Fuchi Kashira ?

[dpanther]

I posted this in Fit and Finish but I guess that I posted it in the wrong forum. Anyway I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to make Fuchi Kashira. If I need a mould how do I make one? Iv made some out of copper(No design and very plain) but im looking for something with more of a visual appeal. Somthing like a dragon head or flowers or somthing

Thanx in advance for your replies

Dave

[Ray Rogers]

I've never even heard of it , hopefully someone else has. If not, try posting this in the General Forum.

Or, maybe it's just the term you're using is misleading people. It sounds like you're describing some type of metal casting. Give us a clue and maybe that will get the ball rolling ....

[Shakudo]

There are several tutorial online,try a google search. also check the link for more Japanese metal work.

http://www.thecarvingpath.net/forum/...p?showforum=16

[medit8]

I Googled it and it appears that they are attractive (and expensive) fittings for swords. Here's some info and illustrations:
http://www.bugei.com/subcategory_91.htm
I hope this helps
Bob

[dpanther]

Sorry about misleading on the name. Fuchi Kashira are the fittings to the Japanese swords, Sayashi and knives. For instence the Habaki is one of the Fuchi peices, I think I need a mould but I have no idea how to put a design in it or even how to start making one. Im going to take a look at Shakudo and Bobs link and I hope I can get on my way. Ill post pics when I done the sword.

Thankx for the info guys

Dave

[r_trip551]

You could make the mould the same way that a person would to pour a cast of a bronze sculpture, do the piece in clay or wood, carve your design in it then cast it. When you pull or cut the casting away you will have a mould of what you want. Just a very simplified version I learned in a first year art class but with a little research I'm sure you could find a tutorial.

[AcridSaint]

Dave, the habaki is usually folded/forged to fit, but I'll tell you what Scott Slobodian told me, cast everything. Design what you want in lost wax, then cover your model in plaster to make your mould. Actually, I'll shamelessly plug Scott's new book now, Sword Art - The Masterworks of Scott Slobodian, as it has a very good article on how he casts his fittings.

P.S. You'll have to consider shrinkage when using the lost wax method. Be prepared and don't undersize anything.

[dpanther]

Thanks alot for the info and replies guys, I posted this in fit and finish and diddent get a reply for a week, I got impatient . I thought I posted it in the wrong forum so I posted it here. anyway Brian Galloglas has a neat way of doing a Habaki on his web site. http://home.mchsi.com/~samonji/gallo...tutorial1.html check it out, I'll never do another habaki with the sliver of copper again. no more for me. He also has a neat way of doing fuchi as well. But I'm going to do a set of moulds as well to see how I do. You never know when you'll need the knowledge

How long does a mould last? I'v hear it only lasts 3 or 4 times. can you make stonger mouls? sorry lots of questions

Thanks again

Dave

[EdStreet]

Fuchi is mostly carved, same with kashira, menuki, seppa, tsuba and seppa. habaki's are traditionaly welded but you can cast them for a better stronger fit.

Ed

[EdgarFigaro]

In a lost wax casting the mold and cast are both destroyed.
But something you could consider if it's an item you're going to make a lot of, and them all being the same size, is to make your master from maybe a harder material so you'll be able to keep it around. Then cast it in silicone. Cut it and remove the master to keep, and then you can use the silicone mold to make as many wax duplicates as you want. Then the wax duplicates and be cast into plaster and then the wax burnt out and then cast that way.

Kind of a way of making duplicates in a lost wax process.
I saw it used on a show on HGTV (Hammered with the Diresta[sp?] brothers) They made a very large chess board, and then a master for each chess piece. Then they made a silicone mould of each master, and then used the silicone moulds to cast as many pieces as they needed using resin and colorant to color the resin for each half of the pieces.

Was very neat.

[dpanther]

Thanx Beau. That is great idea and i'm going to have to put it to use.

Dave