Drop the shoe string and step away from the knife!

R.W.Clark

R.W.Clark

Joined
Apr 30, 2001
Messages
1,742
OK, for over ten years I have only ever used silk tsukaito. Lately there has been alot of talk about using shoe lace as a cheap substitute. So I went down to WalMart this afternoon and bought several differant styles and wieghts.

GUYS, THEY SUCK!

No matter which style or wieght they would not retain shape for beans. They streched and twisted and basically made the enitre job a nightmare! I am no slouch when it comes to traditional wrapping. i can do a full tsuka in about 30-35 minutes with perfect diamonds. And that is without those silly little paper thingys. But I could not get this stuff to do anything.

If you have never tried wraping with traditional silk, do yourself a favor and order some up. It ain't cheap (about $3 per foot) but the end result is SO much better!
 
LOL

Hey Trace - First congrats on your artical in Blade! Now how can I get me one of those (the artical not the knife that is;)).

Second, when can we get together again? I will trade you lessons on wrapping for lessons in Kydex.

Later Bud
 
I have been out there a few times in the last couple weeks... But for some reason I didnt call.... Let me know man, I will GLADLY trade with you my brother...


Trace...
 
Of all of the "alternative" wrapping materials I have used, shoe laces are the worst for a finished project. They are OK if you are just practicing, or if you are just doing a crossover style wrap where the lace is not folded over. But for a traditional, balls to the wall style wrap you *really* do need the silk tsukaito. I can't get good, consistent diamonds without "the little paper triangles" under the wrapping (hishigame) and they won't stay wrapped tightly unless I slather the wrap in epoxy or super glue. In the case of using epoxy or glue, the little triangles are a waste of time (mostly) as it just slows down the whole procedure. The hishigame are mostly to keep a good wrap that is not to be glued in shape as it ages and is used.

silknsteel.jpg


Having done both types (traditional with paper and alternative with epoxy/glue) I just like the plain silk tsukaito with paper better on more traditionally styled Japanese stuff but prefer to do paracord/ito with glue for tactical styled knives and such. Having "grown up" as a crafter in Japanese sword dojos I have an eye for the more traditional style of handle wrapping as it is the first "way" that I learned. But the modern method will last for years of hard use and will always look and feel good and remain functional no matter *HOW* many times some big sweaty goon uses the blade hard!

In the end I pretty much agree with you, the shoe lace thing is not really all that good for a finished project. It's pretty cheap though, and it has it's uses as a practice material.

Brian
 
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