Camellia Oil

The Japanese solution for keeping your tools clean and rust free; Cold pressed Camellia seeds blended with white mineral oil.

Oil from the seeds of Camellia oleifera (same family as Camellia and tea) is the traditional Japanese choice for protecting tools from rust: use it when cleaning, and as a regular protective coating. Leaves a lovely deep, non-oily finish, and it’s odourless and tasteless (also handy for kitchen knives, but don’t try drinking it.)

The real trick with caring for your tools is to do it - it doesn’t really matter exactly what, just get on with it.

• 47g
• 35mm
• Inert non toxic non flammable natural oil pressed from Camellia oleifera seeds
• Made in Japan
• 100ml

Please note: By law, we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18. By placing an order for one of these items you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over. These items must be used responsibly and appropriately.

Keeping Them Clean
Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place

Keeping Them Sharp
New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).

Sharpen Secateurs every couple of weeks
Sharpen Shears and Topiary Clippers EVERY TIME you use them - the difference is amazing.

Saws

• Use a smooth, gentle sawing action, doing the cutting on the pull, and gliding back on the push
• Don’t let the weight of the branch pinch or catch the blade
• Don’t twist the blade while sawing
• Don’t use a small saw for a large job. Treat 1/3 of the length of the blade as the absolute maximum sensible cutting diameter
• Don’t use a large saw for a small job. A 12" blade will happily cut a 1/2" branch, providing the branch is rigid - but most 1/2" branches move around a lot, and don’t allow for accurate sawing. Use Secateurs or Loppers instead
• Don’t blame us if you snap the blade. Blades snap through misuse and poor handling, neither of which are covered under the warranty!

Standard postage is £4.50 and this covers a standard 2nd Class Royal Mail service. This may take up to 10 days. We always recommend that if you are ordering for a gift or need something arriving by a specific date then you upgrade to a 1st Class Royal Mail Service.

• Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
• Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
• Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
• Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
• Pay attention to maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
• Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts