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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2009 3:08:24 GMT
I have never tried to make a scabbard for a katana. Pretty is nice, but like swords vs 'sword shaped objects', I prefer fuctional and durable to stylish and shiny.
I've been thinking of trying something with pvc piping, perhaps cut it long-ways to get two thinner peices I can seal together with epoxy to create a thin, strong sheath. Heat the piping to bend it, again long-ways, to fit the curvature of the blade?
Covering could be done with just about anything, so lets skip that unless someone has a really great idea above and beyond paint or wrapping. I'm really looking for any experience anyone may have with creating a katana scabbard from scratch, something that can take some abuse (the occasional rock or tree; think more camping and cutting and less sitting on a mantle).
Thanks for the ideas
-wolff
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2009 11:25:00 GMT
PVC is not such a good idea, stick to the originals- wood. You don't have to make it the traditional way, there are a lot of shortcuts that can get you nice results with less effort.
Take two rectangels of wood, draw the outline of the blade with the habaki on each, use a dremel with a coarse grinding head to grind yourself a grid for the blade, it doesn't even have to be that accurate. After you did so with the two pieces, glue them together with epoxy or other high-strength wood glue, cut out the shape you want for the saya, sand it, paint it, gloss it, or whatever you want. The only tricky part is shaping the koguchi so it'll fit the habaki tightly and not just fall away. You'll need a dry wood with low salt content for the task.
If you want it to be REALLY tough, you can make it a little thicker, and use a hard wood, like pine, which is dry and low on salt, EXTREMELY hard, but hard to work with. On the other hand, if you make a saya with it that is slightly thicker than the usual, you'll be able to bat rocks with it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2009 13:16:55 GMT
PVC is not such a good idea, stick to the originals- wood. You don't have to make it the traditional way, there are a lot of shortcuts that can get you nice results with less effort. Take two rectangels of wood, draw the outline of the blade with the habaki on each, use a dremel with a coarse grinding head to grind yourself a grid for the blade, it doesn't even have to be that accurate. After you did so with the two pieces, glue them together with epoxy or other high-strength wood glue, cut out the shape you want for the saya, sand it, paint it, gloss it, or whatever you want. The only tricky part is shaping the koguchi so it'll fit the habaki tightly and not just fall away. You'll need a dry wood with low salt content for the task. If you want it to be REALLY tough, you can make it a little thicker, and use a hard wood, like pine, which is dry and low on salt, EXTREMELY hard, but hard to work with. On the other hand, if you make a saya with it that is slightly thicker than the usual, you'll be able to bat rocks with it. If you use a trimmer(like a small router), it will speed the whole process up a little. Also I have been having issues with epoxy, as it has no 'give' if by chance the wood flexs. The best results I have got is a timber flooring adhesive called Ultraset. Used to glue timber-slat flooring together it sets as hard as god, but as flooring has an element of movement in it under weight, it will never open up or 'split'. Hasn't failed me yet. Pika007, 'Pine' is not a Hardwood mate it is a conifer so it is classed as a softwood. Some true hardwoods are very weighted and may feel a little too much when tucked in your belt. I believe Camellia wood is the best for it, if you can get it !
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2009 13:41:18 GMT
I totally got mixed with the trees..... I meant poplar, not pine. Either way, a harder type of wood would usually mean it's more dense, and thus heavier as well. I'm about to start a very similar project of my own during next week, so wildewolff- i'll let you know what types of equipment work best with which type of wood.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2009 14:27:44 GMT
Thanks for the ideas. Im not ignoring your advice, but Ill probably try both- wood and newer materials- just to see which works out better and to learn both. Ill let you know what kind of disaster a pvc+foam scabbard creates.
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