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Post by stickem on Apr 8, 2012 3:52:47 GMT
Thanks for all the head's ups on how to fix the problem. I don't think it is a matter so much of not feeling comfortable doing the repairs as it is I have no experience in these particular methods. I am willing to try and willing to learn... note: my attorney :roll: says to qualify this with revision, "willing to try and learn anything legal in the state in which I currently reside."
Thanks to y'all for pointing me in the right direction. Since I am right off the turnip truck as far as this forum, I wasn't aware until now there is a specific section addressing fixing damaged swords. Now I know where to go...
Now that I know, I'll do the homework and figure out how to do the repairs myself. While I have no experience, there has to be a first time for everyone before they actually get good at something, and what better way to do it than on a rather inexpensive saya that needs immediate attention... with the knowledge that if I don't get the repair done to my satisfaction, I can always buy a new saya relatively cheaply.
If I invest a very little $ expenditure and do the work myself, even if I FUBAR it, I can either get a new saya for $30 or pay someone else $50 to fix it. Either way, I'll come out ahead of buying a Hanwei Raptor at full MSRP.
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Post by lamebmx on Apr 8, 2012 13:40:54 GMT
and you got the first time outta the way!
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Post by stickem on Apr 9, 2012 19:53:40 GMT
So here's my idea for fixing the Raptor: I measured the top of the saya. It comes to a length of 44mm and a width of 23mm. This measurement was done using a wooden metric ruler, so I make no claim of the exact accuracy of the measurements, but they are the best I can do with the tools at hand, and should be close enough to precise. So I found this website offering metal bands for saya repair: www.japanese-swords.com/pages/kojiri.htmHere is the image of the bands currently available: The koiguchi labeled "C" (the one which looks rather like bronze with some bamboo leaves design) has listed measurements of 44x23mm, which is the same as my saya. Although this is an expensive item to buy at $95, the fabrication of a koiguchi on my own from raw metal is a little above my paygrade on the metalsmithing sclale. Not exactly sure how to attach a metal koiguchi to a wooden saya, but could use some sort of Gorilla Glue or even an epoxy if need be. Because I do have carpentry skills, I think I can do the woodworking necessary to replace the split saya mouth on my Raptor if it requires a little cutting with an X-acto knife and some filing with a fine wood rasp. So the bottom line is I am thinking of purchasing this specific koiguchi and using it to repair my saya cracked mouth. What are you all's thoughts on my thinking process? As stated before, I am a beginner (this is a beginner's forum after all), but not a complete idiot. I am willing to learn how to do this myself and you have to get started fixing your katanas somewhere and understanding the terminology and how the fittings are originally designed to work anyway... I am not sure how to put this thread into the "Sword Repair" section of the board for the input of others who may have more experience in such matters. Thanks in advance for your input. Is this a reasonable solution?
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Post by Lobster Hunter on Apr 9, 2012 20:37:16 GMT
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Post by stickem on Apr 9, 2012 21:15:14 GMT
LH ~ Thanks. I just copied and pasted the above into a new thread in the Repair Section... so maybe some more ideas will materialize there as well. I don't like the cost... in fact I could have bought a brand new Raptor from Athena for the same cost instead of getting the scratch'n'dent, cracked-saya Raptor and adding the above koiguchi to the pricetag. But it is what it is. Things work out just how they are supposed to... meaning perhaps repairing the saya myself will teach me something practical as well as how to have more of an appreciation for how the swords are made in the first place... and it's not like spending the $825 that originally brought all this on
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Post by stickem on Apr 12, 2012 2:53:54 GMT
Hi all! Ok, now for the evidence... Here is the Raptor's saya as viewed from the outside, inside, and top. If you click on the thumbnails, the images will get big enough so you can actually see it pretty well. The spit itself goes all the way through, as you can plainly see from these images. The crack measures 4cm in length on the outside of the saya surface. I do not have the tools available at the moment to measure the split length from the inside to confirm the split goes all the way through for the entire length of the crack visible from the outside surface. What would you all suggest? Thanks again, ~ Stick'em
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Post by stickem on Apr 17, 2012 12:05:49 GMT
Head's up: The koiguchi I ordered arrived today It is silver (90% Ag/ 10% Cu) and almost exactly correct in the dimensions of shape, width, circumference, and thickness as the FUBARed one I need to replace! Talkin' a-whisker's-width-close in every dimension... Amazed the maker pulled it off having never seen the original cracked saya himself. And I got the koiguchi from Fred for $75, which is $20 off the price quoted on his website in the graphic posted previously in this thread. So, if anyone wants a koiguchi made for them, Fred Lohman is the guy to go to: katana4u.com/index.htmHe's an easy and funny guy to talk with on email as well re: replacing your own koiguchi: www.japanese-swords.com/mail/dd-formmailer.phpBottom line, after spending the extra $ on the koiguchi, I'll come out with a saya that is better than the original (if I do the work with patience), and still have spent less than a new non-scratch'n'dent at KoA.
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