habaki/coppersmithing question

S

sfoo

Joined
Dec 3, 2002
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I'm a bit behind the times, and as such am not acquainted with all the intracasies of copper work (and many other aspects of bladesmithing). I am thinking of trying to make a habaki-esque piece for a blade. I have procured some copper, roughed it to shape, and now am trying to get it to fit better. I don't have an anvil to hammer on, so that may be part of the problem. :) Do you need to heat it before you shape it? I have an 8oz ball peen hammer, a propane torch or two, vise, and other assorted tools.

Thanks in advance. :)
 
I tried making one from brass once. It didn't turn out all that well! Good first try though. All I can give you for advice is that copper work hardens. So you want to strike the copper with your hammer for a few blows, and then it will get springy/tough. Then heat the copper to anneal it, quench, and cold forge some more. Keep doing this until the habaki is formed. After the habaki is all formed, you want to tap the habaki to work harden it. You'll need solder to solder on the little piece that goes on the machi at the bottom (mura machi I believe is what that corner is called). If you aren't doing a Japanese piece with a Japanese tang, you'll still have to fill the gap created where the 2 copper edges join. This is done with a piece of copper filed to fir the space, which is then soldered on.


Good luck!
 
Well I'm assuming you rough fit before finishing the blade, and then final fit when you attach the handles, then finish the blade the rest of the way?
 
I usually forge the habaki after I finish the blade.You wrap the blade in paper and tape it up.Go over to my web site and look at the pics that are posted there, washburnknives.com Thanks Robert
 
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