Rattan Cane Care & Storage Tips
Rattan is a natural fibrous grass species that needs to be cared for and stored properly for long life and best shape and performance.
Hydrating Rattan Canes
Rattan needs an ideal amount of moisture to remain flexible and supple and prolong its life. It needs to be periodically hydrated ( at least once a month ) to remain adequately hydrated.
You can hydrate your canes by standing it upright in about an inch of water column for 6-8 hours at least once a month. The rattan will absorb water through the tip using capillary force and this is all the hydration it needs. Let the tip air dry after hydration.
DO NOT dunk your canes in a bathtub frequently. In addition to destroying the handles, this will shorten the life of a rattan cane just as much as drying out. Rattan needs adequate moisture but not excess moisture.
On non coated/natural finish canes, you can also hydrate by wetting your hands and rub the cane shaft with the water residue on your hands. Make sure you do this only on the bare exposed shaft and not make the handle wet. This can be done in addition to hydration by the tip periodically.
Miss Stripewell’s Exclusive maintenance tip for Dragon Canes
Over the years, I have found this method to be a very reliable and effective method to maintain dragon canes and most of my dragon canes are not coated and comes with the satin skin natural finish and this is strictly for dragon canes that have natural finish.
Once a month or Once in every two months ( depending on your environment. I recommend once a month routine especially for dry environments), apply a coat of food grade mineral oil to your dragon canes and let it sit for an hour or two and let the rattan absorb the oil and nourish the skin and wipe it off with a clean and lint free cloth such as a microfiber cloth. If your dragon cane has a handle material like paracord or kangaroo leather, make sure you apply the food grade mineral oil only to the exposed cane shaft and be careful not to get the oil on your handles. You can apply the oil fully on your English Crook handle school canes but be very careful not to get oil on your handle material ( if you have one).
Food grade mineral oil is inert, odorless and doesn’t polymerise unlike raw linseed oil ( my other recommendation) and let the mineral oil sit for at least an hour or two and no more. And wipe it down clean after an hour with a clean microfiber cloth.
I have personally found this to be an effective way to hydrate your canes periodically and I personally use this method for my personal collection of canes. Food Grade Mineral Oil is easy to obtain online from Amazon or other places and typically used for wooden cutting boards but it is also an excellent source for nourishing and hydrating rattan canes periodically.
The secret to longevity of a rattan cane is periodic maintenance and well maintained and properly used dragon canes can last decades in normal use. I highly recommend this maintenance routine once every 30 or 60 days to keep your dragon canes from drying out and warping and provide decades of excellent service.
Cane Storage
DO NOT store rattan canes in dry environs Store your rattan canes well away from a/c or heating vents or anything that will dry out the rattan.
Proper care and storage mentioned above will keep rattan canes in the best condition and prolong the life and lessen the chance of breaking due to drying out.