Iwama Bokken Specifics

[cb951303]

Hello all,

I'm trying to figure out how to do my own bokken, just for fun. Before starting I'm trying to make some technical drawings of the actual Iwama bokken.
I've read some of the articles in here and in web. So far I've come up with every dimension of the Iwama style bokken except the cross section.
Here (http://www.kingfisherwoodworks.com/bokkenspecifications.html) there is the size of the cross sectional ellipse but that's only a part of what I need. To be exact, I need the dimensions, angles etc of the triangular part of the cross section in here. (http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2166305/ScreenShot001_Full.jpg)

Also, a confirmation on the bow, would be really great. 0.50 inch seems to small.

One last thing I need is that, in kingfisher site, the cross section is drawn as a perfect ellipse but the actual bokkens have a more rectangular cross section, or is it just my imagination?

Thank you in advance.

[Paikea]

Kim Taylor-sensei (a member here) has a few god articles out there about wood selection and how-to.

What have you got to work with in the tools department?

Thickness planer?
Jointer?
Router table?
Bandsaw?
Spokeshave?
Scraper(s)?
Woodworkers Vise?
Chisels?
Belt sander?

[cb951303]

Thanks for the reply!

I already read everything there is about bokken making on the internet :)
What I'm looking for is "dimensions of the bokken" and to be more specific "the dimensions of the iwama-ryu bokken's cross-section"

I'm planning to use only chisels and couple of hand-planes for shaping and smoothing. No abrasives/sand paper. Just like king fisher hand-cut bokkens.

Thank you.

[Paikea]

Thanks for the reply!

I already read everything there is about bokken making on the internet :)
What I'm looking for is "dimensions of the bokken" and to be more specific "the dimensions of the iwama-ryu bokken's cross-section"

I'm planning to use only chisels and couple of hand-planes for shaping and smoothing. No abrasives/sand paper. Just like king fisher hand-cut bokkens.

Thank you.I don't think you're going to find anything like a measured drawing of an Iwama bokken. Best thing to do is get an example and copy it. You're going to need a scraper, because chisels and planes will not work on the inside curve of the bokken.