Problem with Oval handle Shinai

[IronWarrior]

So am putting my Oval handle Shinai back together and the Shinai staves in the middle keeps collapsing into each other.

I don't know what is wrong, I used cable ties to keep it as tight as possible when I was making the Nakayuki as tight as I can possible can, the staves have been assembled correctly, small ones at the top and bottom, big ones at the side. It's firm at the top and bottom, just the middle around the Nakayuki area that has this problem.

Never had this problem with my Dobari's. :(

[DigitalDowntown]

So am putting my Oval handle Shinai back together and the Shinai staves in the middle keeps collapsing into each other.


What do you mean by the "staves in the middle?" Can you post a picture?
I use oval shinai and have't experienced a problem as you describe. Have you finished assembling it; do you still have the problem once it's complete?

[dillon]

If you mean that during a strike the top and bottom staves slide past the side staves and don't bounce back, it might be that the nakayui is too tight. Being too tight keeps the staves pinched in without slack to return to where they should be. Loosen it until it gives a firm hold, won't slide up and down the shinai much but at the same time has some give so the staves have room to slide past each other relatively freely.

If this isn't the problem then I'm not understanding the problem (which I believe has nothing to do with the shinai being oval handled).

[IronWarrior]

I post a photo later tonight.

It was assembled, then I broke it down again because the problem wasn't fixed.

If you take your shinai, if you try to press the staves into each other at the very top and bottom, they won't move right? But if you press them in the middle, there is always slack, they move and everything. Well on mine, they staves totally collapse into each other and get stuck, doesn't matter if the Nakayui is too tight or totally lose, I guess the staves in the middle are very loose.

I did show one of my club members and he told me the Nakayui was too lose and I shouldn't use it till it was fixed, but I used cable ties today to keep them tight and that didn't solve it. It's like there is no structure inside keeping the staves in it's proper shape.

Any how, photo later.

[jd111]

Your tsuru may also be to tight. How old is the Shinai? How regularly do you use it?

[IronWarrior]

Shinai is brand new, brought it just before Christmas, use it twice a week. This is the first time I have taken it apart.

Here are some photos,

http://www.kendo.game-maps.net/images/shinai/20120201_053136.jpg
http://www.kendo.game-maps.net/images/shinai/20120201_053148.jpg
http://www.kendo.game-maps.net/images/shinai/20120201_053156.jpg
http://www.kendo.game-maps.net/images/shinai/20120201_053201.jpg

Image 56.jpg (Third link) shows it best, this what happens all down the middle of the Shinai, just need to touch it for it to come like that, it gets stuck like that as well.

Just to note, these images was taken without the leather parts attached, but the result is still the same, but if needed, I can rebuild it and show it like that as well.

[dillon]

It's not missing a saki-gomu (plastic plug at the business end of the shinai) is it?

[IronWarrior]

It's not missing a saki-gomu (plastic plug at the business end of the shinai) is it?

Nope, everything is there. I'm not that new to Kendo. :p

I did file down some rough edges before putting it back together, but nothing crazy or over the top, no deep cuts or anything, just cleaning it up really, but don't think that could had caused it.

It was totally fine before I took it apart, get to see my club mates on Thursday, so can show it to them again if I can't resolve it myself.

[Kendoka]

Odd. I used OH shinai for years. Is the trsuru too tight and maybe causing some bending?

[Ariel]

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

I use koban shinai and I had the same problem last week.

As one of your club members pointed out, the problem might be in the nakayui.

I don't know if using cables ties would be the same, but I tied the nakayui a liiiiiitle bit tighter and it stopped getting stuck.

If you have time, re-do the nakayui and hope for the best ...

[FastKendo]

are you sure not sanding the bamboo too much?
I have the same problem while cannibaling the shinai. I put the bamboo 10 cm over a stove till it hot so I can adjust the shape, then I bend it a bit ourward.

[DigitalDowntown]

Did you fit all four staves back together EXACTLY as they came originally? If not, the tomegane (metal square thingy) at the bottom may not be seated correctly. If this is the case, you just need to cut new grooves in the staves to accomodate it in your new stave arrangement.

Do you have another sakigomu you could try? I've never had that problem once the sakigomu was back inside and the tsuka back on. The sakigomu often breaks on me so I have a few laying around in different shapes and sizes.
I usually find myself having to get creative with parts as a good shinai starts to become a frankenshinai.

[Taylor]

Ur shrooms screwed?

[DCPan]

Did you sand the triangular mounds on the inside of the shinai? Those triangle tips that corresponds to the nodes.

[IronWarrior]

Showed it and talked to both of my Sensei's tonight, both said it's warped.

Gave me some suggestions on how to fix it, but guess I still be buying a new one.

[turboyoshi]

Showed it and talked to both of my Sensei's tonight, both said it's warped.

Gave me some suggestions on how to fix it, but guess I still be buying a new one.

Warping isn't usually that big of a deal to fix. You can use steam on the warped take and then set it in a fixed position for 24-48 hours while it dries. Make sure you oil it again before you use it though. Steam can end up dying it out more than normal and make it crack easier.

[jd111]

Where do you store your Shinai? That's the only way I can think it would get warped. unless it was defective from the start.
Also Sanding too much can cause the Shinai to nit fit well (I haven't sanded a new shinai in almost 2 years)

Edit.

You said it's brand new. If so, and yiu sensei say its warped contact the place you got it from. Unfortunately I'd say it's a bit too late to send it back for being warped (if it came like that) the fact you have used it for a few weeks and also sanded may have a bearing on what the company says though.