Shinai vs humidity?

[Gareth]

Well, hello everyone...nice to meet you. Not my first post, but my first formal intro.

My question is this:

In very humid climates, how frequently should one oil the shinai staves (will the humidity increase or lower the durability and type of maintinence i should give it?). By the way what oil can i use (cooking oil? or was someone pulling my leg with that one.)

Thank you...

[Paikea]

Well, hello everyone...nice to meet you. Not my first post, but my first formal intro.

My question is this:

In very humid climates, how frequently should one oil the shinai staves (will the humidity increase or lower the durability and type of maintinence i should give it?). By the way what oil can i use (cooking oil? or was someone pulling my leg with that one.)

Thank you...I do mine once every two weeks - with canola (rapeseed) oil whether it needs it or not.

[hamish]

I almost never oil them, there's enough humidity here to keep them moist enough. I would think you'd be pretty safe there not oiling them, but have you been having any splintering problems?

[Neil Gendzwill]

I do mine once every two weeks - with canola (rapeseed) oil whether it needs it or not.
If you're oiling every two weeks with heavy oil like canola, you're probably overdoing it. When your shinai break, are they kind of soft? I've gotten those problems from overoiling. Oiling a little less often or switching to a lighter oil would probably be better.

To the OP: oiling is a solution for those of us in dry climates. Another alternative is storing your shinai in a damp environment like the bathroom. Those of us with wives oil our shinai. If you live in a damp climate, oiling is probably not necessary.

[Paikea]

If you're oiling every two weeks with heavy oil like canola, you're probably overdoing it. When your shinai break, are they kind of soft? I've gotten those problems from overoiling.No, but I don't let it soak in much (if at all) either. I should have qualified that with "in the summer time", because in the winter it's plenty damp and I don't worry about it so much. Typically, I disassemble, take care of any rough spots, wipe with oil, put it back together. Also, I only tend to use one shinai at a time (until it gives up the ghost) and do the others in the bag less often.

The only time my shinai feels "soft" is when I'm receiving kirikaeshi with Akahoshi-sensei, then I'd swear a 3/4" length of pipe would feel soft...

[Nameless]

If you are really worried about the effects of humidity on you shinai, you can always get a resin treated one. Some people say that this is a waist of money, but I get far fewer splinters and don't have to oil it nearly as often as may untreated shinai.

[Paikea]

If you are really worried about the effects of humidity on you shinai, you can always get a resin treated one. Some people say that this is a waist of money, but I get far fewer splinters and don't have to oil it nearly as often as may untreated shinai.I'm trying one now and really don't have too much to say about it yet other than it's a bit heavy (not too bad, but noticeable) and smelled like sausage when it was brand new.

[Gareth]

I almost never oil them, there's enough humidity here to keep them moist enough. I would think you'd be pretty safe there not oiling them, but have you been having any splintering problems?


Nope, no splintering problems...at least yet. And yes it is Hurricane season in the tropics so humidity index is pretty high.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I guess I should switch to keeping a lookout for my shinai not getting too soft :smoker:

[Nameless]

I'm trying one now and really don't have too much to say about it yet other than it's a bit heavy (not too bad, but noticeable) and smelled like sausage when it was brand new.


Yeah, I remember when I got mine. It smelled like sausage too. I didn't mind the extra weight since I'm used to using a koto style shinai.