why did they age hinoki wood 10 years? for tsuka use,say use

[tap2D]

is air dried wood in U.S.A ok to use for handle -if moisture levels r ok and u follow grain rules on installing.i intend to u yellow cedar here,is resistant to fungi very so much good, some somewhat soft and good hand tools usage,straight grain,water resist and bugs.uses for oars and outside benches and such in comercial use.

shy did Japanese wait 10 years for hinoki wood?

[Grey Doffin]

The wood is allowed to sit 10 years so that the saya shi is assured that it is as stable as can be. It would make no sense to go to the trouble to make a saya and find out later that the wood was still moving/shrinking and have a crack develop.

The choice of wood for a saya is made to a large degree by the acid content of the wood; low acidity is very important. It is my understanding that saya are traditinally made of Ho (magnolia) wood, not Hinoki. Rot and insect resistance really don't matter much with saya, unless you plan to store your sword in a swamp.

Cedar may not be a good choice. Check its acid level before you proceed.

Grey

[cabowen]

Grey is correct- ho wood is used. It is similar to southern magnolia. I would order a piece from Japan rather than risk the time and money making something that may end up wasting both and damage the sword.

 

Be careful indeed as cedar and the like can be aromatic and the chemicals can lead to damage.

[tap2D]

thanks guys i really appriciate the info. i got my work wrong, my wood is alaskan yellow cedar, it is as is port orford cedar , that is same family and use here by Japanese as honoki-- as honoki wood there is used in Japan.

how do i check to see if it has aged enough for low acid level as u say as all woods do have some sap?

 

alaska yellow has strong decay resistance,stable, moderately strong for a soft wood species,stiff for weight

tangecial movement6%

volumetric shrinkage (.2%

durability good

specific gravity.50

it is a soft wood has low levels of acid,as a magnolia

do they still age honoki wood 10 years now in present time ,???

 

oak,popular, has acids wow, is hard wood ,shrinkage is greater in hardwoods.

basswood i feel is to soft to use for handle use

----- w hat is price of honoki wood to america?shipped ?-----

sorry if i botherd u , just asking thoughts and imput to .

u thoughts r important to me still, and is a fact finding effort that i do.

darl

[cabowen]

Alaskan yellow cedar and Port Orford cedar are closely related to Japanese Hinoki, which is different from Honoki and not used for saya.

 

I would not use any of the cedars.

 

Have you considered finding some old shirasaya that may be reworked into a tsuka?

 

I may have some honoki somewhere....How big of piece do you need?

[drdata]

Lacking any real honoki, I hear that poplar is a good substitute. No need for fancy grain, especially on a tsuka that ends up being wrapped anyway. You want something soft and low on sap/acid. Soft so it gives rather than cracks under a shock.

 

The upside is very cheap and available at hardware stores in the US.

 

Regards

[tap2D]

thanks cabowen,

maybe can, need 12 inches by about 2inches.

i guess wanted to find alternative to it here in america,seems impossible to achieve.

no magnolias here compare?

i will learn to rework a tasuka and wish to make it better than was .

darl

[watsonmil]

Dear Darl,

Two woods that are suitable for making Saya and/or Tsuka are : Magnolia also called Yellow Poplar in the USA and the second wood is called Red Alder. Either wood is suitable, ... but I prefer Red Alder. Both of these woods should be available from US Specialty Wood suppliers if you do a Google search for Exotic Woods you should be able to find a dealer.

... Ron Watson

[tap2D]

hey ron,

thanks for info,i sure been learnning a lot.

i will check google.

thanks

respectfully,

darl