That's a really nice price, and I really like the Aynedter one specifically - I just don't trust spectras to hold up long enough to be worth the money in the long run.
I would suggest using like a little bit of olive oil or you can wait until Aynedters Kendtioner comes out ha.
I'm not so sure about that, gonna copy my reply from another thread on oiling kens here: ------------------------ I wouldn't expect adding a finish to make a kendama last longer, persay. With most wood products, a finish WILL help the product last longer, since the biggest risks in that product being damaged are things like local climate, water damage, etc. A finish will seal the wood, so it will not absorb water or other substances that could damage the wood. For example, I made some cutting boards last Xmas, and kept one for myself. I oiled it, so it wouldn't absorb any food, or water while being washed. Oil finishes eventually wear away, so recently (about a year after applying the original finish) I ran into some trouble with the board absorbing some water, and warping out slightly (crap!). This means I need to reapply a finish, to protect the cutting board and preserve it for future use. With a kendama, the biggest risk for damage is playing with it. I really don't think an oil or other finish will help much in preventing the denting/chipping damage that most players consider to be detrimental to a kendama, but it could help slow down the absorption of dirt / other undesirable stuff that can make a kendama look ratty and old. MAYBE by filling the wood pores with finish there is some added structural integrity, but that isn't what is meant when woodworkers say that a finish 'helps protect the wood', afaik. I would place my bets on the finish having little affect on the kendama's ability to take a beating, if any at all. TL;DR: Oils or other finishes will generally darken the wood, and may add some playability (eg beeswax adds stickyness), but they won't help against physical damage to the kendama. Read more at http://www.downspike.com/threads/dama-hacks.961/page-4#D3JVTQwr1xZBGIjH.99