My iaito used to have a very beautiful shinny silky brown ito in the tsuka, however after only a few months of use it has turned darksome dark brown, almost black
i never tried cleaning it
is it possible to clean it without removing it, and without using chemicals that may damage the tsuka? anyone tried?
It sounds like it is cotton or silk.[not leather, or doe-skin, or pig-skin etc.....]Originally Posted by Filipp
Try a toothbrush and a little toothpaste - small amounts at a time - - damp cloth to remove excess and dirt etc..... do not get the thing very wet - - -do not apply any kind of heat to dry it out.
my 2-penneth.......
Bill Davison; - Myoken Dojo [Plymouth]
The mountain path I climbed with my Sensei led to the foothills;
The path to the peak is a solitary one.
I remember Peter West posting on this subject some time ago. He said something quite similar, but said you should brush the tsuka 'as if you had a mouthful of ulcers'. That image has stayed with me to this day!
i put my tsuka in the dishwasher, with the rest of my katana. Perfect brillant with some calgonit
i put my tsuka in the dishwasher, with the rest of my katana. Perfect brillant with some calgonit
I wish people would remember other things I say too!
http://web.me.com/p.west/Peter_wests_Iaido_pages/Blog/Blog.html
In training I get beaten by kaso tekki regularly, but I try not to let it happen in public.
Wash hands before practice, do not use hand cream after washing. Sounds like something unusual is happening, a couple months practice should not turn brown to black.
Regular use of a damp towel to twist into the wrap will help keep it clean, toothpaste is a bit abrasive, not sure I'd use it on tsukamaki, the minty fresh clove smell might be another negative indicator. I find rubbing alcohol works fine with a toothbrush, it lifts grease and dirt and it dries quickly. Soap and water can leave a sodden mess unless you're careful.
The idea of cleaners of soap and water and alcohol variety is to dissolve the gunk rather than scrape it off, water doesn't get grease well but works on the salt, soap allows grease to be entrapped in water, alcohol plus water helps lift grease and salt in similar ways, water for salt, alcohol for grease. Like dissolves like and all that.
Kim.
I always apply something like Scotchgard to my tsuka before I ever use it to prevent it getting too grubby. When it does need a clean I use a spray foam upholstery cleaner and a soft tooth brush very gently. Let it dry completely and then reapply Scotchgard. Works a treat.
Delapsus Resurgam
Ha! I try to remember everything that's said to me, but just knowing you have to do something (because that's what you've been told) and actually doing it is completely different.
I remember you correcting some instability I had a few years ago. My own dojo sensei had told me on many occasions how to correct the problem, and I knew what I had to do, but despite this I still made the same old mistake despite 'knowing' what to do. Frustrating this iaido lark, but that's what keeps me coming back!
Last edited by Wraith; 2nd February 2012 at 09:38 PM.
Is alcohol OK for the dye in the ito, Kim? It won't make it run will it?
Delapsus Resurgam
I don't believe or indeed do, anything that anyone tells me about anything unless I hear it directly from Peter.
Delapsus Resurgam
Would depend entirely on whether or not the dye was alcohol soluble I suppose. Best to try a little spot first because the wrap may come from any source, it's not all uniform. Personally I've never had a problem with that.
Kim.
This is the method that my friend the sword collector told me that he uses, and it has worked well for me in the past ...
Take some woolite in a dish and a soft toothbrush. Wet the toothbrush and touch it to the woolite. Gently scrub the ito until it's clean. You'll have to get more water on the toothbrush and more woolite periodically. Once you are done scrubbing, take a wet cloth and wipe down the ito several times, then take a dry cloth and wrap around the handle and squeeze it to get excess moisture out of the ito. Let dry for at least 24 hours before using. Don't scrub too hard because that will roughen the silk. You do want to work quickly, but as long as the water doesn't sit on the tsuka for hours, it won't hurt anything. Do not get any water down inside the tsuka. It is obviously much easier to do this with the tsuka off of the nakago if you can remove it.
I agree with Kim though that it shouldn't be that dirty that fast.
Paul Smith
... there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
it is obviously ruined, so the whole iaito is no longer any use and should not be seen in public. Buy a new one right now.
(show this to the mrs,and mention she would not keep a grubby looking dress at the same time... you will be onto a winner!)
oh, and send me the old one....
Tim Hamilton
http://chidokan.tripod.com/
A man's word is his honour, a womans word... I never listen to them long enough...
They will have to pry the sword from my cold dead fingers....
Why are you reading this instead of being out training???? Excuses not accepted....
Warning watch out for Chidokan trying to collect to Iaito or shinken off of ya. Almost as bad as Benki lol.
Even more watch out for that ungodly thing of a tach of his.
How does a good man decide when to kill?
A. If I think someone means to harm me and mine, other wise it`s a crap shot!
Understanding is a 3 edge blade!
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