Hobbies And Interests
Cleansers
Clean blades and coated them with an oil. The most commonly used is Remington oil, a cleanser that removes dirt while also working to protect metal surfaces. Remington oil uses a Teflon formula which works to make the sword water-resistant. Some sword collectors use lubricants like WD-40. In any case, the coating should be ligh. Too much oil will have the opposite effect; it will work to trap dirt and moisture, thus degrading the sword faster.
Files
Made of heavy steel, files help you work out nicks in the blade before applying whetstones. When used at a 30-degree angle with a slow and steady hand, files work to define a rough edge on the blade. Files are relatively easy to find and are inexpensive. When run along the blade's edge, files will pick up materials along the blade. Just like whetstones, files come in a variety of grades from coarse files to fine-toothed files good for use with katanas, a type of curved Japanese sword used by the samurai. Also, like whetstones, use files along both sides of the blade.
Whetstones
Use whetstones to sharpen the blade. Whetstones come in a variety of "grades" that correspond to the size of the grit used in the stone. Modern whetstones are available in the form of a small block that includes stones of both coarse and fine grades on each side. Composed of varying materials depending on their use, stones made out of materials like ceramic don't need to be oiled before use whereas stones like Arkansas stones need lubrication to help them push shavings away from the blade, preventing the shavings from clogging the stone's pores. Coarser stones are used to hone the blade, while finer stones refine the blade and give it a razor-sharp edge.
Sandpaper
Small pieces of fine, wet sandpaper, around 400 grit, blend the newly refinished blade with the rest of the sword. By wet sanding the blade, you minimize dust and the blade's edge comes out clearly defined. Depending on the grade of the sandpaper used, wet sanding also works to polish and smooth the blade. This is generally achieved with a higher grade sandpaper, around 1500 grit. Following wet sanding, swords polish oils and a dry cloth or treated with a mixture of vinegar and water to give the sword a brown finish, making it appear used so that the sharpening is undetectable.