Tsuka Revival

[Greg F]

Hello All, i bought a tsuka that i like and it fit the blade after i put an extra seppa. I recently removed the tsuka put a better quality seppa in and when i slid the tsuka off 2 bits of wood fell out that i hadnt seen before i put it on. For the life of me i havnt been able to line it all up the way it was so now there is some sideways movement! Is the any other way apart from wood peices I can try? Ive read somebody thinly coated the nakago with wax and used wood glue to fil the gap. Is putty ever used. I would like to prevent posting blades in the mail if I can. Cheers.

 

Greg

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Greg,

The obvious answer is the strips that fell out of the tsuka.  They worked before; they have to work again if you take the time to figure out exactly how.  I would not coat the nakago with wax and use glue as a filler.  I doubt the glue would be very successful and it very well might make a terrible mess.  Not sure about putty.  It would have to be a putty that sets hard; anything that stays pliable wouldn't be much help.  2 part epoxy putty would set hard but you'd have to remove the nakago immediately after insertion and clean it well so no putty remains on it.

Grey

[Greg F]

Hello Grey, Thanks for the reply. Im glad to say I got it sorted luckily as I like the tsuka. I went to the local hardware and got some modeling bolsa that I cut to fit and carefully placed in the problem areas. I just couldnt work out how the peices of wood that fell out were placed to fit firm and it felt like it might damage the old wood core if I messed around too much with it. A swift and satisfactory solution luckily! I thought the glue was a bit dodgy sounding. Another way I thought may be ok is some silicone tape around the nakago for a temporary fit if the bolsa didnt work. If anyone has any other methods theyve had success with I'd like to hear them. All the best.

 

Greg

[b.hennick]

If you know a cigar smoker you might ask them to keep the old cigar tubes for you. Those are lined with a fine cedar. I have taken that and made strips that will shim a tsuka tight. I never glues them in worrying about water but they do work to tighten the tsuka.

[jason_mazzy]

I have some ceday. I was wondering if cedar was an appropriate choice because of the volatile oils 

[Dave R]

 Wood fillets or strips were usually the traditional answer to loose fitting tsuka, one tanto I had years ago had a large wood shaving as the filler. Or for a very loose fit, you could try this. Use Honoki for fillers and inserts, if you cannot buy it from Namikawa buy an old Shirasaya from Fleabay and use it as material.

[SAS]

folded paper might be of use as well