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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 15, 2014 10:46:57 GMT
What is your preferred wrap material for a katana that you use for cutting? 1. Cotton 2. Silk 3. Leather 4. Tsunami (Lohman's) 5. Synthetic Silk
And if you choose silk or cotton do you laqeour it for durability? I am asking, as I plan to have one of my nicest blades done up by Randy Black in the near future (a Paul Chen 47 Ronin) and was thinking of using Lohman's tsunami, but I have cutters with both cotton and silk, and like them both as well. What do you like? Cheers, Cody
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Jul 15, 2014 11:03:35 GMT
I like Japanese Cotton, Unlacquered.
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Post by Matthew.Jensen on Jul 15, 2014 12:52:18 GMT
I like the tsunami ito, especially for a user blade. I have bought some blades second hand that have seen a lot of use and it holds up well and seems to clean up well enough. I would not call it easy to clean but it is at least possible LOL. I also like the way it feels in my hands. It is easy to hold onto and very comfortable to use. Also, Randy does a bang up job working with it. I have had three blades wrapped in tsunami ito and I am happy with all the results.
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Post by Dr. Whom on Jul 15, 2014 14:00:47 GMT
I am also a huge fan of the Tsunami ito...I prefer Nubuck, leather, suede ito and this has the same feel with added durability. It is also available in a wide range of colors.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Jul 15, 2014 14:03:20 GMT
I'm with Mathew. For a user sword... I have found the tsunami ito to be the most comfortable, the most 'grippy'. It feels good in hand, doesn't get funky when your hands get sweaty. Good stuff.
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Post by Novice_Surgery on Jul 15, 2014 15:38:10 GMT
Lacquered Japanese cotton for me. Very grippy and soft on the hand.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Jul 15, 2014 17:30:10 GMT
For a cutting sword, I agree with Novice_Surgery... lacquered cotton ito comes in first, then lacquered silk (even though it is tougher on the hands).
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Post by etiennehamel on Jul 15, 2014 18:26:02 GMT
i like lacquered cotton ito a lot too. my kaneie has this and it's really nice for grip
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Post by johnwalter on Jul 15, 2014 18:46:11 GMT
Laqcuered Japanese cotton.Not the shoelacey Chinese stuff. Second would be a good Japanese silk laqcuered. I like Tsunami alot,it is comfortable,but with chakin shibori it wears and gets alittle smooth.
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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 15, 2014 22:13:40 GMT
That's a good tip jw. Man I wish someone would do a 10 min video explaining shibori and how to do it correctly cutting every direction ect and upload it to their YouTube channel ;-) I can do it ok cutting diagonally from righ to left downwards...but that's it.
Anyways, yea I am still unsure on what to decide upon, so yall guys keep em coming. And does anyone have a few inches of the Battleship Grey tsunami? I can pay for shipping. Cheers guys, Cody
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 22:39:14 GMT
I haven't tried a lacquered ito, I am curious about it. So far I have tried silk, cotton, suede, leather, and tsunami. Silk is significantly more pleasant to use than any of the others that I've come across.
When you start getting into really subtle areas, the difference between trying to learn from general videos and getting out there with someone who knows their stuff really start to become apparent. "Correctly cutting" is so subjective, its going to vary from one tradition to another once you get past the surface level stuff. The position of your hands prior to the draw / cut, the contact points before during and after, whether the grip changes and if so when, nuances between single handed and two handed actions... you can get really technical, and so much of it is contextual.
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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 15, 2014 23:21:08 GMT
Very true. But hearing how someone does it with a demonstration can go a long way on something "clicking" by the viewer to try this or that, albiet not the exact same maybe. This is especially helpful for people that can't afford to have a pro trainer, or access to such either. I will keep trying, don't get me wrong, and if I bend a blade I bend a blade, in the long run it'll pay off. Cheers, Cody
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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 16, 2014 0:15:54 GMT
Hello FtB or any other tsukimaki guys, I have another question; If I have my tsuka done in tsunami, then decide to change it to silk/cotton later, will the kashira have to be refitted due to the different widths of the strand? Like maybe shortened a few mm or something?
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Post by frankthebunny on Jul 16, 2014 2:20:56 GMT
The short answer is: yes. The long answer is: the distance of the kashira from the fuchi will depend on the width of the ito used. When this is calculated correctly, the end knots will wind up on the correct sides and the ito will end without a gap or doubling up near the kashira rim. When this is not calculated correctly, the end knots will wind up on the wrong sides and/or the wrap will end on a half width resulting in either a gap from the ito to the rim of the kashira or the ito doubling up and wrapping over itself. This is seen on many production tsuka because the manufacturers either don't know how to do this correctly or don't care. In most cases, even on pricey production pieces, the end knots coming out correctly and the ito ending neatly is purely by luck. My choice for the best user ito is premium Japanese silk that is lacquered correctly. In my opinion there is nothing stronger or that wears better. Well done tsukamaki including properly utilizing hishigami and proper prep and technique, using silk ito is the most durable you can get. The way I add lacquer, the surface still feels the same but the ito and folds become stiffer and stronger. I see a lot of people add too much lacquer and it makes the surface feel like plastic which imho is not so comfortable to use. Tsunami ito might feel soft for a while but the fuzzy layer is very thin and will wear out much faster than good silk. From a tsukamaki-shi standpoint, tsunami isn't the most versatile ito and makes some techniques and styles difficult. I actually wrote a little post on tsunami itoCotton in my opinion is not nearly as durable or comfortable as premium silk and it does stretch more than silk. I have wrapped tsuka in just about every type of available ito and for comfort, aesthetics, strength, and durability, I will always suggest Japanese silk every time for the best overall tsuka-ito.
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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 16, 2014 3:27:20 GMT
Thanks for the info and your pov. Is the whitesh tsuka wrap Lohman's battleship grey in your post? Cody
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Post by frankthebunny on Jul 16, 2014 15:07:09 GMT
Yep, that one is Battleship Grey over purple dyed samegawa
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Post by Bryan Heff on Jul 16, 2014 15:12:38 GMT
Here is my favorite Ito. Sorry...I couldn't resist..... I'll be here all week...don't forget to tip your waiter.
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Post by VicoSprite on Jul 17, 2014 3:07:14 GMT
Lol.
FtB, so you would say that it's a very light grey?
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slav
Senior Forumite
Posts: 818
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Post by slav on Jul 17, 2014 3:50:34 GMT
Epoxy-soaked cotton for a cutter. Silk for a really nice show piece or traditional blade.
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Post by frankthebunny on Jul 17, 2014 5:14:01 GMT
I suppose. In different light it can appear blueish white or sometimes dull white as well as a standard grey. The pic from my website is compressed so it might be off a bit. Here are a couple of pics in different lighting Attachments:
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