Togi Dai

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Last week I said I would take some shots of my togi dai. I use it to sand and polish knives and swords. I had a rigid one until recently, when I spotted a sit up bench sitting out on trash day. It was brand new, as far as I could tell. It folds up in seconds, and is very sturdy when set up. I removed the cross bar and made several new posts for sanding and polishing. They range from a plain mahogany upright post to a fancy one with clamps and all sorts of attachments. This fixture is the one I will use most of the time. There is a sideways post for working on the bevels in shitaji togi (foundation polishing).
The photos pretty much say it all. On the floor are some of the other posts. The sideways post has a tanto it that I am just starting into shiage togi ( finish polish). You can see the hamon staring to peek out ( I dipped it in FC to check placement).
I can take it inside on rainy days ( like today) and work in the kitchen. It is very back friendly.

Stacy

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The shots of the sideways fixture.

 

[Rusty McDonald]

Nice Setup!

 

[69_knives]

OMG, that is the bench design I have been looking for to complete my homemade universal gym. Thank you for posting those pics.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

A great workstation set up Stacy. Not just for swords. Sitting in that position, it looks like you can exert a lot of pressure and still have a lot of control.
Thanks for taking the time to post the picks, Fred

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Fred,
If you reverse the posts, the angle increases. That way you can do real heavy reduction. In the photos, it is in the sanding/finishing position.
Stacy

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I finish all my flatground blades using a 12" X 1 1/4" X 1/4 mild steel bar with sticky sandpaper attached. I have been doing this standing up with the blade clamped in a horizontal vise. I like your idea very much and will be watching for one of the benches.

Knife makers are such inventive folks.:thumbup:

 

[TekSec]

Now that's a comfy looking setup. Much better that me hunching over some angle aluminum in my vise. Thanks, Stacy!

 

[12345678910]

Tell us about the lamp please?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Harbor freight lamp, IIRC. It is an LED unit,has a magnetic base ,and a clamp. Great for a close spot light where you want one in the shop, and perfect for the close inspection of a blade for scratches.

BTW, Wearing a optivisor hood really shows those scratches that you thought weren't there.

Stacy