Giant Purple People Beater
Prototype: complete. Shown off to widespread (aka: MHC naginata girlz, and my iai group) acclaim.
Of course I identify a number of issues: this was cut from the "bad" section of the board. There was a knot I was largely but incompletely able to work around, and there's some waver in the haft because of it. The rounding was largely done with a belt sander, which is neither precise nor, well, round. So it's uneven, and feels so to a sensitive hand (mine). The kissaki is a bit heavier than the example I worked from, but I think that might be a plus for kata like tsukidome and sayu uchidome (dome is a stopping, and these both have smack-downs). All in all, weight comes out similar.
Have not mentioned a word of this on Facebook, as I want to leave certain someones completely in the dark anent the development. Also, am leaving the weapon bagged until unveiling on Sunday, as UV exposure will dampen the color of the wood, and I want it to be at premium hue on Sunday.
The photo gallery: http://gallery.me.com/slobbit#100269
A success, I think. I will need to coordinate with my lumber supplier and have them notify me when they come across likely boards. But this wood (purpleheart) is nice to work with. I also have a piece of jatoba that I'll also try (I have a shoto of it, so I know I like the wood, but just need to see how it handles with tools). They also carry bubinga, but did not have anything in 1" thicknesses in stock at the time. I will need gloves, and to learn to judge the quality of rough-cut lumber. But I think this is doable.
Of course I identify a number of issues: this was cut from the "bad" section of the board. There was a knot I was largely but incompletely able to work around, and there's some waver in the haft because of it. The rounding was largely done with a belt sander, which is neither precise nor, well, round. So it's uneven, and feels so to a sensitive hand (mine). The kissaki is a bit heavier than the example I worked from, but I think that might be a plus for kata like tsukidome and sayu uchidome (dome is a stopping, and these both have smack-downs). All in all, weight comes out similar.
Have not mentioned a word of this on Facebook, as I want to leave certain someones completely in the dark anent the development. Also, am leaving the weapon bagged until unveiling on Sunday, as UV exposure will dampen the color of the wood, and I want it to be at premium hue on Sunday.
The photo gallery: http://gallery.me.com/slobbit#100269
A success, I think. I will need to coordinate with my lumber supplier and have them notify me when they come across likely boards. But this wood (purpleheart) is nice to work with. I also have a piece of jatoba that I'll also try (I have a shoto of it, so I know I like the wood, but just need to see how it handles with tools). They also carry bubinga, but did not have anything in 1" thicknesses in stock at the time. I will need gloves, and to learn to judge the quality of rough-cut lumber. But I think this is doable.