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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2009 13:49:48 GMT
I'm so tired of the standard black gloss sayas that comes with most production swords. They are soulless and boring, and in most cases the sword would actually look better as a whole with a little work put into customizing the saya. If you look at the sayas on old swords there seems to be thousands of variations, each made to complete the sword as an art object. I have made a few faint tries on customizing and got good results using 3-400 grit sandpaper and quality acrylic spraycan paint. Spray paint can be found in many colour variations, even with stone effect, raindrop effect and glitter. These are of course bleak copies of the craftmanship behind the japanese sayas, with urushi masters at work. I have plans of customizing sayas to fit the sword and give an overall better impression, but recreating the effects with modern paints and techniques instead of urushi (which would both be expensive and very work intensive). I have thought of using paint with different viscocity to be able to work in patterns and draw in the wet paint, but it seems most paints nowadays dries from the outside, making it difficult to work on a whole saya at once. I would appreciate if anyone who has customized their saya could explain the techniques they use, and any thoughts on saya customisation would be welcome. A kojiri is often a nice addition that increases the exclusiveness of the sword, but I have only found such at Lohmans and at Yamato Bugodu, and at prices that will mostly fit a high-end sword. Anyone know of others selling kojiris? I'll add a couple of pictures of saya paint jobs I have done just to get you started.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 13:37:05 GMT
Here are pictures of some production sayas for high end katanas:
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 16:44:48 GMT
I like your sense of taste as shown on the first two. The sageo choice matches the saya finish nicely.
Well done =).
Out of the lower ones you've shown, my preference is the one with same inlay for the first 6", although I prefer more same...around a foot or so. Even more than samegawa I like suede inlay, colored the same as the doe skin ito =D. That's my own personal choice though. Just gives a nice feel, good grip, and is something I've never seen done on anyone elses blade. Keep in mind I don't mean bright colors...more deep and dark hues, black, dark grey, navy, dark dark maroon...again with the same color ito. Just makes for a nice presentation I think =).
Anyhow, again...good work. Can't wait to see more!
Cris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 17:23:02 GMT
I like some of the saya I have seen that were painted by guys who do spray art on cars, one in particular was of a japanese lady in a kimono, it was beautiful.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 17:27:13 GMT
Thanks, I really appreciate it! I'm a total beginner in this too, first time I've actually got the hang of spray paint. Won't be anything more done until spring now as I have to do it outside, and it's damn cold here. I agree with you on your colour choices, bright colours are a little to much. Suede inlay sounds exiting and unusual, do you have any photos of this? I have actually thought of using skin of wolffish which has similar capabilities as samekawa, here's some used as bow backing and laquered: I'd like to explore the gold/silver flake/dust technique as I have plans to make a couple of sayas with this effect. Anyone who can tell me more about the technique? Is it just a matter of evenly sprinkling the glitter stuff and applying in as many layers as possible to get a depth effect?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 17:40:32 GMT
Thanks, I really appreciate it! I'm a total beginner in this too, first time I've actually got the hang of spray paint. Won't be anything more done until spring now as I have to do it outside, and it's damn cold here. I agree with you on your colour choices, bright colours are a little to much. Suede inlay sounds exiting and unusual, do you have any photos of this? I have actually thought of using skin of wolffish which has similar capabilities as samekawa, here's some used as bow backing and laquered: I'd like to explore the gold/silver flake/dust technique as I have plans to make a couple of sayas with this effect. Anyone who can tell me more about the technique? Is it just a matter of evenly sprinkling the glitter stuff and applying in as many layers as possible to get a depth effect? No, no photos. I only know how it works because I temporarily wrapped my PPK saya that way just to see (no inlay work, just an over wrap). The grip qualities are excellent, just right for noto etc, while not creating a lot of friction on the obi. That wolf fish skin looks a lot like some raw samegawa that was for sale in the classified section. Don't know if it's still available. I thought of picking it up myself due to the apparently good quality. I was just going to lacquer it though lol. Anyhow, like I said, definately keep us posted. I'm getting ready to pester a friend on how he does his five piece saya assemblies...so I may be in the finishing gig (at least for myself!) relatively soon as well =D. If I do, I'll let you know how the suede holds up over time. Oh, one other thing I forgot to mention...I like matching koiguchi and fuchi. Sometimes (if you're using production pieces) you can pick up oversized fuchi, then just rework them into koiguchi. Other times a standard size will work (this looks a lot nicer honestly)...but it's a tight fit and requires a lot of work as most production saya are HUGELY oversized lol. If you're making your own saya it works better. It also protects the hand some during drawing practice. Just another thought I figured you might want to run with =D. Cris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 18:04:53 GMT
I would love to do someone do a marble rendered saya, it isn't really that hard to do it either though, if you are interested I will find you a tutorial for painting marble.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jan 13, 2009 18:30:27 GMT
Nice bow! I am also a bowyer (formerly)....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 0:37:39 GMT
I just stole the image to show the wolf fish skin, but I have been making a few bows, yes. My last bow broke some years ago, so now I borrow my daughters carbonfiber bow when I get the urge to kill some cardboard warriors. Very good tip using fuchis as koiguchis, but they have to be big to fit my sayas. As you say, most production sayas are quite beefy. I tried making a copper kojiri, but it now looks more like a club than a saya. Here is by the way a map with samples of the japanese traditional colours, with japanese names and RGB settings. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_colors_of_Japan#HistoryMay be useful if one wants to use traditional colours, and for designing sayas using drawing software. Seems like there was 13 different black colours, all with their own name. Impressive!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 0:39:46 GMT
I would love to do someone do a marble rendered saya, it isn't really that hard to do it either though, if you are interested I will find you a tutorial for painting marble. Yes, please!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 1:45:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2009 19:41:00 GMT
how to put fuchi into kojiri?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2009 21:09:18 GMT
I wouldn't do it. The fuchi has a hole in it, and won't be very nice at the end of the saya.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2009 22:42:48 GMT
I wouldn't do it. The fuchi has a hole in it, and won't be very nice at the end of the saya. Agreed, unless he meant koiguchi?? Cris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 14:48:32 GMT
ahhh sorry wrong word. yes koiguchi. and what do you guys think about using snake skin as replacement for same in tsukasame and sayasame?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 17:58:26 GMT
ahhh sorry wrong word. yes koiguchi. and what do you guys think about using snake skin as replacement for same in tsukasame and sayasame? I think it's a matter of personal preferance. I mean...if you like snakeskin go for it =). My wifes aunt would kill for one with leapord print...but of course that's not for everyone lol. For myself...I've somewhat finalized my saya design I think, as well as the theme for most of the fittings on the blade. If I ever get around to making it, I think you guys will like it =). Cris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 21:27:49 GMT
Bring it on, Cris! Snakeskin would be cool, but the rest of the fittings would have to match. I'm aching for spring as I have to do the paintjobs outside, and now it's full winter... I have designs ready for four-five sayas. Nothing exeptional, but it looks nice inside my head.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 0:49:45 GMT
I made a drawing of a sword in Paint which makes me able to change the colours of ito, saya and sageo simply with the filler tool. Sat down and made some saya designs for my swords: No1: Midori green ito and sageo, copper fittings. I'm gonna use a glitter spray paint which looks just like mother-of -pearl crush on a black base. Several layers of clear gloss on top to cover the glitter flakes. No2: Handachi mounts in patinated copper, army green ito and bloodred blackspotted sageo. First I'm gonna spray a base layer of kurenai red metallic base paint. Then a thick black acrylic paint will be applied and sponged. Glossy topcoat, or perhaps a matte clear topcoat if I like the activity in the black paint. No3: Blue ito, blue spotted sageo, copper fittings. The upper third of the saya will be sprayed with granite spray paint in black and light blue. Sanded down and given some coats of matte clear paint. Bottom part will be kept glossy. No4: I have a daisho in Musashi design I would like to customize further with better fittings and ito. Sayas will be finished with ribbed looks by filing out rings, some layers of black paint and then glossy topcoat. Would love to have light orange sageos on these actually, but I haven't seen any in exactly the colour I want.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 4:36:20 GMT
This one is much like mine. The main differences are the blue speckled area on yours will be dark navy (midnight) suede on mine (opposite angled design). Then, a polished black spacer for 2" or so (ending in an angle)...then the remainder of the saya will be midnight blue dyed burl of some sort. The ito will be the same blue suede, with the sageo being either black and blue, similar to yours, or if I can find a dark enough blue silk to match the leather...that color. Cris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 7:54:29 GMT
Or! Better yet!! Using your sword template, and a rough 5min photoshop modification.... Again, the blue speckle is suede, ito is doeskin, fittings silvered, and saya blue dyed burl with perhaps ebony for the chevron style spacer between the suede and burl. =D Cris
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