Aikidoka
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Monstrous monk in training...
Posts: 1,451
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Post by Aikidoka on Jan 25, 2018 20:14:46 GMT
In this cutting session, test cuts were performed with two custom Hira Zukuri katanas made by Sinosword and designed by Richard Arias. Richard did some Japanese tatami half mat cuts, then I performed cuts on Japanese and Mugen Dachi full tatami mat targets and multiple Mugen Dachi targets. Finally, we did some hard target test cutting on 7/8" poplar dowels.
The blades performed well, sustaining no edge damage. Only some superficial scratches. The tsuba on the second custom sword loosened during hard target test cutting. The first custom katana remained tight after all of the test cutting. I was impressed with its performance and have subsequently purchased this sword from Richard.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2018 21:36:10 GMT
Either you both have good form and or the blades are sharp and thick. You cut the mats and wood dowels cleanly with little effort. .....nice wide blades.
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Post by RaylonTheDemented on Jan 25, 2018 22:23:27 GMT
Oh, very nice. Besides obvious skill, that speaks well of the blades' quality, thank you for sharing.
o7
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Post by strigoil on Jan 26, 2018 0:50:31 GMT
Oh damn that is nice, I really was wanting to see how these cut when I saw him post them, congrats on the purchase and great video!
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Aikidoka
Member
Monstrous monk in training...
Posts: 1,451
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Post by Aikidoka on Jan 26, 2018 3:26:16 GMT
Thanks! Here is a close up of the blade on my Hira Zukuri katana after cutting the dowels, the edge still pristine. The folded T10 steel has some nice activity at the edge of the hamon.
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Post by zabazagobo on Jan 26, 2018 7:32:04 GMT
Very nice cutting display, the dowel cutting was pretty slick. Always enjoy your cutting videos.
Also, very nice technical control by Richard, those consecutive strikes on the dowel with such close proximity were fun to watch.
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Post by Richard Arias on Jan 26, 2018 9:38:41 GMT
Nah I was playing it to safe. My cutting lacked the "umph" I prefer to see. But my confidence has been shot the past few months. Phillip really saved the video looks wise.
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Post by zabazagobo on Jan 27, 2018 7:15:55 GMT
Nah I was playing it to safe. My cutting lacked the "umph" I prefer to see. But my confidence has been shot the past few months. Phillip really saved the video looks wise. You had some really good composure there when cutting the dowel, really liked the "make the most out of target" precision. "umph" is overrated, I'm more of a "ha-rumph" kind of guy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 17:16:53 GMT
Richard - What caused the tsuba on one sword to loosen? How will you fix it?
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Post by Richard Arias on Jan 27, 2018 23:08:49 GMT
Richard - What caused the tsuba on one sword to loosen? How will you fix it? Well it was pretty clear in the video and testing. The blade went through the Japanese and Mugen Dachi mats with little effort. But a hard target like the dowel has a resistance of its own above àny mat even dried. Poplar may be a soft wood but I would say it's a HARD target. So in the video when Phillip wiggles the tsuba that was when it first happened. I won't really do anything until much later. Right now it's just a wiggle (you can turn it with your fingers, but it doesn't make noise when swung) and as things progress it will be rattle where it makes noise all the time. But event that is just annoying and not a safety issue mostly. Drying of the wood since Sino doesn't used aged cured wood might have been a factor. In the time since both Blades had arrived the end knots got some play in them and the saya shrunk giving some floating but I love in Phoenix so it was bound to happen. A few drops of crazy glue in both sides of the knots made them super firm. I am shopping around for fittings for a new tsuka in 6months or a year. And then like a car the sword will get a tune up. Until then some scratches and wiggle is not much to worry about for a user blade.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2018 0:43:30 GMT
What I meant to ask is, what causes the tsuba to loosen from the shock of the hit? A defective part or misaligned part or not properly fitted part or can happen to any katana from hitting a hard target, etc.?
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Post by Richard Arias on Jan 28, 2018 1:33:34 GMT
What I meant to ask is, what causes the tsuba to loosen from the shock of the hit? A defective part or misaligned part or not properly fitted part or can happen to any katana from hitting a hard target, etc.? Well yes in most cases it's just because something isn't fitted perfectly. Ideally you would make a tsuba and cut the opening to have a firm friction fit on the tang against the Habaki. Now people shim openings to fit with various materials to "make it fit". In Sino's case I would say pressure was holding things tight and vibration created some play. But yes shock stress creates vibration and movement cases wear on the parts. The assembly of a lot of Japanese swords is a mesh of weaker material against harder. The metal tsuba from vibrating with extreme pressure against brass seppa, the brass Habaki moving against the sword the Mekugi getting chewed up by the Nakago... The list goes on. Swords are no different than people in the sense that you start beating on them and things can come undone :)
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