care and feeding of rattan

[sames]

So I've started working with a new group and am now burning through rattan faster than ever. Just playing a little harder than normal. Previous I didn't really pay any attention to taking care of rattan to get more life out of it since I wasn't going through it very quickly at all... now the topic is of interest.

Clearly there are some things you shouldn't do. Leave your stick in the hot car exposed to sunlight for a few days and it'll definately lighten up in color and weigh less... and be destroyed way quicker. Right. So we learn avoid/minimize heat and direct sunlight.

Also rattan without skin will fall apart pretty fast.

I've heard of people soacking rattan (not sure in what... linseed oil? water?) and also of fire hardening. I've heard that you should give them an occasional dip just to keep their moisture content up. Dunno. I use hockey tape on them as soon as they start to fray at all.

What are people doing to extend the life of their sticks?

[ryangruhn]

Rattan being a natural material and will break down over time regardless of what you do to it. While I have had sticks that have lasted longer after treating, none have really lasted "that much" longer to make a huge difference. I use rattan to fight with and Durattan for stick on stick training. I was simply sick of not wanting to ruin a pair of sticks and not putting everything I had into my training (power, speed, etc).

Gruhn

[sames]

Right. So a durattan question. Does using durattan with natural rattan tear up the natural rattan the way that using hardwood sticks would? It'd be rather rude to get longer lasting sticks (durattan) at the expense of my training partners rattan longevity :)

[ryangruhn]

No. In fact without grip we have found that they do the opposite. Since it is perfectly round rattan tends to skip off slightly (not noticeable) and does not bite into the stick. With grip we have found that this is still true but bites the rattan a bit more.

Gruhn

[Datu Tim Hartman]

When doing Filipino martial arts I use rattan. I like the organic feel of the sticks and the burning smell during the workout. When working on defensive tactics with LEOs or military I use what they are issued. That being said there are several things you can due to extend the life of your sticks.

First of all use both ends of the stick for sticking. Generally I use one end of the stick for my grip and the other to hit with. This means one end will break down. I try to use both ends as a handle.
If you have more than one stick, don’t always grab the same one. This is no different than rotating the tires on your car.
I like soaking them in linseed oil. This is a time consuming process, but well worth the effort.By using these methods I have had sticks last for years!

[ryangruhn]

I like soaking them in linseed oil. This is a time consuming process, but well worth the effort.

Tim,
This is the first I have heard of this. I have done salt water but will try linseed oil next!

Gruhn

[arnisador]

I've had bad luck with my rattan recently. I may pick some up in Buffalo this weekend. I'm going through too much electrical tape!

[monkey]

The rattan you are useing songs like it comes from the flat land.There it grows wild & is not to dence.The rattan has a golden color to it.The Best ratan comes from the mountains & us very dence,Almost like coca bola.This ratan is not easy to split ect.Ive seen people like Leo Gaji-Bujin Matten-Ilistrisimo-Sulite use the grade.It normaly sell for around $40 -$60 a pair.Oils help give some live to the rods.They are after all tree like & obsorb moister.Hence the fire hardening to seal it with laquer.For tape on the outter-it is advisable to use some that will not let your hand slip in combat-Yet maintain solid type point to the rods.