How can I tell the difference between a shinai that needs replacing or a shinai that needs sanding and oiling?
How can I tell the difference between a shinai that needs replacing or a shinai that needs sanding and oiling?
Answer: Thanks for your question. You must replace your shinai when your shinai (one or more pieces of bamboo) is broken (this is obvious). Even when it is not broken in half but you see a crack, you should replace because it will break soon.
If you see splinters, then you can sand them off. Make sure you wipe the pieces of bamboo after sanding off; otherwise, those fine pieces will get in your training partners’ eyes.
I heard that oiling surfaces of bamboo do not do much since the bamboo absorb the oil from the nodes (Please refer to “
Comments for Do I have to do something before using a new shinai?” for what to do with oiling shinai).
Oiling is to preserve your shinai and prevent them from getting dried out.
Splinters are always there so make sure you check your shinai before, during and after training. And when you see splinters, get your spare shinai out and continue to train with the spare one. And fix your shinai at home.
Hope this helps.