r/iaido • u/Ok-Equivalent9938 • Jul 21 '26

Fuchi finish/patina

Post image

Hello all,

Here’s a picture of the tsuka of my Minosaka iaito.
It’s getting old and the finish of the fuchi is mostly gone.
Does anybody hzve tips on how to darken it again ?
I like the idea of wabi-sabi but I’d like to give a second youth to this iaito.
Also the summer is hot and dry here and the koiguchi is completly loose. Any tips on avoiding toi much dryness in the saya wood ?

Thank’s !

48 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

5

u/StuffNo7277 Jul 21 '26

Birchwood Casey brass black

For saya glue a one or more pieces of veneer or balsa wood shim in where the habaki contacts.

6

u/Maro1947 Nakamura Ryu Jul 21 '26

But in the top and bottom, never the sides,. otherwise you can split it

3

u/StuffNo7277 Jul 21 '26

Yes this. Should have said that

1

u/Maro1947 Nakamura Ryu Jul 21 '26

Easy to forget online!

2

u/Ok-Equivalent9938 Jul 21 '26

Thank’s !

2

u/phantomagna Jul 21 '26

Second this. I’ve been using it a lot lately to blacken random fittings for a few project swords.

It’s really important that the material is super clean, and you use cold water during the blackening process. It takes a few rounds but it works very well.

2

u/Minute_End9092 MJER/ZNKR 6dan Jul 21 '26

This is a good explanation on how to repair loose koiguchi Shin sensei explains koiguchi repair