Japanese Camellia Oil (Hamono Tsubaki)
Camellia oil is a favorite traditional tool treatment among both samurai and woodworkers, used both for preventing corrosion and for easing chisels and knives through their work. Light and odorless, the oil is non-staining and doesn't affect glue-up. Use a light wipe of Camellia oil on all your steel tools to keep them clean & shiny.
This highly refined Camellia oil is a very pure, natural oil pressed from the seeds of an evergreen plant from the Camellia family. It’s a light oil that won’t dry or gum up. It was originally used to protect finely crafted Samurai swords. The high carbon Damascus steel would easily rust if not cared for. These days camelia oil is used to protect hand planes, saws, knives and chisels from the insidious rust that develops when your tool is left on the shelf.
It takes only a few drops wiped all over hand tools with a soft cloth after you’ve used them. In addition, try to keep them in a drawer or cupboard. Put in a few of those desiccant sachets that absorb moisture in packaged foods too (this is a tip from Peter Young - his tools are in fine shape).
Camellia oil won’t leave an oily residue on the surface of your timber and acts as a lubricant for easier tool usage. You’ll be surprised how much easier and less resistance there is when the sole of a hand plane has a light coating of this oil.