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Post by VicoSprite on Apr 6, 2014 14:48:32 GMT
Scenario; Purchased a Cheness Kaze kokatana. It came with a broken tsuka. I then purchased a replacement tsuka directly from Cheness. I have started to file the hole for the nakago for a better fit, so once I put it on it wont crack. once this is done, I will have to drill out the holes for the mekugi. Is there a better way then just measuring the old tsuka and drilling there? I was also thinking of drilling as small of pilot holes i could to fit a round file in,then slowly enlarging the hole with the file. But I really just want a way to make sure I drill in the correct spot the first time. Any advice? Thanks in advance. Cody
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Post by frankthebunny on Apr 6, 2014 16:00:07 GMT
I had to do a blind drilling once. If the samegawa is white and you have a powerful flashlight, you can mount the tsuka, take it to a darkened room and shine the light pressed on one side and locating the mekugi-ana. Once you see the shape through the same, go ahead and mark it. or You could mount the tsuka, place the sword against a piece of paper, cutting a slot for the tsuba, trace the tsuka and a few of inches of the blade/tsuba/habaki. remove tsuka and replace blade, etc. on paper and trace mekugi-ana. Then mount tsuka again, place against paper and transfer mekugi-ana location. or Just take precise measurements any other way you prefer.
With any method, and as you mentioned above, you should drill only a small hole (too low is better than too high) and only widen it once the tsuka is mounted in position again.
If you make a mistake and the ana comes out too high, you'll have to add a seppa or other spacer to tighten the fit.
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Post by VicoSprite on Apr 6, 2014 20:45:46 GMT
That first method wont work since the light wouldn't go thru the wood. there are no holes whatsoever on the tsuka. Guess im just gonna try to take accurate measurements...Thanks for the tip about lower being better than higher, that wouldve never crossed my mind.
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Post by frankthebunny on Apr 7, 2014 0:25:25 GMT
Yeah, I realized after I wrote it that it wouldn't work without holes in the wood, lol. I have used the light trick when applying new samegawa over a core with holes already drilled. It shouldn't really be a big deal if you make very small pilot holes at first just to locate the general location.
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Post by ineffableone on Apr 7, 2014 0:34:26 GMT
Measure to the center of the hole, with the tsuka off, then put it on and measure to were the center of the hole was, then drill small pilot holes you slowly widen to fit the holes in the nakago. This is the only way I know how to do it.
Only other thing would be to give the holes a little angle. --\---/-- like this. Though this is not critical, it does make for a tighter stronger tuska fit. Though if your not planning any serious battles anytime soon, a regular --|----|-- would work fine.
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slav
Senior Forumite
Posts: 818
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Post by slav on Apr 7, 2014 14:08:56 GMT
Honestly I always just drill an entirely new hole through the wood and metal (just like they did the first time at the forge).
You see the same thing in Nihonto nakago. New holes for new mounts.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Apr 8, 2014 11:48:14 GMT
The preference is for an angle
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Post by VicoSprite on May 8, 2014 15:10:35 GMT
I ended up getting an old style wishbone caliper (works like a pencil compass). And took some very accurate measurements with a caliper and ruler from the bottom of the habaki to 3/4 the way down the first hole, assembled everything, then with the old style caliper marked my holes. Started to drill with c. W 1/16 bit. So much relief when it went thru. I stepped it up to 1/8" bit, then the hole in the nakago actually started to "tell" the bit where to go. Then finally stepped up to just under 1/4" for the final opening. Cleaned it up, then popped in the mekugi. Thanks for the help guys, Cody
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