NICE SHIELD! YOU WOULD USE THE SAME PRESERVATION METHODS ON THE RATTAN ON THE SHIELD THAT YOU USE ON BASKETS. I USE MINERAL OIL ON MY HAND WOVEN HAT FROM HAWAII JUST DAMPEN A SMALL RAG WITH SOME AND RUB IT OVER THE SURFACE, DON'T SOAK IT BUT YOU CAN DO IT OFTEN FOR A WHILE ALOWING IT TO SOAK IN A LITTLE AT A TIME WITHOUT GETTING A LARGE BUILD UP THAT CAN CAUSE DIRT AND DUST TO GUM UP YOUR SHIELD. THE MINERAL OIL DOES NOT BECOME RANCID AND WILL KEEP THE FIBER FROM DRYING OUT AND BECOMING BRITTLE WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR A HAT. IT DOES DEEPEN THE COLOR OF THE FIBERS WHEN YOU PUT IT ON BECAUSE IT RESTORES THE FIBER WHICH HAS BECOME DRY AND BLEACHED OUT BUT WILL NOT REMOVE ANY PATINA. IT WILL MAKE IT SHINEY WHILE WET BUT WHEN DRY DOSEN'T SHINE, IF THE FIBER HAS BEEN COVERED WITH VARNISH OR SHELLAC IT MAY NOT PENETRATE BUT CAN BE EASILY REMOVED WITH A DRY SOFT RAG, OLD TEE SHIRTS WORK VERY WELL. GOOD LUCK
I WON'T BE ABLE TO USE THE SHIELD I GOT FROM YOU FOR TRAINING AS MY HANDS AND ARMS ARE TOO BIG TO GET THRU THE GRIPS ON THE BACK. I COULD REPLACE THEM WITH LARGER ONES BUT I GUESS I WILL WORK IT OVER AND SEE HOW PRETTY I CAN MAKE IT INSTEAD.
