Handmade Samurai Katana Sword Cleaning Tutorial

[11AfroNinja]

hello i just ordered my first sword but i didnt buy a cleaning kit or sharpeners so i ask how often should a 32in. blade be oiled

[hirodagger]

@11AfroNinja depends how much you use it and what your cutting. anything acidic that touches your blade should be cleaned off immediately. but with my sword, ive had it for almost a year now and ive actually never cleaned it like this. i just use a cotton rag and rub it down very well after each cut.

[oyas11]

what katana is that?



[VLambo311]

is it advisable for a carbon steel katana to be taken out from its handle, i heard that it can loosen your sword after a while, mine cost about £85, and im not sure if thats good enough to be disassembled

[rogantu]

@VLambo311 all I know is do not keep carbon steel blades in the sheats for too long or they can rust, and apply more oil when it needs it.

[rogantu]

@VLambo311 screw what I said, keep them in the sheats the information source was wrong.

[GUNNYMCBULLET]

you good sir got a new subscriber

[eliteslayer66]

I couldnt get the powder to come out of the ball in the kit i bought... is it because i got a cheap kit? Perhaps im doing somthing wrong

[TheFirestorm1683]

I was given a katana for Christmas, but I had no idea how to clean it; it came with the exact cleaning kit you had. Thank you for imparting your knowledge to us for keeping these beautiful works of art clean and properly taken care of.

[zakaria600]

I HAVE A QUESTION PLEASE, HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE TO CLEAN A KATANA SWORD /?

[DragonAgeWiki]

@zakaria600 if you use it for cutting then after your finished cutting, if you use it for demonstrations/katas then every week, if you dont take it out eg its a show katana then every month

[GSkateboy]

very nice thank you for teaching me

[Shadowzeroace]

Excellent tutorial! This answers all the questions i had about cleaning the Katana, thank you.

[VerrKojo]

how sharp could you possibly make a sword

[SGM870D]

I like the way you handle the sword with full respect.. Nice job..

[GrimReaperKILLYOU]

ok my katana is coverd in black spots and streaks and cleaning it just seemsto spred them

[stbridget5]

how often should you clean a katana

[ChannelNotFound]

@stbridget5 once a month max.

[Zimtack]

how often do i have to do this?

[Hassenmusic]

ho yes.. first i need the sword... that's why i couldnt find a way to clean mine! asshole... thanks for the tutorial though!

[ShinigamiSparda]

I don't have the powder, is this a big deal? Also, how often should I do this?

[TheAznboi510]

Can u use baby oil and talcum powder as a substitute?

[ItsGabeTime]

The katana is not just a sword....ITS A KATANA!!!!

[nico27004]

i recently bought a sword and i notice i can slightly move the tusba or hand guard left to right. is this normal? it doesn't move much but i just wanted to know if a little play there was normal.

[iampownsauce]

what type of oils can you use on it

[elesararwos]

@iampownsauce I'm not sure what the range of oils permissable include, but the traditional oil is Japanese clover oil (choji)

[iampownsauce]

What types of oil do you need to clean a katana?

[nico27004]

i heard you can oil a katana with gun oil. is that true?

[T3amBed]

So I can keep the cloth with NEW clean oil on it?

[commandouma]

Excuse me, but I need help. I have a shirasaya, and the sheathe for it has a lot of woodchips in it. Once I re oil my sword, and put it in the sheathe, the unsheathe it later, there are woodchips all over the place. If I wipe them off, the oil comes of too, smudges and leaves dirty spots all over the blade. Can anyone help me with this?

[T3amBed]

@commandouma Try to lightly tap the bottom of the saya on the top of your thigh. If that does not work maybe have to get a new saya. Or you can attempt to get all the little chips out but the chances are that if there are many chips is that the inside of the saya may be damaged.

~Brent

[wildmandazza]

Thank you very much !

[xCobrastrikerx]

Excellent video. please post more. I had a bugger of a time with my Katana (had it for a couple years and sad to say i only started cleaning it in the pat couple months >.<) going to need a new one soon :( My issue came with a peice of cloth in the hilt i presume to give it a more snug fit. i eventually made it work. and am happy with the results. I got this one off ebay but i plan on using your store from now on :)

[frankdrebin]

I owned a WWII era sword as a child. Mom was afraid I'd chop my brother in half, he was a real dickhead. Anyway, I sold it to a friend, gone. I'd like to purchase a very good functioning sword, but have no idea what to buy.

[KR3WNYN3]

can you use the same cloth more than once ?if so how many times can you use it ? and how do you know if there is enough oil on the blade?

thanks.

[Hellgate324]

Will any type of cloth be alright to use, as long as it's soft?

[VampirePostalService]

If I run out of the cloth, what can I use to wipe off my sword. That is, when cleaning/ during regular use. Thanks for the video. I used it just a little bit ago to clean my new sword for the first time.

[TheCrampz]

I always wondered what the hell that white puff ball on a stick, now I know, originally I though it was a tool used for cracks in the blade or dents xD, isn't there oil that needs to be cleaned out in the sheath or saya.

[rob360hk]

what type of metlal was that sword ? and if i get a katana which is made of stainless steel will it rust ? thanks and great video

[azzerrrr]

did he just call me at 4:)2 your gay...cheeky bastard

[megakill132]

so the oil is just to protect it from rusting?

[HedgehogHurrricane]

Hey, I'm getting my first sword in about 3 weeks, and I was just wondering that when I first get my sword, should I clean it? Also, how often should I clean the blade?

Thanks

[RestlessWicked]

Sir, I do not want to be disrespectful, but you made a grave mistake. One should always wipe from the habaki to the kensen, with the uchiko (powder) as with the choji abura (preservation oil). (from the brass piece at the grip end to the tip of the blade.)

(The brackets are meant for people unfamiliar with japanese terminology.)

Once again I do not intend to be disrespectful.

[ExposeChosunNinja]

@RestlessWicked These were not the only errors. The Katana should always be dis-assembled before cleaning to ensure there is no dirt or excess oils beneath the habaki. Cleaning and oiling Katana assembled merely allows more oil to get under the habaki which collects dirt and causes corrosion. There should not be oil under the habaki at any time.

[90Graff]

What do I use to clean my sword if i don't have a sword?

[RestlessWicked]

@90Graff I recommend the use of three kitchen knifes, 2 of them without the handle - and some super glue... or cardboard and tinfoil, if you don't mind the difference in weight and lack of usefulness...

[Jackazz2ndGen]

Nice katana, I'm getting the same kind in a couple weeks.

[kijodragonfist60]

I just became a black belt in taekwondo so this is really useful for me

[Rawbh]

can you use wd40 o_o

[shaolinmonk1991]

you are using a reverse blade in the video??

[llamacopter677]

wait so you put rubbing alcohol on a cloth and wipe the blade down to clean it and then you apply oil to it with a pad for protection? But when do you do this and how often?

[jiggerraymundo]

how many times do you have to clean in in one month?

[VideoMasher3000]

@jiggerraymundo if you never use it i think your supposed to clean it once a week

[jiggerraymundo]

@VideoMasher3000 ok

[sixstringJIB]

Just wondering, is the Katana in this video a Ryumon by any chance??

[smadadenu]

i was told to use WD-40 by the person who sold it to me. but now im hearing thats a bad idea. what should I use? and is there something I can easily buy at a store?

[BhudhaLovesBudlight]

i had cut some things with my new sword and forgot to order the cleaning kit. Will it rust during the duration of the oil to get here?

[ArchitekOGP]

I just cleaned my first samurai sword that I got today! Im so happy lol. How often do you suggest doing these steps to maintain the sword. Also is the renaissance wax I hear about often good for the sword?

[speedotrusa]

Can I use any oil? Babyoil? Weapons oil? And what is that powder ball?

[ExposeChosunNinja]

@speedotrusa Chojii oil is used because of it's special properties. Other oils could damage the blade. If have not access to pre-made Chojii oil, you can make it yourself fairly easily. Simply pick up some light mineral oil at a pharmacy, and a small bottle of Camila Oil which you can get at health food stores. Mix in proportions of 10 parts mineral oil to 1 part Camila Oil. Presto. You have Chojii Oil.

[ArchitekOGP]

Thanks for the video, I have my first samuria sword delivered in a few days. Im wondering though, would the scabbard need any kind of treatment also?

[mercenarybdu]

very helpful

[aoxilus]

I can not imagine a samurai or a ninja doing this.......

[AcdcStoner]

Im sorry, im one of those white-american "wanna be" samurai. lol, but why is it good to remove the old oil from the whole entire blade? I only cut with the 3-4 inches at the end of the blade, only removing a small amount of oil at the tip. So all ive been doing is applying a few drops of oil to the part that I cut with. The rest of the blade is oiled just how I got it and its still beautiful after a few months.

I just think its a waste of oil, thats all. Some one please explain if im wrong.

[KChapman333]

Can any one tell me if their sword the, "Bushi Katana" is a good buy or not? Thanks

[nycrea]

@KChapman333

Depends from which shop you buy it.

[MooseHunter911]

ah I have just that kit, cleaned up my katana just 5 min ago :) i love it

[piplup10203854]

Can you use a microfiber cloth to clean off the oil and apply new oil to it?

[pupskannake]

how often u need to clean it? I mean me for example just have it sor showing not for cutting. SO does I have to clean it?

[nycrea]

@pupskannake

YES, you DO have to clean it even if only for display. 2 times a month at least.

[pupskannake]

@nycrea ok coo. can I also use a normal rag? I mean my one which was in the cleaning box is totally dirty. Or can I clean them e.g just putting them in the washmashine?

[sempaiSteve1]

Firstly, thanks for a plain and simple tutorial on good cleaning technique, this will come in handy for me very soon =D Secondly, is that the "Last Samurai" sword from Musashi? I thought I saw some characters on the blade and looks like it (as I wanted to buy that one).

[8fms]

hahahaha! "first you need a sword"..

[12GTA435]

When do i clean the sword and can i use the sword after its has been oiled

[nycrea]

@12GTA435

Best to clean AFTER use so you can put it back in the saya nice and clean.

[FurryChannel]

Where Can I buy more oil?

[nycrea]

@FurryChannel

Search for either ''Hanwei oil'' or ''Choji oil'' on google.

[FurryChannel]

@nycrea Thank you.

[Demon4431]

after you use the cloth, can you reuse it or do you throw i away?

[nycrea]

@Demon4431

If the cloth is used, it is no longer clean, therefore you throw it away. I recommend using just a cheap cloth, can be made out of paper, to clean it. The cloth needs to be soft, not specially enchanted or anything.

[tikioaktree]

Cheers mate you really told me clean n short how to care for my katana :D thanks again

[sensei22joe]

how do u sharpen a katana?

[TheBlackIdentety]

@sensei22joe You send it to a professional,if you atempt it your self you risk ruining the blade.For the process its self you should tipe how to sharpen a katana in the search bar.

[yit2525]

hey is it bad if my katanas sia or what ever u called it, has grafite in it? and when i wipe my blade down theres a black residue that comes off of it? i cant get all of it off no matter what i do! iv sanded, and sanded, then i used some simichrome polish and steal woole and cleanded it but theres still lots of specks of rust and stuff i can not get off of my sword, please help thanks

[ulises305]

Do you always have to have oil on the sword? like what about when your cutting stuff up?

[nicholas1111]

Thank God For This Video My Sword Would Have Corroded Thanks Man...

[CaptainPositron]

Thanks for the tutorial, I just recently acquired a functioning katana with the cleaning kit.

I do have one question: the device that you apply the powder with, does it come preloaded with the powder in it?

[shittyfuck]

the oil stinks

[quintonbob]

where can we find sword oil like in what stores or can we use normal machine oil???? please tell me

[Papiforlife]

@quintonbob Mineral oil from any drug store will do.

[Holyshadoww]

how often should i clean it if im not using it

[infuglenn]

does it matter what oil u use ??

[DoCent1996]

jaki śmieszny koleś ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah­ahhahaahhaha

[fordyaus]

Also is this process necessary after every use or just once a month or so? I've heard it should be oiled after every use but by that did they mean a cleaning like you've demonstrated or just applying oil to the blade?

[fordyaus]

I've been researching how to take care of a sword before I purchase one and from what I've read its better to be thorough and disassemble the sword but if you cannot touch the blade after using the choji ball. How do you continue, are gloves necessary?

[DarkSmokeNinja]

is it okay for me to use baby oil to clean my Katana so it can shine?

[tubesock10]

where can i get the oil to protect the blade and also can i use a regular paper towel for taking off the old oil and applying the new and if not what kind of soft cloth would i use and where could i find it thanks

[guythatmadethisvideo]

hey guys my father passed down to me an el salvadorian machete and its kinda dirty so does anybody know of any household items to clean it? thx

[SwordNArmory]

@guythatmadethisvideo You can always use Noxon for light surface rust.  If there is a lot of rust then you can use fine grit sand paper.

[TheNeutralUmbra]

@guythatmadethisvideo

I got a machete I use all the time and yeah...it's got some rust to it. Really all I did was spray it with WD-40 and scrub it with a rag, towel, etc. It workes fine in my opinion, but if it's an old blade passed down to you from years ago, I wouldn't recomend doing it...this is basically like a ghetto way of rust cleaning.

[mickkidoTV]

finally.. ppl tht know the katana and its terms.

[amdturion123]

What do the Japanesse symbols on the wooden case mean?

[shadow96411]

how do you polish it to make it shine i saved up to buy a sword and it's dulled and not shiny sorry i like my swords menacing not sharp

[karlpots]

ill be getting this cleaning kit soon. but, how do you recycle the cloth? can you re-wash it?

[ShinmaToshirouAX]

Does the frequency in which you have to clean and oil the blade correspond with how many times it has been folded?

[Hyoujinsama]

@ShinmaToshirouAX Not the slightest bit.

[onelasttitan]

can i use baby powder as a substitue? if not what kind can i ?

[SwordNArmory]

@onelasttitan You don't want to use baby powder; it can damage the finish. 91% rubbing alcohol is the best thing to clean a blade with. Remember to oil it afterword.

[visualkeirockstar]

thats the same word i just bought...i was cutting some grass with it but it got dirty then i clean and won't cut anything anymore

[KyRoZt]

@visualkeirockstar Being a sword master is not just swinging around your sword as if it was a stick. You need skill to use it, otherwise it'll lose sharpness easily.

[belisariusorb]

Thnaks very informative. I've already messed up by cleaning with a scouring pad and scratching the surface

[Trycestyles]

and where is the cocaine?

[KidFrom106]

You can also use vegetable oil and tissue.

[Hyoujinsama]

Careful with some veg oils and some tissues. Certain kinds will actually start the oxidixation process.

[KidFrom106]

@Hyoujinsama What does oxidixation process mean???

[Hyoujinsama]

Rust.

[sull0112]

great demo thanks mangreat job!!! very helpfull!! and sharpening vids??

[6harik]

why don`t u use rise paper?

[Hyoujinsama]

It's not convenient. ^_^ It's not required to use rice paper.

[residentdeagle]

kevin prefere your personal cleaning video! :D

[EBproduction1780]

what can you use to clean the sword if you dont have sword oil?

[SwordNArmory]

Oil is really only to protect the blade, not to clean it. To clean it, you use 91% rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth to remove all old oil and debris. Then you can use a little mineral oil to protect the blade. It's important to only use a little; if you use too much it will seep into the wood of the scabbard and could eventually split it. You'll want to clean and oil your blade after every handling and use. You can get rubbing alcohol and mineral oil from most drug or grocery stores.

[zaxxxresdads]

o tanks yayirobe jeje

[Lexesbenz]

Kevin what Katana are you using for this demo?

[Hyoujinsama]

This one is the blue 3201 with the dragonfly fittings. Sorry it's so late. x_x

[Lexesbenz]

No problem, thanks Kevin. I took your advice and picked up the Katana from your site we talked about. Can't wait for it to get here!!

[charlieldom]

How often do you have to clean and oil the sword ? (Per say weekly,monthly,etc.)

[SwordNArmory]

You should clean and oil the sword after you use it every time. If the sword is being stored then it depends on humidity. If you live in a place with higher humidity then you will need to oil it more often. I think that in general once a week is safe.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us.

[CenturyNinja]

Instead of buying sword oil online, will regular oil like WD40 work as well or do you have to buy sword oil?

[alexebox]

I like WD-40 and I live in a very humid climate. But be aware that WD-40 doesn't last as long on the blade but loses its qualities over time. Therefore, apply liberally unless you clean the blade often anyway. You might find it easy to just get standard mineral oil if extended storage is necessary. It is quite cheap and similar enough to the traditional Choji oil. If anyone disagrees, please correct me; I am just learning myself.

[Hyoujinsama]

WD-40 is more of a cleaning agent than it is a stabilizer. WD = Water Displacement.

I'd just go with mineral oil, myself.

[alexebox]

@Hyoujinsama

Very true.

What brand is your top choice and where do you buy it from? Just wondering.

[Hyoujinsama]

Actually, I make my own. ^_^

You can use just about any extra fine mineral oil that can be bought at drug/grocery stores. Be careful with the stuff that's really thick, though.

Another good mineral-based oil is sewing machine oil, or so I've heard.

[usaorbust]

every time you cut with it

[tayounorise]

Hello Kevin (^_^)

another awsome sword cleaning tutorial of yours!

Nice to see you again. Hope all is well with you and Jenn! When I ever have a sword I will use your tutorials for sure!!!

7 thankfully swordstars!

*bow*

angela

[QicCa90]

Thanks, this was exactly what I was looking for =)

[dboy11368]

i saw the old one before where you took every piece apart. awesome videos.

[TerraFirma369]

As always, Kevin's instructional videos are enlightening and thorough. Great job! Peace.

[Macman24]

Awesome vid, I was just saying yesterday that I would like to see a video like this!

Is it possible to name which sword that is in regards to the website? Thanks =]

[Hyoujinsama]

This particular sword is the jh-3201bk, or Akitsushima. It cuts strong even though it's such a quick blade.

Here's a vid of the sword itself for ya.

watch?v=2lhhYoDZUc0

[Macman24]

Thank you very much! =]

[shikamaru15x]

thank you kevin! helped alot!

[Hyoujinsama]

Glad it helps!