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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 23:17:56 GMT
I was looking at Thomas L. Buck's the art of tsukamaki and found out about Hishigami. They are little paper triangles placed underneath the ito when wrapping the handle of a katana. Anyway, I haven't been able to find out if you really need them to do a good tsukamaki. Can anyone help me out with this? Here is a picture in case you dont know what Im talking about(My description was a little short): pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/katamak1.jpgThanks for the help!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 23:33:59 GMT
Yes, If you have hopes of a decent tsukamaki.....yes.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 23:34:34 GMT
Yes, you do need hishigami if you want the ito to stay there and not unwrap quickly (matter of hours).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 23:40:07 GMT
Thanks for the replies, but i don't understand why the ito would unwrap without hishigami. I can see the ito untwisting, if thats what you meant. also, how thick should a normal hishigami be? Thanks for the help
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 1:45:15 GMT
Hey There,
My 2 cents :-) Absolutely, hishigame' are not just important, they are a must. If you have ever had the chance to hold a "junk" katana and none were used, you probably noticed the folds kind of move around. On a properly done maki, with hishgame' , the folds should allmost "hurt" your hands as they DO NOT move. They should be solid as a rock :-)
Just as important as the use of hishigame' is the use of lining on the Ha and Mune of the tsuka. This lining provided a "rest" for the hishigame' to but up against, helping to keep your wrap even and the diamond all the same size.
I've experimented with several ways of making hishigame'. I have finally come up with 2 methods that I am sticking with that work the best for me. One thing that works, kind of, but isnt perfect is cardboard cut out hishigame' I prefer hand folding paper as the triangle is more than just a triangle. It should also be a wedge shape of sorts. The base being the thin and the point being thicker.
Good luck,
Skip
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 2:28:27 GMT
Thanks skip, and everyone that has commented. You have been a great help, and now there is somewhere on the internet that has a guide on if hishigami are necessary. I just have one more question. By the lining do you mean this: pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/maki_2.jpgThe paper strips on the ha and mune. Also I have had a katana that was wrapped without lining or hishigami and the wrap, although not painfully tight, has not shifted untwisted in any way. Is this odd?, as I have had cheap stainless steel swords that have had shifty ito. Thanks for the help!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 14:39:49 GMT
Hello Again,
The using of paper was and is very traditional as is wood. Yes this is exactly what I'm refering too :-) I prefer wood. Thin birch ply to be exact, and this can be found at local art and crafts stores.
Just curious, but the tsuka you mention that uses no hishigame or lining, is this a sword that see's heavy use and handling? Unless the person/company that wraped it used adhesives, it will fail. Even with adhesives, it will degrade and fail. Keep in mind that we still see Japanese tsuka that made it through wars and actually were used heavily in true combat. Some of these are literally hundreds of years old.
Ok, off the post office this morning best get moving. Take care, and good luck,
Skip
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 15:01:40 GMT
Thanks for the help! Also, the katana sees moderate use, perhaps glue was used, because the wrap has been on for over a year now, and has not degraded or loosened.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 15:49:02 GMT
Hishigami also makes it easier to make a good looking and comfortable wrap. You can't get it perfect without. I used to make OK makis with cardboard, but no matter how hard I tried and prepared the tsuka they got no better than mediocre. When I first used folded rice paper hishigamis the wrap got very nice.
I'm actually doing a wrap right now, just about to fold the hishigamis.
To make the wrapping easier, you could apply a strip of strong double sided tape on the ha and mune side. The tape will help hold the ito, and you can concentrate on getting it tight and nice. But don't so this if you are to reuse the ito.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 15:56:20 GMT
Hishigami also makes it easier to make a good looking and comfortable wrap. You can't get it perfect without. I used to make OK makis with cardboard, but no matter how hard I tried and prepared the tsuka they got no better than mediocre. When I first used folded rice paper hishigamis the wrap got very nice. I'm actually doing a wrap right now, just about to fold the hishigamis. To make the wrapping easier, you could apply a strip of strong double sided tape on the ha and mune side. The tape will help hold the ito, and you can concentrate on getting it tight and nice. But don't so this if you are to reuse the ito. Mind giving some pictures for us new & interested?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 16:27:41 GMT
Thanks again, and I second what uncreative said. Pictures would be great, especially of how to fold hishigami. I couldn't find anything on folding them besides Thomas L. Buck's the art of tsukamaki. And he was not too descriptive. It was something like fold a piece of paper 5 to 11 times, then cut it into strips that are 2 times the width of the stretched ito, then make them be hishigami. My only problem is how long should the hishigami be? I know they should be 2 times the width of the stretched ito but it shows on the art of tsukamaki them being quite small: pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/katamak1.jpgAlso, do you need the lining on the ha and mune sides of the tsuka if you are not using a full wrap of stingray skin but just panels? Thanks for the help!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 17:55:33 GMT
OK, documenting the tsukamaki now. I'll put out some pics later.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 18:08:29 GMT
Great! thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 19:49:01 GMT
OK, documenting the tsukamaki now. I'll put out some pics later. Cool will keep an eye out for that. All this talk and my growing interest in the Japanese sword has me considering figuring out how to do this stuff. Not that I want to actually get good and make money at it, but just more of an exploration of the swords and their construction. Skip and you guys make it sound easy, but it looks hard.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 23:30:35 GMT
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