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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 9:09:46 GMT
Hello, all. I have a love for white when it comes to weapons. Something about the purity of that color gives the weapon a serene quality. I really love White silk wrapped Katana handles but the problem with white... it gets dirty quick, especially white fabric. I have an idea for a sword that would need about a foot straight length of ivory-like material for the handle that would be durable enough to use as a daily cutter. Could anyone suggest an ivory substitute? I considered bleached stag horn, but finding a straight piece 12" long would be difficult wouldn't it? Better yet, is there a legal way to procure ivory?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 9:32:59 GMT
plastic
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Post by tajima on Sept 17, 2009 10:39:49 GMT
...
Perhaps bone? I'm not sure, a pale timber.
Thanks, -Tajima
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 10:43:16 GMT
Yeah, okay, I'll give you the fact that plastic is pretty darn durable, but it seems so cheap. I mean when you're describing the beautiful custom sword to someone, wouldn't you be just a tad embarrassed to tell them: "yeah it's got a 20,000 layer folded steel blade, sterling silver fittings hand-carved by a master silversmith, rosewood scabbard with silk bindings... And the handle is grade A industrial plastic!".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 12:31:04 GMT
I think I have discovered the answer to my own question though I don't know how to read the numbers for density and hardness and the like. Would someone who knows these things take a look at the specifications of this material and tell me if they think it would make good sword handle material? www.elforyn.de/enMaterial.htm
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 12:37:07 GMT
thats just a facy name for plastic
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 12:43:00 GMT
That stuff I do not think would be good. There is ivory colored Micarta, which will probably be your best bet.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Sept 17, 2009 15:09:38 GMT
I agree. Micarta is a very good handle material, and is a lot nicer looking than some give it credit for.
It would also be my preference over ivory/bone as a daily-use handle material, as ivory and bone require careful looking after, and can be quite delicate when subjected to too much wear and tear.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 15:45:07 GMT
If you're looking for Ivory you should check for camel bone or (even better) mammoth ivory.
First: it's legal Second: We're now days plenty of... Seems like there's a conveyor belt coming from Russia crowded with frozen mammoths Third: is Ivory 100%
PS: it's also a lot cheaper compared to legal elephant's Ivory
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 19:33:23 GMT
There is an Antique Ivory paper micarta available that may be suitable enough for your use. A google image search should provide you with many images of it to peruse.
Paper micarta can be tricky to finish in lighter colors, and it is easy to burn it when working with power tools during the shaping process.
Perhaps you could find a shade of Corian to use, assuming that you find it durable enough. While corian is brittle, it may be durable enough to suit you as long as it doesn't suffer any direct impacts to the handle itself.
Chuck
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 0:38:18 GMT
In researching Micarta it seems like it only comes in laminate or scales, nothing nearly as thick as I'm wanting. What I have in mind is a solid (core drilled out for tang of course) carved handle about 8" long with a silvery throat and butt cap, and a ring embedded around the middle. I want the handle to be polished and glossy, like polished ivory and white to cream in color. If I were to come to one of you sword makers with this request, how would you go about fullfilling it? What materials would you use?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 1:20:39 GMT
First of all, it will have a spacer ring, then you will need two 4" pieces, as the construction method would be to slide one 4" piece on, then the spacer, then the other 4" piece. In fife minutes I managed to find ivory micarta in 1 1/2 inch round by 5" long pieces.
You have my answer, I would use micarta. What sword project is this for Wes?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 2:03:46 GMT
You probably know better places to look than I do. I just did a google search for micarta and looked over the first few links. At any rate Right now I'm just sizing up the feasibility of my idea. It's based off of this Han Jian from Zheng Wu. Let me go draw what I'm thinking about and then I'll post my idea.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 2:45:51 GMT
Alright here. It's a very rough sketch, and I left the fittings plain for the most part though in the actual piece they'll be detailed. I would like the carvings to be done in a vine-like nature, I just scribbled some vine-like tentacles on the "ivory" for the purposes of showing the idea, the ring is not final, I am not happy with the design I came up with... looked a lot cooler in my head. Looks too futuristic on paper. The rings dangling down are supposed to be reminiscent of the rings on a Buddhist staff. All fittings will be done in a shiny silvery metal. I'm thinking stainless steel at this point, but if you have a suggestion for a better material? I like silver, but it tarnishes over time and I'm not sure how easy it would be to take care of like this... Edit: I spelled Buddhist wrong
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Post by sicheah on Sept 18, 2009 2:58:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 3:05:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 3:11:51 GMT
Huh.... I never expected wood to be a good substitute. I figured the grain would show through too much, but I don't see any grain at all on that grip. Neat! Thanks for the link
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 3:57:48 GMT
Genuine Ivory has a grain much like wood. A cut through a piece of Ivory reveals growth rings even.
It is very tight grained, but the grain is still visible.
Chuck
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 4:01:38 GMT
Right, but it doesn't look like Oak or pine grain is what I was getting at.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2009 4:03:13 GMT
How much do you have for funds?
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