|
Post by Anankai on Nov 16, 2014 0:07:48 GMT
I just wanted some tips on how the loose tsuba on my katana should be corrected. Do someone have the proper method to correct this issue? Maybe it is already addressed somewhere on the forum? Loose tsuba photo: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by frankthebunny on Nov 16, 2014 0:14:01 GMT
Does this tsuba already have sekigane, is it valuable/antique? how loose is it, a lot or just a little bit?
|
|
|
Post by Anankai on Nov 16, 2014 2:57:13 GMT
Sekigane? Guessing it's those copper pieces used to kinda shim the tsuba? If so then no, it's just a cheap alloy tsuba but I want it to be well fitted to the nakago. Can you see the picture I put in attachment? We can see the gaps around the nakago. The biggest gaps are on the top and bottom parts. On the sides it's lesser but still gaping.
|
|
|
Post by frankthebunny on Nov 16, 2014 7:08:19 GMT
Oh, I guess I'm seeing something under the tsuba, possibly the seppa? It made it look like there was form fitted sekigane. You can either punch the edges of the nakago ana to force the metal closer for a tight fit or you could fill the gaps with an epoxy for a more customized fit. If the tsuba is made of a brittle alloy you might not want to punch it as it may crack instead of bend. I have a step by step tutorial for making epoxy sekigane on my website if you need it.
|
|
|
Post by Anankai on Nov 16, 2014 14:57:40 GMT
Yep that's it, it's the copper seppa we see under the tsuba, and that might have confused you. That's what I thought about punching this alloy tsuba, that it might not be the best solution, as I did not know how it would react. Thinking maybe it was going to crack. Do you think I can make sekigane with a piece of copper pipe. I thought I could cut a ring out of the pipe and flatten it with a hammer, and then form it to fill the gaps in the nakago-ana. I'm guessing the use of copper for sekigane is because of the malleability of this metal?
|
|
|
Post by LG Martial Arts on Nov 16, 2014 17:08:35 GMT
If you do use copper, be aware that you're going to have to anneal the copper as you hammer it since copper is work hardened - the more you hammer, the harder it gets. If I were you, I'd use Josh's (Frankthebunny') epoxy/JB Weld method (very easy to do), or alternately, you can use copper like MKR did in his short tuorial www.sword-buyers-guide.com/fix-loose-tsuba.html
|
|
|
Post by frankthebunny on Nov 16, 2014 17:20:26 GMT
Yes copper can be used but there are a couple of things that make this difficult. Copper needs to be annealed in order for it to be malleable and the more it's hammered, the more it hardens again. So to work with it effectively you'd need a heat source such as a blowtorch. You can prevent the tsuba from wiggling by shoving pieces of copper in the gaps but this will only hold until the next time you disassemble the tsuka. When inserting sekigane properly you would need to create a space for pieces of copper to be securely fixed at the top and bottom of the nakago ana (don't need any at the sides) but to do this you would need to cut away some material from the tsuba using a jewelers saw or a file. You would then cut some copper in a matching shape and once inserted, they would be hammered around the edges to lock them into place. Once done they can then be filed to fit the edge and spine of the nakago perfectly.
This is a lot of trouble to go through for an inexpensive tsuba/sword and is why I personally use an epoxy substitute for this.
edit - lol, LG got to it first
|
|
|
Post by LG Martial Arts on Nov 16, 2014 18:45:46 GMT
You snooze, you lose :lol:
Like I said though, I personally would use Josh's method - easier to do and better imho since you're using it on an alloy tsuba.
|
|
|
Post by Anankai on Nov 16, 2014 21:54:15 GMT
Ok thank you Josh for those informations! Also thanks LG for showing me the tutorial. Since I have a blow torch and copper and everything I need, I'll try to go with copper sekigane solution. But like you said Josh, it's a bit of work just for a cheap tsuba... Perhaps I'll be tempted to buy a nicer iron tsuba and then make sekigana for it. Do you know good places to buy quality but not super expensive tsuba?
|
|