Splinters and cracks are (unfortunately) going to occur on the slats of your shinai. While the shinai slats are strong, they are not indestructable. But, with proper care and maintenance, they can last quite some time.
However the important aspect of shinai maintenance is not shinai life-span, but the safety of your fellow kendoka. A broken or splintered shinai slat is very dangerous, and under no circumstances should they be used. Here is a quick guide on how to repair and maintain your shinai against cracks and splinters.
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Some of the tools you'll need for shinai repair are :
- A Utility Knife. (optional)
- Sand Paper, 150 grit.
- A File. (optional)
- A small wood saw. (Only needed for more "serious" repairs, i.e., "Franken-shinai")
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Examine your shinai carefully before, after, and even during your practice. Making this a habit will help you detect splinters.
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Remove the string (Tsuru) (you can leave the leather bits attached to it on) and then pull off the leather handle (Tsuka-gawa). You may have to twist this as you pull it to loosen it.
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While still holding the shinai together with your hand, use a pen or marker to label the different slats on the shinai: Top, Left, Bottom, and Right or whatever labels you want to use. We'll use these labels to put the shinai back together in the proper order later. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! So be sure not to skip this step.
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| Gently pry the shinai slats apart. They are held in place by a small square piece of metal in the handle, shown below. DO NOT LOSE THIS PIECE OF METAL! If it stays in one of the slats, leave it there. If it comes out completely, set it aside in a safe place.
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Now, take the damaged slat and locate the splinter. Optional: use a utility knife to cut away any large splinters from the bamboo. Be careful! Bamboo cuts VERY easily (as do your fingers!) so take care not to cut deeply with the knife or you'll end up making a large gouge in your shinai. A file or sand paper will do the same job as a knife, they just require a bit more elbow grease.
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Use your file or sandpaper to remove any splits / splinters. Be sure to sand 5cm (2") above and below the damaged area using a long, smooth motion.
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Voila! Your slat is as good as new!
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Now, re-assemble your shinai using the labels you marked earlier. Be sure you squeeze the slats firmly onto the metal square, and in the proper order. Then pull the Tsuka-gawa back onto the shinai firmly, making sure it goes all the way on.
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