Caring for a Go board

How can one improve the lifetime of a goban?

Humidity

Q: Is it a good idea to keep a goban with some dessicant as used in electronics equipment?
Q: Is it better to keep a goban in a box, or leave it exposed to air?

• keep in an enclosed case, possibly with a source of water (glass, container, ?)
• avoid dry conditions
• wood can warp (think also of transport between regions of different humidity). a tatami mat can help stabilising the goban.

Heat

Q: Obviously extremes are always to be avoided; but how far can one go without risking (permanent) warping/cracks...

• avoid excessive temperatures

Light

Q: has light a desirable effect on wood? or should it be avoided?

• avoid sunlight

Care

• for softer woods (such as kaya, between soft-hard), avoid dents (especially thicker stones) ( rgg, but to be confirmed). Another reason not to throw the board against the wall, denting the wall and the board prior to uppercutting your opponent...
• wipe off after use
• oil of black stones can stain the board - keep stones clean (see also caring for go stones)
• if putting goke on the goban, be careful not to damage wood or lines
• on traditional gobans, lines are lacquered: handle with care
• wax
  • use a vegetable-based oil to clean it (kaya oil is available in some areas: e.g. https://www.maekawa-kayagoban.co.jp/SHOP/gf00010.html)
  • reapply wax (if provided) once a year
  • See also Surface Finish - difficult and not recommended unless done profesionally
  • What you're trying to do with the oil is to replenish the board's moisture, to make sure the outside doesn't get substantially dryer than the inside.( RGG)
  • Wax suppliers
    • http://www.japanwax.com/index.htm(Link Appears Dead)
    • http://www.kosterkeunen.com/

DON'T

• remove the wax? -> DON'T

See also

• Material Goban
• Surface Finish
• RGG links
  • Taking care of board/stones?
  • The care and feeding of your go board
  • boards