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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:01:57 GMT
Specifically, with my 12th Century Medieval Sword that I bought a couple months ago. When I first got the sword, the scabbard fit a bit too snugly, but after I worked the sword in and out of the scabbard a dozen times or so, it seemed to fit just right. I figured maybe there was a little sliver of wood that needed to be dislodged or something (though nothing came out when I shhook it afterwards). I have been keeping the sword in the closet with a coating of oil (between cutting sessions) and the scabbard stashed under the bed, to be used mainly for transportation purposes. Anyhoo, fast forward a couple months. Yesterday, I went to put the sword in the scabbard to take it over to a buddy's house, and the sword would only go in part way. The sword goes in until about 3" of blade are sticking out and then it just locks up and won't go any further. The blade isn't hooking up near the throat of the scabbard (I can visually see plenty of room there). It appears to be happening lower down inside the scabbard. Before anyone asks, I have not cut any hard targets with this sword, and there are no bends and no edge damage (those were my first thoughts, but no...). I'm thinking pehaps the wood soaked up some moisture (though it's extremely dry here) and expanded inside a little since I didn't have the sword in it to maintain its shape. Any ideas, suggestions, etc.? I can force it in about another half inch beyond this, but it takes two people to get it back out...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:21:59 GMT
Could it have been the oil itself that you were coating the blade with that has impregnated the scabbard and caused the wood to swell slightly? I never use oil on my blades, I've been using Renaissance Wax; www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.htmlGreat stuff, I use it on everything that I want to protect. You might try leaving the scabbard outside (assuming a warm sunny day) and see if the heat expands the scabbard enough to fully seat the sword. Or, I may be completely talking out my backside and have no clue. -John
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:37:46 GMT
I may try leaving it out for an afternoon when the weather heats up a few more degrees. As to the oil, that wouldn't be it, since I haven't had the sword in the scabbard almost since I got it. I have looked into it with a flashlight, but I don't see anything unusual looking.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:51:00 GMT
You might also try coating the blade with something that would rub off in the area of the scabbard where its tight. This would give you a better idea where the interference is. djg Ah, Grasshopper, a stellar idea! I should have thought of that sooner. I'll give that a try in the next couple days. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 20:29:18 GMT
You might also try coating the blade with something that would rub off in the area of the scabbard where its tight. This would give you a better idea where the interference is. djg Ah, Grasshopper, a stellar idea! I should have thought of that sooner. I'll give that a try in the next couple days. Thanks. What it is is this, the scabbard has dried out and shrunk on the inside. Coat the blade real good and let it set for a while. Re-coat again and try to slide further. Keep doing this until you get it near the hilt as it should be and then force a little. Every so often the wood needs to soak up oils so as not to dry out. Let me know what happens.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 22:36:26 GMT
I had expericanced with with the original Black Prince one year ago. The original one had a wider blade similar to the 12 century. I wanted to go to an event that day and wear that sword so I needed a quick fix. My blade was catching near the top about 6 inches in. I used loose hacksaw blades to eat away the edges on the inside of the scarbbard and then pured oil in there.
I just tried that now a year later. Its tight again. I guess I might need to put some more oil in there. Its hard finding the right balance between too loose and too tight.
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Post by rammstein on Mar 6, 2007 22:52:29 GMT
this is an interesting topic for me, because I'm going to start building my scabbard soon. Is there any way to stop the wood from shrinking? Does shrunken wood have less structural durability than normal, nutrient-rich wood does? If not, then why not just buy pre-shrunk wood? YOu wouldn't need to worry about it contracting and the blade could fit perfectly with no worry of core failure.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 3:11:26 GMT
I slathered the blade with mineral oil and inserted it as far as I could into the scabbard, then I stashed it in the closet to give it a chance to soak. I'll keep trying this for a while and see what happens. What you want to get ahold of, Rammstein, is stabilized wood, wood that's been impregnated with polymer resin so it neither shrinks nor expands. If you go that route, you'll want to wear a respirator when cutting and sanding, as polymer dust tends to be unfriendly when inhaled.
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Post by rammstein on Mar 7, 2007 3:16:49 GMT
stabilized poplar DOES exist, no? pssh, I inhaled half a bottle of acetone last night (no I'm not a druggy, it was from trying to remove lacquer from the chape from my sword of war that I'll use for my new scabbard ). Stabilized wood should be no problem
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 3:27:08 GMT
I'm sure stabilized poplar is available. I have no idea where to find large pieces of stabilized wood, so if you or anyone else finds a source, I'd like to know.
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Post by rammstein on Mar 9, 2007 3:45:43 GMT
you know come to think of it, I DON"T think that stabilized polar will have good reprecussions on the sword. Probably safer to get normal poplar and save the trouble of a radioactive, megolomaniac sword blade that's been contaminated by unbeknownst chemicals.. Swords will NOT conquer the world by themselves, someone has to be holding them ;D.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2007 22:08:46 GMT
UPDATE: I've been trying CLyde's method described above and it seems to be working. I've got it now so that there's only about 3/4" of blade sticking out and I can draw the blade easily. Another week or so and the blade should go all the way in. I will update again at that time. Thanks for the advice, Clyde.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2007 11:21:46 GMT
Nice going, Schwert!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2007 4:04:41 GMT
Now ya tell me...if my scabbard gets all mushy, I'm blamin' you... ;D I don't think I'll have a problem, though. I used maybe a tablespoon of oil, total, over the entire time, so it's not like I just poured it in. The sword is all the way in now, btw, though it's still a little snug when fully inserted. It gets easier by the week, though. Patience is definitely a virtue in this case.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2007 20:54:13 GMT
Now ya tell me...if my scabbard gets all mushy, I'm blamin' you... ;D I don't think I'll have a problem, though. I used maybe a tablespoon of oil, total, over the entire time, so it's not like I just poured it in. The sword is all the way in now, btw, though it's still a little snug when fully inserted. It gets easier by the week, though. Patience is definitely a virtue in this case. Yes daily work it in and out. But do not apply any more oil, just the occasional PM stuff. Please let us know how it does.
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