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Post by subquark on Apr 12, 2013 15:35:29 GMT
Searching the forum for "mekugi" says it is too common of a word! Only on a sword forum does that ever happen! =D
I have disassembled and reassembled my nifty new Ronon ko katana so that I could polish its blade (I'll post my experience with that as soon as I find the USB cable for my camera!) and would like to know where I could order bamboo dowels or mekugi online?
The mekugi I have are working fine and are very tight and secure, but at some point, they will need to be replaced. I won't be taking the katana apart constantly but see that I should have slightly shimmed the habaki before reassembling it. =(
I live in New Hampshire, so there's no bamboo here to cut pins from and figured someone must know of an online source.
Thanks!
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Post by Sugiyama on Apr 12, 2013 16:11:55 GMT
Kult of Athena sells them for pretty cheap.
Why are you polishing your sword if it is new, by the way?
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Post by Bluntsword on Apr 12, 2013 23:28:41 GMT
If you search "mekugi for sale" in google you will find a few places to buy it.
If ordering from online and delivery takes too long, you can make it out of bamboo chopsticks (a lot of people have done this). Only the purist will buy the proper mekugi that has been smoked for 100 years. If you do use a chop bamboo stick, (I was told to) bake it in the oven for 3 hours at 250degrees (or highest your oven can go) to cure/dry out the bamboo.
I'm also curious to know why you had to polish a brand new sword? Polish in the sword world (using sandpaper or whetstones) = to sharpen/to sand away steel to bring up features in the steel.
or do you mean you used a metal polish compound to clean up and make it shiny?
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Post by Beowulf on Apr 12, 2013 23:52:44 GMT
I researched this at one time. Susudake is aged and smoked bamboo, this is what mekugi are made from. Susudake starts with cutting and using only a particular part of the bamboo, and (unsure of this myself) may involve harvesting from a particular size or species of bamboo. Esoteric and complicated, which is why some people say to use chopsticks as a short-term substitute. I was advised to buy bamboo knitting needles made in Japan, apparently it is the same bamboo. Where I live they are very easy to find. I am unsure now of who advised me of this, but I trusted them. They seemed legit. You've still got to cut and shape the mekugi, which isn't terribly difficult, but it is some hard stuff. Can anyone corroborate my info? The only source I can bring up right now is this: www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopi ... &view=next However this advice is from Keith Larman himself! I hope this helps. The knitting needles are not a lot of money, maybe $12 for enough bamboo to make 20+ mekugi. cheers
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Post by chrisperoni on Apr 13, 2013 0:06:58 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Apr 13, 2013 0:58:39 GMT
Yep what he said. I was preparing to post the same links for places to buy from, and was happy to see someone else did it already.
There is a difference between chopsticks and proper mekugi bamboo. Yes in a pinch you can use chopsticks, but you honestly would not want to keep a chopstick mukugi. It is like the difference between a spare doughnut tire and a real tire, sure the spare will get you by but it is not made to last and be used for long term, just to limp home and get the proper fix. You can find the proper bamboo and carve your own, or find places that sell preshaped ones. I would suggest if your buying preshaped ones get ones that are plenty long and tappered. You will have to cut off the excess, but this ensures that you get a nice tight fit that is proper.
*edit to add, I bought some mekugi from the UK ebay seller listed in the ebay link, and have had no issues with them. Infact I am still on my first set of them over a year later with very little wear even though I have disassembled the sword many times.
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Post by Bluntsword on Apr 13, 2013 2:27:09 GMT
I don't think (I could be wrong about this) that all production swords from China come standard with smoked/aged mekugi. Hence why some of them even when only taken out once has taken damage done to then (the area you hit with a pin/punch to nock'em out). The bamboo chop stick I used: I have to say, mum wasn't impressed (when she noticed one was missing but the quality of this chop stick is better then all the standard mekugi that came with my swords. But I do agree with everyone that the mekugi is something you shouldn't take lightly and cheap out on, as it's the only thing holding the blade to the handle.
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Post by chrisperoni on Apr 13, 2013 3:16:45 GMT
yeah, I guess you can't really expect the best quality on all the production swords, good point. but why take a chance once you have the opportunity to diy?
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Post by frankthebunny on Apr 13, 2013 3:34:56 GMT
if you do feel like making your own you might want to use thisI've used it for many mekugi and it's perfect. first cut a sliver a bit larger than you need (length and thickness) with a coping saw, then make a long squared peg, then you can put one end in a portable drill/driver chuck and spin it on a file or sandpaper to shape it. remove material very slowly making a conical shape that's tapered at one end and keep checking the fit.
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Post by Bluntsword on Apr 14, 2013 1:48:13 GMT
Thanks for the link Frankthebunny, there's not many places you can get the good stuff from. In future I think I'm going to upgrade it properly, you guys is right why settle for something equal or sub-par quality.
(Sorry for hijacking your thread Sub) Frankthebunny when it comes to tsuka knowledge we all heed your words, have you any thoughts on the standards of factory mekugi are there any difference in a $100 or $1000 sword. 1 mekugi (standard) to rule them all?
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George
Member
Banned
Posts: 1,899
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Post by George on Apr 14, 2013 7:10:53 GMT
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Post by subquark on Apr 20, 2013 23:14:49 GMT
see the image belowThanks on the Kult link - exactly what I need! thanks on the oriental-weaponry one too, that one has a great taper to it. Actually, all the links are excellent! I like the idea of making my own. This forum is outstanding, thank you all for your advice and education. =) The ko katana is a production one and doesn't get a fine polish, so since I had all this sandpaper and supplies, I decided to give it one.
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