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Post by karmasoft on May 3, 2021 17:16:27 GMT
Five years ago when I was just starting my collection hobby I decided to make a wall rack. It is a simple design of walnut joined by dowels with the Rampant Lion Sword Hangers you can get on Amazon. I spaced the hangers 16" apart which works well for arming swords and shorter. Longer swords get a bit tipsy. When I bought the materials, I bought enough walnut to make a second rack. Now that my collection includes some longswords and bastards, I'm thinking that the hangers on the second rack should be spaced farther apart. What is the gap distance others have used for their longsword racks? In anticipation of making rack #2, yesterday I relocated rack #1 behind the door in my office. Amazingly, the door actually opens to the doorstop.
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Post by paulmuaddib on May 3, 2021 22:12:52 GMT
Looks good. I like the efficient use of space too. Looked at the first picture and thought what kind of crazy collection doesn’t have a katana in it. Then saw it in the second pic in the trash can. I mean the umbrella stand. Haha. Good job and I’ve always been partial to walnut. One of my favorite woods.
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Post by karmasoft on May 4, 2021 19:50:14 GMT
Thanks for the note. Since posting on this forum I learned my katana is a Mall Ninja so its been demoted accordingly.
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Post by paulmuaddib on May 4, 2021 20:47:03 GMT
Hard to tell but it does look like a fake same and the saya looks like it has a metal flake finish. I’ve seen that finish on some nicer swords but I don’t care for it. Yeah, we all get a dud every once in a while, especially early in our collecting.
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Post by pellius on May 4, 2021 23:27:55 GMT
Nice collection! Needing to add another sword rack is a great thing.
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Post by karmasoft on May 5, 2021 19:56:55 GMT
Could not agree more pellius! A good problem to have. I'm thinking of a 24" gap between holders for the longsword rack.
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Post by karmasoft on Aug 15, 2021 17:26:46 GMT
I finally got around to researching or measuring POB on the longswords I have, or want to have. I now think a 24" gap between holders would be too wide. Doesn't it make sense that if most of the weight is in the hilt, to use more of the blade for balance? Based on this premise, and given the arming sword rack I pictured above has 16" between the holders, I'm going to design the longsword rack with an 18" gap. Design shown below...
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Post by karmasoft on Sept 12, 2021 20:49:23 GMT
I finally finished it. That wood had been reminding me for years of how much of a procrastinator I am. I wound up sticking with my original hunch that a wider gap would be better for longer swords, so spaced the hangers 22" apart with an overall width of 24". I deviated from my previous post's design, and used walnut dowels edge to edge. This allowed me to toss my crappy harbor freight dowel jig and buy a dowel-it. Throwing money away on tools I'll only use once is a particular specialty of mine. Like the arming sword rack, this rack is designed to hang from simple drywall picture hangers - used the beefy ones rated at 75 lbs. I used a spacer to provide a bit more wall clearance for crossguards, and a bumper at the bottom so the rack hangs securely and straight. Also, I built-in eight pairs of hangers instead of seven, for reasons which are probably obvious to members of this forum. Speaking of... without the learnings I've discovered herein, along with the marketplace and participation of other enthusiasts, I would have never continued a hobby that I really enjoy. Anyway, here are some pictures...
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Post by joe_meadmaker on Sept 14, 2021 1:42:30 GMT
That looks really good man!
I'm curious about the hangers though. They look like they're metal. With some of your swords sitting with the edge against the hanger, do you have anything in there for padding or a buffer?
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Post by paulmuaddib on Sept 14, 2021 12:09:45 GMT
Looks good karma. Really like the way the swords look in it. Simple and doesn’t take attention away from the swords. Might I suggest getting some paint to paint the screw heads of the hangers. You could probably find some model paint that will closely match. Again, really like it.
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Post by karmasoft on Sept 14, 2021 18:08:58 GMT
Thanks Joe and Paul. Great comments, and allow me to indulge a detailed response. I've been thinking a lot about these sword hangers. The ones I purchased five years ago for the first rack were really nice. I didn't notice until I had installed most of the new ones on the second rack, that they weren't as nice. A guy on Amazon commented on it too. Bleh - see pics... The first lot I received in 2016 had the rampant lion embossed into the hanger. The second lot I received has the rampant lion glued onto the hanger. Functionally makes no difference, but the aesthetic is not as nice. Before I finished the second rack on Sunday I began googling stuff and found this dude's video -- . Its amazing how a stacked workshop of tools opens a person's perspective on what is possible. My workshop consists of a Worx folding bench, a Japanese saw, a hand sander and a ruler. That pretty much explains the outcome of his rack vs mine. Joe, the metal on metal thought has bugged me for a while. I bought some 3M felt pads but they are crappy. I left the A&A rapier, without scabbard, hanging on them for years without a problem. I'm careful about placing the swords though. Paul, I like the idea of adding a bit of bling. Not enough to take away from the simplicity, but yeah - something. Maybe the glued lion discovery is a blessing in disguise... might motivate me to color the screws like you thought, or replace the hangers with wood ones, to Joe's point. On a related note, when the wife walked in and saw this... she said, "Really? Are we done buying swords now?"
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Post by paulmuaddib on Sept 14, 2021 18:56:19 GMT
I noticed in your first hangers the screws are the same color as the hangers and are round headed. I think those look better than the flat head ones with your new rack. Personally I would switch them over to round. Just would look better IMO.
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Post by joe_meadmaker on Sept 14, 2021 20:54:46 GMT
On a related note, when the wife walked in and saw this... she said, "Really? Are we done buying swords now?" To which you no doubt replied, "My dear, you've obviously not noticed the empty slot at the top of the rack."
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Post by karmasoft on Sept 14, 2021 23:51:15 GMT
On a related note, when the wife walked in and saw this... she said, "Really? Are we done buying swords now?" To which you no doubt replied, "My dear, you've obviously not noticed the empty slot at the top of the rack." That's exactly how it played out! Paul - agree on the rounded screws.
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Post by Arlequin on Sept 19, 2021 22:58:33 GMT
This post has given me the urge to put all my mall ninjas blades on an overly elaborate and expensive handmade stand and my VAs and A&As in the "umbrella" chute I picked up from goodwill
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