sanded it and keep it oiled regularly, even thought Im not using it.

[Andoy]

One more thing guys....what types of oil do you guys use? I soak my old shinais in vegetable oil (after a while it gets soggy) but since i've spent alot of money to buy this shinai, I'm ruling out vegetable or canola.


Thanks and good luck to all the kenshi who are entering in the PNKF tournament on November!

[xvikingx]

I like to use linseed oil.

[Fraz]

I use a general purpose light machine oil. The shinai's seem to be slightly more forgiving of over oiling with light oil than heavier oil...

[wonabe kenshi]

I just oiled my Musha shinai the one from ebogu. after I took it apart, I examined it throughly for cracks and to my delight I found none inside or out. However after a couple of days of letting the oils soak in I noticed two small cracks (against the grain) on the inside of two of the staves near the fat part. I was wonderin if the oiling might have caused this, dose any one have any sugesstions?

Also I use hazelnut oil on all of my shinais, and I've never had a soggy shinai yet.

[Fraz]

Just surface hairline cracks? Or are they actual cracks...? If they're not 'open' then you don't need to worry about them, just keep an eye on them so they dont grow into 'open' cracks...

[wonabe kenshi]

Yeah they were just hair line and not open, but one of them was kinda deep to where if I tried to sand it out it would still be there, but its very thin and not open.


Also what should I do about them anyway?

[Fraz]

Honestly...? I just keep an eye out on them, and use them as normal. If they turn from a hairline into a 'proper' crack I chuck the take away. Otherwise it could get expensive, besides I've had more than a few which already have hairlines inside when I bought them....

To be honest if your maintaining your shinai, your doing a lot better than some Kendoka ive seen over the years....

[wonabe kenshi]

Honestly...? I just keep an eye out on them, and use them as normal. If they turn from a hairline into a 'proper' crack I chuck the take away. Otherwise it could get expensive, besides I've had more than a few which already have hairlines inside when I bought them....

To be honest if your maintaining your shinai, your doing a lot better than some Kendoka ive seen over the years....
Thanks, I was just wondering if I should be worried. I'll take your word for it though.

[amatsuda]

I just oiled my Musha shinai the one from ebogu. after I took it apart, I examined it throughly for cracks and to my delight I found none inside or out. However after a couple of days of letting the oils soak in I noticed two small cracks (against the grain) on the inside of two of the staves near the fat part. I was wonderin if the oiling might have caused this, dose any one have any sugesstions?


I would say don't use the shinai and discard the staves....why risk the safety and well-being of the people in your dojo?

What if you injure or even kill someone while using a shinai that knew was already cracked?

amatsuda

[Fraz]

By all means throw it away if it's a 'proper' crack.

It's only after soaking in a dark oil the lines became visible. The take isn't cracked it's just a line across the inside surface of the take which only becomes visible when the take is oiled, and then it's only visible when using dark colored oil, light oils like mazola, although they gather in the lines dont show up like dark oils do. In three years I've never had on of those lines develop into a proper crack. Just keep an eye on it and you'll be fine, if your still not sure check with your sempai or sensei.

[wonabe kenshi]

By all means throw it away if it's a 'proper' crack.

It's only after soaking in a dark oil the lines became visible. The take isn't cracked it's just a line across the inside surface of the take which only becomes visible when the take is oiled, and then it's only visible when using dark colored oil, light oils like mazola, although they gather in the lines dont show up like dark oils do. In three years I've never had on of those lines develop into a proper crack. Just keep an eye on it and you'll be fine, if your still not sure check with your sempai or sensei.
Yes I agree with you its not a proper crack, just a line, and I have yet to use the shinai for any thing other than suburi and waza. So I'll keep an eye on it.