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Post by TheMu on May 6, 2014 17:08:37 GMT
Step 1: Tsuka Core & Mekugi Hi, I finally started the customization project I've been planning for a few weeks now. I'm going to customize a wakizashi completely. I'm going to make all the parts(excluding the blade and habaki) myself and I'm starting with tsuka core and mekugi. I made the tsuka core of oak from old bokken and mekugi of bamboo from old shinai. I used a saw, files, chisels and a dremel. Dremel was extremely useful tool when carving the space for nakago. Here's pictures: I think the parts turned out pretty good. Tsuka core has nice lightly curved shape lengthwise and comfortable flat oval cross-section. I have to file the holes for mekugi to right size later and put a small piece of shim to tsuka. I went just a tad too deep with a dremel and the mouth of tsuka is just a little bit too wide now. The fit will be proper when I'm finished. I think I'm not going to use same at all. I want to figure out some creative substitute. we'll see... All comments, ideas and advice are most welcome! Thank you. Coming up... Step 2: seppas and menukis.
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Post by grmnsplx on May 6, 2014 17:14:54 GMT
Cool. What attachment/bit did you use with your dremel to carve the channel for the nakago?
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Post by TheMu on May 7, 2014 7:52:53 GMT
I started with drawing the nakago shape with a cutting bit so the wood wouldn't split uncontrolled later when I worked on it with chisels. Mostly I used the basic sanding bit. It's good for controlled material removing. I also have a few tungsten carbide engraving bits. They are really useful when working on details. They work on steel too, but they are quite expensive. I had to use basic chisels and files too. For some reason the basic tools are still the very foundation of good workmanship for me.
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Post by TheMu on May 8, 2014 12:52:49 GMT
Step 2: Seppas & Menukis Hello. Where is everybody? Well, here's an update! I made a pair of seppas and a pair of menukis. They are made of my uncles old copper kitchen sink. I'm going to engrave something to menukis later. I used a dremel and files. I also made an experimental "hiramaki", but it's not the final version. Here's pics: Seppas are a little bit rough, but I'm happy with them. I believe when all the pieces are assembled together the roughness won't bother me at all. These are the first seppas I've ever made. I think it's neat idea that menukis are like memorial plaques where I can engrave something meaningful. Though I think they look pretty good without engravings. I like to use something with sentimental value as menukis. I'm not sure yet about the same substitute or hiramaki but I'll come up with something. Thanks.
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Post by TheMu on May 14, 2014 10:00:35 GMT
Step 3: Hiramaki & Substitute Same
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Post by Kurimuzon on May 15, 2014 14:21:30 GMT
Looks pretty good so far. I really like the idea of engraving the menuki that you have there. Is it just me, or is the ito bending your menuki?
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Post by TheMu on May 15, 2014 19:44:05 GMT
Thanks Kurimuzon, Yeah, I wrapped the ito so tightly that the soft, thin copper menuki did bend a little. I'll fix it later when I'm finishing this project. Today my fuchi, kashira and tsuba arrived in mail. The design is mine but my father did the raw work. I'll give them the finishing touch later. Here's a few more pictures:
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on May 15, 2014 20:49:44 GMT
Damn that looks great. Wish I had your craftsman skills. I've made two tsuka for similar waki but both went to trash can as they were crap, I just can't work with wood... That first pic in your last post looks nice.
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Post by TheMu on May 17, 2014 12:50:37 GMT
Thanks. My wakizashi customization project is now ready! Actually I was going to do some details on tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menukis but unfortunately right now I don't have time for it... Also I have to leave the saya customization for later. All the pieces fit together properly now. I had to do a lot of filing and fitting. The metal of fuchi, kashira and tsuba is surprisingly tough to work on. I deliberately left tsuba, fuchi and kashira a little bit unfinished for now. I might work on them more later but right now I'm happy with them. The knot isn't traditional but it's neat and it does its job. I like this simple, small tsuba. I think it fits pretty well with the overall design. Here's a few more pictures of the finished wakizashi. It's comfortable to swing and it feels well balanced. I believe it's going to be a nice cutter. It's a little bit big for wakizashi and I consider this more like a ko-katana. I think this turned out really good considering this is my first complete customization project. I hope I have time some day to make the saya and finish the tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menukis the way I intended.
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Post by TheMu on May 24, 2014 13:12:31 GMT
I should be working, but my computer broke so I won't be working until it's fixed. That sucks big time. I should finish a couple of videos but what can I do... Meanwhile I decided to finish what I started with my Huawei waki this time properly and for good. I made a new hiramaki because the old ito ruptured during first practice with this sword. It was an old ito from Hanwei Liondog. I removed it from the Liondog because it also ruptured with it. Ito might have been rotten or something. It's partially synthetic so it's strange. Well anyway, I replaced it with a new thin cotton ito and lacquered it lightly. I filed some details to fuchi, kashira, tsuba and habaki. I also finished tsuba, fuchi and kashira with strong special black paint. I think they turned out nice. I customized the original Huawei saya. I glued it back together properly, sanded and waxed it and made a kurikata. Sageo is cotton. Now I think it is once and for all finished! Now I have to find something else to do to kill the time before I get my computer working again. sigh...
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