Tsuka leather wash anyone?

[FastKendo]

Hello all,

Recently I'm getting concerned because my white tsuka leather turn to blue and black painted by the kote. Can I wash it? if so, is there any correct way to do it?

Thank you

[atgm]

I don't think it really matters; I don't know anyone that tries to keep it white. If it starts getting hard and slippery from use/sweat, though, that's another problem. You can fix that with sandpaper.

[FastKendo]

I don't think it really matters; I don't know anyone that tries to keep it white. If it starts getting hard and slippery from use/sweat, though, that's another problem. You can fix that with sandpaper.

Yes, it's getting slippery a little bit. And having a bit clean tsuka leather sounds better, at least for me.
By the way, sandpaper? are you sure? doesn't it will decrease the thickness of the leather and eventualy will wreck it? I'm thinking about using a toothbrush with a glass of wather and a spoon of detergent. What do you say guys?

[MikeW]

The tsuka will eventually wear out anyways. Sandpapering it lightly won't take too much leather off and will just 'rough' the surface up to make it easier to maintain grip. If you are really dead set on cleaning it though I would use a leather cleaner that contains no oil/lubricant to 'condition' the leather (you don't want to make it slippery).

[atgm]

Sandpaper. I mean, just using it is making it thinner. You really are going to have to replace your tsuka at some point and sandpapering it to keep it in a grippable condition is just part of maintenance, as far as I know.

[Toecutter]

One thing you could try is when mine get to that point I usually wet my kote a little. The wet palms almost lock the tsukagawa in place and I find it doesn't slip at all when I do this.

[FastKendo]

Thanks for all of your insight guys.. so I guess clean it using a toothbrush with detergent isn't a good idea?

[MikeW]

Well it may work... but I have never tried doing it that way.

[ender84567]

well mine get soaked from sweat anyway, however some people don't have sweaty hands, if it hasn't already, wetting it will cause it to harden and shrink some.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Don't bother cleaning it. They get dirty. They're also consumables. It will wear out, then you can get another one and it will look clean for a few weeks.

[b8amack]

Gilding the lily.

[atgm]

using a toothbrush with detergent isn't a good idea?

Especially not if you plan to use that toothbrush again...

[Shmur]

For what it's worth, I always kind of considered it a "badge of honor" when the tsuka started to change color like that. Means that I've been using that shinai a lot.

[FastKendo]

Especially not if you plan to use that toothbrush again...

LOL

Guys, thank you, I don't think I'll clean it now.

[Tort-Speed]

I'm with Shmur in that it changing color shows you (may be) training hard. Also, maybe more importantly, the placing of the blue-black will confirm to you - and your Sensei and Sempai - about your tenouchi's effectiveness. Waddaya say gals?