Tsuba

[Stixjimbo]

Hi

I have seen these Tsuba (bokken) on a Korean website, but the postage makes it a bit prohibitive for me to order one (from UK). Does anyone know if they are available in UK, Nine Circles don't sell them. I'm not too sure if I really want one but I am thinking about it, it will make my bokken a bit more individual.

http://www.kendoshop.com/Eng/index.php?channel=list&cate=103101000

Cheers all

Jim

[ScottUK]

They're pretty nasty, IMHO...

[Stixjimbo]

I know they aint that great, but I dont really like the plastic one that came with the Bokken. I might try and knock one up out of a spare bit of Walnut wood that i've got in the garage.

[ScottUK]

The bokuto that come with a wooden tsuba are nice. Is it for kendo kata or iai?

[Stixjimbo]

It is for Kendo Kata, I am gearing myself up to make the wooden one now, i'll see how it goes :grin:

[Neil Gendzwill]

See a nice leather one here (http://www.bogubag.com/Swords/Bokutoh_tsuba/bokutoh_tsuba_L.jpg), number 32-128. I believe it's $US30.

[splice]

Kim Taylor's SDK Supplies (http://www.sdksupplies.com/cat_furtsuba.htm) has a whole range of leather and fur tsuba at great prices. A similar tsuba to what Neil was linking to would cost you $25CAD for 2 (or $35 CAD for 3). There are other, thicker designs at good prices, including machine-stitched leather tsuba for $28 CAD.

Of course, there's also the fur tsuba; they're just pimp.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I've seen Kim's, they are softer than the hardened ones you typically get from Japanese suppliers. Still a great deal, but not apples and apples.

[Stixjimbo]

Well, I made the wooden one. I think it looks pretty good (well I would wouldn't I!!!)
Anyway here is a pic, what do you think?

It is Walnut finished with 'Devon Oil' (a wood oil)

Cheers,

Jim

279

PS - how do I just put the picture into the message without making it an attachment??

[ScottUK]

very nice - you do that since your last post? :)

[Paikea]

PS - how do I just put the picture into the message without making it an attachment??You can't...fine tsuba though! If I may beg for a tip, how do you size the hole properly, do you just fit a plastic tsuba and then trace or do you have some other way?

[Stixjimbo]

I marked my old plastic tsuba on the wood, traced around it (only for rough outline of outside edge) and traced the inside hole, marked the shape I wanted for the outside, roughly cut it out, 'sanded' the outside with my bench grinder (it stank as the grinder is for metal tools ... lol) then drilled holes round the inside hole and chiselled out the shape I marked out. Then sanded it all down, made the indents with the good old bench grinder and oiled it ... et, viola!

Glad you like it

Jim

by the way, its about 1/4" thick ('ish)

[Stixjimbo]

very nice - you do that since your last post? :)


Yeah, I am a carpenter by trade so it didnt take too long. I might make a load and stick 'em on ebay! lol

Jim

[Paikea]

I marked my old plastic tsuba on the wood, traced around it (only for rough outline of outside edge) and traced the inside hole, marked the shape I wanted for the outside, roughly cut it out, 'sanded' the outside with my bench grinder (it stank as the grinder is for metal tools ... lol) then drilled holes round the inside hole and chiselled out the shape I marked out. Then sanded it all down, made the indents with the good old bench grinder and oiled it ... et, viola!
From what I can tell, it's fitted very nicely. That seems to be the best way, the tracing of plastic bit. Every bokutoh I make is just a bit different, so tsubas have to be fitted individually. Nice job...

[Stixjimbo]

From what I can tell, it's fitted very nicely. That seems to be the best way, the tracing of plastic bit. Every bokutoh I make is just a bit different, so tsubas have to be fitted individually. Nice job...


I am toying with the idea of making a bokuto, i'll have to sharpen up the old spoke shave though! I have a really good hardwood suppliers quite close to me and they sell offcuts pretty cheap so I reckon that may be my next project.:laugh:

Jim

[Maro]

Nice work!

[GreenArrow]

I am toying with the idea of making a bokuto, i'll have to sharpen up the old spoke shave though! I have a really good hardwood suppliers quite close to me and they sell offcuts pretty cheap so I reckon that may be my next project.:laugh:

Jim

Jim, you say you are in Devon- have you used Yandles in Martock in Somerset? They have lots of good wood at decent prices, an extensive self-selection centre. They also to turning spindles for the small scale things- can get a tanto from most sizes of spindle, if you are a carpenter, you MUST have heard of Yandles- great place, I can lose all day there!

A decent OLD spokeshave is good for bokken-making, along with a (sharp, tuned)No. 4 plane and a bandsaw to cut the blank.

I use a purpleheart bokken- the favourite that I made- but you might find ash or rockmaple a good start, it's usually inexpensive.

I've stocks of African Paduak, Pau Rosa, Pau Amarello, Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Yew and others for making longbows and bokkens, but I still like my purpleheart bokken the best.

From a bowyer's perspective, I'd also say avoid Wenge and Ebony initially uinless you really want a hard time!

Good luck with it.

TGD.

[Ignatz]

Pay attention here guys, a kendo playing female that knows how to use hand tools. Awesome.

[GreenArrow]

Pay attention here guys, a kendo playing female that knows how to use hand tools. Awesome.

Morning Ignatz, on form I see.

I also shoot a bow (FITA target archery)... and I'm accurate up to at least 80 yds :D

(Well, with my recurve or compound anyway. The long-bow just isn't accurate. Period.)

As I said to a certain annoying child one day, "just remember kid; you may be able to run faster, but I can shoot straighter..."

Want to play some-more...?:wink:

TGD.

[Stixjimbo]

J
A decent OLD spokeshave is good for bokken-making, along with a (sharp, tuned)No. 4 plane and a bandsaw to cut the blank.

TGD.

Thanks for the advice, I was gonna use Ebony, but as you say it would be very hard work!!
I have got myself a nice lump of Ash, it has a fantastic grain pattern and the grain runs in an almost perfect curve for the weapon. I have made a start, but I don't want to rush it, considering this is my first time making a bokken.

Once it's finished i'll post some pictures (if I consider it to be good enough :wink: )

anyway, i'll get back to it now I think
Jim

[GreenArrow]

Be nice to see it when it's done. Ash is a nice wood to work with.

The bokken I use is made the one I made from purpleheart, the balance is nice- the denser wood gives a different balance.

Once you rough it out, as you take it down, keep trying the balance- you'll find a point where it feels right for you. You can also shape the oval of the handle to a proile you like...

Some thoughts on the finishing. I use mainly edged tools- plane, spokeshave than scrapers, with minimal sanding. An old bowyers trick is then to dampen the final sanded piece, once it is dry the nap of the wood is raised- this is then fine-sanded again and then bone-polished.

Not sure how many carpenters do that, but it gives a really good finish. I then polish with Tung oil- smells nicer than linseed, dries quick and is non-toxic. Oil finish means your sticky hands don't slide around in use. Axminster and Yandles both sell Tung oil.

I'll have to remember to take some pics of my purpleheart baby.

One more thing- might be wise to get the OK from your sensai/dojo leader before you use it the first time:wink:

Just a thought- have you sussed out the thing about lining up the grain when you make it?

[Stixjimbo]

Just a thought- have you sussed out the thing about lining up the grain when you make it?


yeah, the grain runs along the shape that I have cut out, I am taking time with it. Thanks for the advice on wetting it, never thought of that one.

I'll post a pic when its done, it should look good with the walnut tsuba fitted (may even make a new one for it ... lol) :)

Jim

[GreenArrow]

Hi Jim,

My favourite tsuba is made not from wood but Cuir Boilee

That's literally "boiled leather."

Basically you get leather, MUST be natural veg-tan, soak it in water, apply heat and let dry. If you get it right, it's hardened but not too brittle... if you get it right. If you overcook it, it can go like glass

My best results are wetting for 10 seconds then using a steam iron so I can control heat level... cool in a press. Trim while warm and damp, press until dry.

Take 3 pieces, laminate with hide glue (well, I use 1 part fish to 5 parts hide, makes it a bit flexible). Thank goodness for my electric gluepot...

Press until dry.

Sand edges and centre hole.

The process leaves a nice mottled surface on the flesh side of the leather, and a rich brown on the hair side. It's very strong but light and with a slight flex. Cuir Boilee was used for makign not just armour but also things like bottles in "olden times" the re-enactment guys have quite a lot of info if you feel like being adventurous...

Water buffalo horn is good too, just watch fingers when leveling off on belt sander, skin sands off much quicker than horn levels (don't ask me how I know, trust me, it hurts!).

I found the horn and cuir boilee look much better than wood for tsubas... cuir boilee is the best... just expect to take a few tries to get it right!

Leather: try Le Prevo Leathers. Horn: the Highland Horn Co (stick the names in Google, pages from UK- you'll find them).

I'll have to get that camera out and post a pic or two...

[splice]

My favourite tsuba is made not from wood but Cuir Boilee

That's literally "boiled leather."

I know nothing about all this fancy schmancy crafts stuff, but since I'm french: that should be "Cuir Bouilli" :)

[Ignatz]

I make a nasty creme brulee, not good for tsubas but yummy.:D

[GreenArrow]

I know nothing about all this fancy schmancy crafts stuff, but since I'm french: that should be "Cuir Bouilli" :)

Probably if it was modern French- but is was actually old Norman French in those days, before being morphed into what we now speak as English and I don't believe we standardised spelling until the past couple of hundred years ago...

You'll find several spellings in the re-enactor sites and even in medieval sources (see Chaucer for an idea of their idea of spelling), if you want to go argue with guys who play with broadswords, longbows and black powder, fine by me... :D

Hell, I make the stuff, not spell the terms that illiterate craftsmen would not have been able to WRITE down, much less SPELL correctly...

Still maybe a scrap with those guys would help solve that long-running arguement about who's art is better in combat...?:wink:

[GreenArrow]

I make a nasty creme brulee, not good for tsubas but yummy.:D

Think you could squeeze one down the e-mail box, I DO like Creme Brulee but my cooking is rubbish...:cry:

[kartoffelngeist]

Think you could squeeze one down the e-mail box, I DO like Creme Brulee but my cooking is rubbish...:cry:

there's a restaurant round the corner from me does a good crême brulée, but it translates it as burnt custard, which amuses me to no end....

[Ignatz]

The trick is to use the good old gas soldering/brazing torch to make the crust.

[kartoffelngeist]

i've used a butane lighter before...the flame was too small and it just kind of made funny shapes in it instead of burning the whole thing...

tasted good though...

[Ignatz]

Think you could squeeze one down the e-mail box, I DO like Creme Brulee but my cooking is rubbish...:cry:
I look at cooking kind of like a cross between chemistry and biology. :cool: The hardest part is learning how to make stuff for one instead of four cause if I make it for four I eat it all and I end up looking like James Beard.:dead:

[Stixjimbo]

This thread has taken a mysterious tangent???????

:cheerful: :cheerful: :confused: :ditsy: :smiley:

but ... you could try putting under a really hot grill, thats what I use (cos i'm too tight to buy a blowtorch to cook with!!!)

Jim

[Ignatz]

Take up jewelry design or metal sculpture (or plumbing) and your torch can do double duty.:ko:

[Hai_hai]

e-bogu.com has leather ones if you want to personalize your bokken.

As an added note, eguchi has some funky Hasegawa shinai tsuba.

[Po5i]

Goood Job.

For my side it could be great if I find a "jade" tsuba, just imagine that!!!

[Edo Eddy]

does anyone know what the name of the 30 tsuba at nine circles is??
:confused: