Tsuba box repair

[Henry Wilson]

The centre peg of a tsuba box has come dis-lodged and I am wondering if anyone can recommend a way of reattaching it. I think a spot of glue would do the job so I am wondering it a bit of home-made rice glue would be any good.

[Brian]

Henry,

 

I think since rice glue is only used on shirasaya because it can be split later to clean the inside, then I would suspect that proper wood glue would be superior to use on this box, as you do not plan on ever removing the center peg.

You don't want that peg comming loose sometime while you are transporting the tsuba, so go with the stronger bond in this case.

There are a variety of different wood glues out there, and the best one I have seen is a new clear and thin liquid that bonds very strongly, and comes out of Germany I think? Not sure of the name, but might not be available in Japan anyways. Just go with any good wood glue, and use sparingly.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Henry Wilson]

Thamks Brian

 

What about fumes from any nasty chemicals in the glue tarnishing the tsuba?

[Brian]

I think if you leave it to set for 24 hours in open air, the glue would be inert and there would be no fumes to worry about. Those white glues are probably the most harmless when it comes to fumes.

Might want to wait for other opinions first though, as I don't want to be responsible if your tsuba turns pink or purple :D

What signs are there on the existing pieces? I am sure they just used glue originally, I doubt rice glue would be effective given the small working surface.

 

Brian

[Mike]

I had the same problem with some boxes I have, and I used in most cases, super glue which holds very good with no side effects on the box. Mike

[Rich T]

Hi Henry, small (very small actually) screws work well. Also they have the ability to be tightened when they get a little loose.

 

You see boxes come out of Japan like this from time to time. Just one single screw about center or slight towards the thicker end.

 

Of course this is more than adequate as we should not be transporting out tsuba in the boxes anyway, just storing them.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks everyone for the input. I am not so concerned about up setting the box I am more worried about damaging the tsuba. I think the screw method is probably best as I will be fretting about glue fumes for next 2 months. I will just need to find suitable screws. We are off to the local hard ware store this afternoon and I try to get a tash for future use.

[Henry Wilson]

Went for the screw method and it has worked well.

 

Just a word of warning. If the board of the tsuba box that the peg is attached to has a cushioning under the cloth cover, the screw has a tendecny to pull the cushioning and wrap it around the screw as you turn. The result is that the cushioning that was intially unfirom has become a bit lumpy.

[Brian]

Yep, they can do that. If the material and cloth is not cotton-based, then you can heat a pin or nail, and once you have drilled through the wood, you burn the edges of the hole so that there are no edges to get caught by the screw. Don't everdo it, just burn the circle a bit so that it won't be visible when the peg is replaced, but the screw can go through cleanly.

 

Brian