Marius Posted December 16, 2008 Report Posted December 16, 2008 Dear all, I have looked through all threads mentioning nugui, I have read all three excellent artciles by Jon Bowhay. However, I still could not find a conclusion - does it make sense to use nugui? My personal experience is that I have managed to "bring out" a magnificent ko-mokume hada on one of my tanto using koshiki nugui. Additionally, where the hamon was overwhelmingly white due to polishing with hazuya, the nioiguchi has gained a beatiful, sparkling appearance. the result was very satisfying and I would really like to use nugui, on my other swords. When I read Jon Bowhays "Hada and Nugui" I come to the conclusion, that I should avoid nugui (he mentions the risks involved, but this applies to te polishing process). My question is: can I use nugui? If yes, how? What is YOUR experience with nugui and its various sorts?
remzy Posted December 16, 2008 Report Posted December 16, 2008 *snip* My question is: can I use nugui? If yes, how? What is YOUR experience with nugui and its various sorts? Since you asked... answer: not unless you are a duely trained togishi.
Grey Doffin Posted December 16, 2008 Report Posted December 16, 2008 Couldn't agree more, Remzy. Mariuszk, the fact that you have to ask the question is evidence enough that you don't know all the ramifications. Japanese sword restoration should be left to those with proper training. Grey
Marius Posted December 16, 2008 Author Report Posted December 16, 2008 Couldn't agree more, Remzy. Mariuszk, the fact that you have to ask the question is evidence enough that you don't know all the ramifications. Japanese sword restoration should be left to those with proper training.Grey Grey, many thanks. I don't know all ramifications, that is why I ask. Would you be so kind as to elaborate on this?
Grey Doffin Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 Mariuszk, 1st, I meant no offense or disrespect. My point is, if someone were qualified to add nigui (whatever that is) he would know if and when it was appropriate to do so. Conversely, if someone doesn't know if it is appropriate to add nigui, he isn't qualified to do it. Grey
Ted Tenold Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 Marius, I think what Grey is getting at is that it's not as simple as saying "Should I put varnish on my coffee table?". Sure, you could do it, and *you* might like it, but that won't necessarily mean it represents the piece correctly. Nugui decisions are dependant on much more than just a "use/omit" equation, and can make or break a polish. The depth of nugui is a subject that goes way beyond just general application and is codependant on all the processes before it. Many of the "off the shelf" nugui mixtures available are also just too broad stroke in composition and don't fit the very specific nature of individual works. Nugui formulations can be quite closely guarded personal recipes. Improper matching of nugui type, or improper application can also have a wide range of results from no effect at all, to actually "burning" (or attenuating) the hada giving it a really ugly brown look and when that happens there's some starting over involved. So will it work? Maybe. Can you ruin a sword with it? Not really, at least not permanently, but it can misrepresent the piece and in the extreme make it look downright ugly. If all the other steps in front weren't completed properly, it's like putting clear coat on a car that's only been primered.
Marius Posted December 17, 2008 Author Report Posted December 17, 2008 Mariuszk,1st, I meant no offense or disrespect. My point is, if someone were qualified to add nigui (whatever that is) he would know if and when it was appropriate to do so. Conversely, if someone doesn't know if it is appropriate to add nigui, he isn't qualified to do it. Grey Grey, I am an amateur, I search for knowledge (that you and other NMB members have). I did not feel offended by your statement of my ignorance, which was absolutely true :-) I was just looking for some more information. Thanks to your statement I know that I should absolutely avoid nugui. Thanks to Ted's comparison to varnish on an antique coffee table (brilliant, thanks, Ted!) I came to understand the subtlety involved. Both of you have helped me, to both of you I am indebted
slavia631 Posted December 18, 2008 Report Posted December 18, 2008 Grey was not saying that you should absolutely avoid nugui. He was merely saying that you should leave it to a trained, professional polisher to decide whether to use nugui for a particular blade or not. Ted--who is, himself, a trained polisher--further elaborated on this. The point is not that nugui should or should not be used; the point is that you are not a trained togishi and therefore should avoid trying to modify your blade in any way by yourself. The fact that you do not know about nugui only served to further show this.
Marius Posted December 18, 2008 Author Report Posted December 18, 2008 Andrew, thanks a lot. I understood quite clearly what Ted and Grey have told me. The fact that I have used nugui once does not make me a complete idiot. I can still comprehend the written word
slavia631 Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 Oh, alright. I wasn't sure why you seemed to get the impression that you should "absolutely avoid" nugui, then. I guess you meant that you should avoid doing it yourself ; as opposed to 'absolutely' avoiding considering it at all--even applied to your blade by a pro. If this is the case, then we all agree.
Marius Posted December 20, 2008 Author Report Posted December 20, 2008 Oh, alright. I wasn't sure why you seemed to get the impression that you should "absolutely avoid" nugui, then. I guess you meant that you should avoid doing it yourself ; as opposed to 'absolutely' avoiding considering it at all--even applied to your blade by a pro. If this is the case, then we all agree. Yes, we do :-) I am not a togishi, I should therefore absolutely avoid nugui.
slavia631 Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 Hai! Or any other form of blade modification, for that matter.
Ted Tenold Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 Okay guys, group hug. It's run it's course and we all get it. Next....
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