repairing your sword

[ShÖgun]

how do you repair the tsuba(sword guard). It has become loose and it is only getting worse.
Is there a way to repair it or tighten it ???

[hamish]

If its moving forwards and backwards, first check the mekugi, as that may be worn somewhat, leading to the blade moving. (You should check it anyway before you use your sword) If thats OK, you can put extra seppa, or washers, on either side of the tsuba to keep it still.

If its moving up and down then try putting some cardboard at the top and bottom of the hole the blade goes through, or a combination of the two methods.

[chidokan]

depending on the metal, if you use a centre punch you can put four 'dings' around the sides. That will stabilise it...

Tim Hamilton

[munenmuso]

I don't want to repair a loose tsuba. I own an iaito and the tsuba is also loose and it produces a clanking sound which is similar to the sound effects from samurai movies, produced when they simply lift/move their swords.

Do you know why zippo lighters are famous?

[chidokan]

The film's tsubas must be loose as well.....The tsuba should not move around. This is a sign that everything is loose, and in the case of an iaito will eventually lead to the blade snapping near the habaki. Fix it or face the consequences... ;-)
I aint going to ask about zippos...

Tim Hamilton

[munenmuso]

There is no consequences on a loose tsuba. Nobody would mind that except if your a perfectionist and annoyed by the clanking sound of it. In our times, nobody uses a sword, whether with loose or tight tsuba, to protect himself from danger.

I would understand a ninja on a stealthy mission that the clanking sound would eventually lead to his discovery and capture. Otherwise, those movie swordfight would only end up in a whooshy-washy sound effects if it weren't for the clink-clank sound of a loose tsuba.

:D

[ShÖgun]

Originally posted by chidokan
The film's tsubas must be loose as well.....The tsuba should not move around. This is a sign that everything is loose, and in the case of an iaito will eventually lead to the blade snapping near the habaki.


yeah that what happen to my last sword, but the sword was old, it was given to my father from his sensei. But the tsuba was first thing that started to shake and then everything eventually fell apart.

I was just thinking i would get a new one if it gets any worse.

but it does sound cool as munenmuso said.

i think i will try what hamish said to do.

[roar]

Take of the tsuka, put on a spacer of leather, that you sand down to the appropiate thickness. As chidokan pointed out, blades can snap. Very cool. Sound effects from samurai-movies has also little place in my iai-training.
A loose tsuba is very annoying, and should be fixed. The opposite of lazy is not perfectionist. Fixing and maintaining gear is part of training. At least my training.

[Kiyo]

i need help re-wrapping the handle. the braided wrapping has come loose. I also repair kendo equipment here in hawaii and have been asked to repair iaitos for our local group. I tried re-wrapping with a braided cord material, as close as I could get to the real thing, but it got loose again, per one of our students. Since then a friend has gone to Japan and purchased real braided material from Matsukan. My question is, how to make it tight enough that it doesn't get loose again. Any ideas?
Aloha,
Kiyo Kat

[Webalistic]

Can't really help you on getting it really tight. This page (http://pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/tsuka.htm) shows some tying techniques.

You might ask google for "Tsukamaki"

[roar]

And prey to God for patience and perseverance.:tongue:

[pgsmith]

Any ideas?
These are things that I have heard from friends of mine that do this professionally. I started to learn, but did not have the time to dedicate to the learning ...
Wet the ito (name for the braid) and hang a weight on it so it stretches as it dries. This will keep it from stretching later.

Make a stand out of a well mounted vice and an old iaito or sword blade. File the nakago down so it is small enough that any tsuka will slip over it. This holds the tsuka at whatever angle is best for you while you can use both hands to crank down properly.

Use hishigama! Even though the little paper triangles are a pain, they will make a better wrap and keep it tighter in the long run.

Pull really hard! Use spring type wood clamps to hold the ito in place after you have wrapped a turn or two. Move the clamp up the tsuka as you go.

Practice! Every one you wrap will be better than the last. Spend some time wrapping a tsuka as perfectly as possible, check it, note things that can be improved, then unwrap and start over. Do this quite a few times in order to work on perfecting technique.

Once you practice enough to get good, don't do it for free. You will hurry through it so you won't do as good of a job, and it will be appreciated less. A decent tsuka wrap is worth something in time invested in not only doing the wrap job, but in learning how to do it well in the first place.

There are several places where you can order ito on-line in various colors. Google for tsuka ito.

Good luck!

[Kiyo]

Can't really help you on getting it really tight. This page (http://pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/tsuka.htm) shows some tying techniques.

You might ask google for "Tsukamaki"

Dear Webalistic,

Many thanks for the most informative book with very helpful pictures and hands on recommendations. The techniques used make a lot of sense in terms of keeping the wrapping tight and in place.

I haven't googled Tsukamaki yet, but will do that next. Again, much thanks to you for your very knowledgeable reference. I am printing out the detailed diagrams as I write this reply.

In Gassho,
Kiyo Kat

[Kiyo]

Wet the ito (name for the braid) and hang a weight on it so it stretches as it dries. This will keep it from stretching later.
VERY GOOD IDEA!

Make a stand out of a well mounted vice and an old iaito or sword blade. File the nakago down so it is small enough that any tsuka will slip over it. This holds the tsuka at whatever angle is best for you while you can use both hands to crank down properly.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL

Use hishigama! Even though the little paper triangles are a pain, they will make a better wrap and keep it tighter in the long run.
YES I HAVE SEEN A BOOK ON HOW TO FOLD THEM.

Pull really hard! Use spring type wood clamps to hold the ito in place after you have wrapped a turn or two. Move the clamp up the tsuka as you go.
DEFINITELY WILL HELP TO HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF CLAMPS. ONLY HAVE SO MANY HANDS EH?
Practice! Every one you wrap will be better than the last. Spend some time wrapping a tsuka as perfectly as possible, check it, note things that can be improved, then unwrap and start over. Do this quite a few times in order to work on perfecting technique.
YES, ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL.

Once you practice enough to get good, don't do it for free. You will hurry through it so you won't do as good of a job, and it will be appreciated less. A decent tsuka wrap is worth something in time invested in not only doing the wrap job, but in learning how to do it well in the first place.
I AM HOPING TO LEARN TO DO REPAIRS FOR PEOPLE PRACTICING IN MY AREA. I CHARGE NOW FOR KENDO EQUIPMENT REPAIR, KOTE PALM REPLACEMENTS AND THE LIKE.

There are several places where you can order ito on-line in various colors. Google for tsuka ito.
I WILL TRY THIS AS WELL.

Good luck!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.
IN GRATITUDE AND STRIVING FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ALL THINGS.
KIYO KAT

[akira fudo]

I am also having problems with the habaki and I am planning to follow your advice as far as the repairs are concerned, but since I am new to Iaido and I never took the iaitoh apart could somebody tell me how to do it? I have removed the mekugi but the blade is not moving so I was wondering if there is anything else I am supposed to do in order to remove the blade from the handle.
Thanx

[Halcyon]

... but since I am new to Iaido and I never took the iaitoh apart could somebody tell me how to do it? I have removed the mekugi but the blade is not moving so I was wondering if there is anything else I am supposed to do in order to remove the blade from the handle.
If you've never done it before, it's a good idea to get one of your sempai to show you how to do it. But generally speaking, the tang can be quite tight in the tsuka even after you remove the mekugi pin. One way to loosen it is to hold the sword vertically, grabbing the bottom of the tsuka, and then tap on the upper part of the tsuka with your fist. This should loosen it up. But again, ask a sempai to show you first.

[akira fudo]

...easier said then done...Iaido is only developing in Croatia at the moment so there are very few Iaidoka available...thanx anyway

[akira fudo]

One way to loosen it is to hold the sword vertically, grabbing the bottom of the tsuka, and then tap on the upper part of the tsuka with your fist. This should loosen it up.

...tried it...not working. The damned thing is unremovable...:down:

[roar]

I have removed tsuka by using my feet on tsuba, one on each side of the tsuka, grabbing the tsuka with both hands, sitting on the floor. It is best to keep the saya on, and to sit on a rug, so it wont be damaged if it clanks to the floor. At own risk! Worked for me on several occasions. :rambo:

[Halcyon]

Ugh. All this talk is making me cringe, imagining all the possible combinations of damage to the sword and/or injury to the repairer.

Try this: Use the slim end of your mekugi hammer (or some other tool that will fit into the mekugi hole) and pry the tang out of the tsuka. Note of caution: make sure you don't deform the meguki hole in the process. If you have to, hold a screwdriver or something like that against the hole and use THAT as the leverage point, NOT the soft sides of the mekugi hole.

[filter]

Do you know why zippo lighters are famous? Argh! The suspense is killing me!
Why are zippo lighters famous?

[akira fudo]

Solved the problem. Had to ask my girfriend to give me a hand with the pulling (:tongue: don't laugh :smiley::smiley:) but I made it. Thanx for all the help...