Tsuka protection wrap?

[Ruben]

Hi Gentlemen,

 

on shirasaya you see from time to time some washi wrapped around the tsuka.

I wanted to ask if someone knows when done on koshirae- tsuka, its also paper than?

Cause I wanted to do it on my handle (deoskin).

It´s getting worn out so fast, from just touching it 3 times its clearly visible (also with clean hands ).

Especially were the right hand is placed, that will look ugly in future.

If it were all over ok, but the right hand is more in use when viewing the sword.

I will use it with both hands at times as well, eventually the right hand side will get shabby faster.

 

Best regards

 

ruben

[Guido]

Soft metal fittings and Koshirae are usually handled with white cotton gloves. Or is it a "user sword" (i.e. for Iaidô)?

[Ruben]

Hi Guido,

 

its new made koshirae, but with old fittings.

The menuki are not very special or old, and the rest will not get touched anyway.

I have gloves as well, when touching the nakago I always wear one.

Kashira is made of horn.

Its a "good user sword", but it will not be used often, not in dojo anymore.

Anyway cutting with it is taboo, its to precious to me.

The thing is I got pretty sweaty hands.

Same is also lacquered, to protect the tsuka from moisture.

 

Greetings

 

ruben

[Guido]

Ruben, you should do it the other way around - handling the Nakago with your bare hands and the Koshirae with gloves. And what do you mean by "not much use"? Even a little use can ruin an antique blade .... :?

[Ruben]

  Guido Schiller said:

Ruben, you should do it the other way around - handling the Nakago with your bare hands and the Koshirae with gloves. And what do you mean by "not much use"? Even a little use can ruin an antique blade .... :?

 

Thanks Guido,

 

I will not touch the kodogu.

Have to wipe the iron tsuba from time to time cause it came back rusty from the koshirae maker.(was a 3 years nail-biter project, better to don´t name someone,... )

I dont want to touch the nakago with my sweaty hands, it looks pretty fresh for over 150 years age.

The koshirae is new made and not juyo level, should be, but its not that well made.

It was not an easy project, but the idea was to use it as shinken for Iai.

 

Greetings

 

ruben

[gauze3539]

Well, I don't know if you would like this way or not, but I would wrap sports or medical tape which has self stick ability all around tightly when you like to play with the sword. I just

recently got my first nihonto in shirasaya and I just did like that on the photo because I don't want the shirasaya tsuka get darken and dirtied eventually by every touching. Although it's ugly, you

can protect doeskin being worn out every time you use. Thanks.

 

Jason C.

[kusunokimasahige]

Sports tape ????????????????????????????

 

Play with the sword ?????????????????????

 

I am sorry but that part of this topic really makes me

 

Gauze (Jason), once more :

 

Buying stuff without realizing what you have or having studied it, and then giving this kind of advice is offensive to say the least.

 

Please do NOT use that sword of yours for cutting or even Iaido. Study it, look at it, appreciate it, care for it.

 

YOU are its custodian.

 

Do not think that these swords are battle ready. If you want to buy a battle ready sword for whatever reason, buy a modern day sword.

 

KM

[gauze3539]

Well. The sports tape was mentioned since the poster ask if he could have some other way. This tape on my shirasaya handle much make me

happy because I can get it out from getting dirty and oily since my palms dropping too much sweat. It's not a consequence of being not knowing

basic etiquette about the sword. I did not mean neither I would store as it. Any time he needs to touch the tsuka for some reason, he could have

done this and then remove it perfectly after he use the sword. I am not sure how exactly call this type of tape but it's sticky but does not stick to

hairs so it would be good try for especially doeskin wool and I am free from getting dirty

on shirasaya handle now from my hands oils. I don't like to put any kinds of gloves on my hands because of excessive temperature buildings. ( I have

basically higher temperature on hands and don't like to wear gloves more than 2 minutes.) Playing means to me is just anytime holding the tsuka for

any reason. I should express as this way. Sorry. This tape wrapping is the solution I came up with. I am not

taking any kind of advice as offensive so please always correct me though when I am wrong. I admit my solution could have enough reason to make

someone mad. But Please don't think I am those of who careless rookie on the stuff. I am putting all my best to preserve this sword as of now. I know

what I am dealing with. I will not even mentioning around those stupid questions anymore.

 

Thanks. I would buy some Iai katana for the cuttings since I would start iaido soon.

 

Jason C.

[b.hennick]

Try using pallet tape - basically commercial saran wrap. It comes in diffeent widths. For pallets about one foot wide. I use 2 inch and 4 inch stuff. The local dollar store may have some. I get mine from Lee Valley Tools - they call it flat twine.

[Tcat]

I believe a rice paper wrap is often used to stop sweat and oils messing up the Ho wood finish on shirasaya. It looks like a diagonal wrap, like a napkin rolled around a french loaf :D Im not sure how the Japanese did it exactly but you could make a rudimentary one which could be fastened discreetly with a small amount of sellotape. How it looks in the end will depend on the level of your freestyle wrapping skills I like Barry's suggestion too.

[Dr Fox]

  gauze3539 said:

. I don't like to put any kinds of gloves on my hands because of excessive temperature buildings. ( I have

basically higher temperature on hands and don't like to wear gloves more than 2 minutes.)Jason C.

 

Jason.

 

A lead to a possible suggestion here. Taping or any other coverings on the tsuka, can be done with different problems in mind. So why not protect tsuka from the hands? gloves! yes but specialised gloves, the first are eczema covers which are a fine gauze glove, and then there are the heavier cotton gloves, which I have that are vented when bought. you can of course vent any cotton gloves, slitting the backs.