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piratecaptain — Wood Katana Tutorial Intro
Published: 2008-10-14 17:09:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 47722; Favourites: 489; Downloads: 0
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Edit: 3/11/09 - Changed the video because I'm in the process of remaking the tutorials due to the change in my style.Yes! This is indeed my own start to finish sword making tutorial. It will cover the whole process, both in deviation form, and with a companion video on youtube. This way, you can see both of them, and hopefully get a better idea of the process. I'd also like to point out that while *chioky has a wonderful guide out that has been used by many people, mine is quite different on several points. This is in no way designed to be better than his, just a different style.
**NEW**Intro Video: [link]
This is just the introduction deviation and video, just to cover how the tutorials will be broken up, what you can expect to see from following these guides in terms of a final product, and a few requests about comments.
The guides will cover each part of the sword, from the blade all the way to the final painting and wrapping, including:
Blade
Habaki
Seppa/Spacers
Tsuba/Guard
Fuchi/Collar
Tsuka/Handle
Kashira/Endcap
Tsukamaki/Wrapping
Saya/Sheath
Sageo/Sheath Knot
Painting
Carving techniques
Several other details will also be covered. Along the way feel free to ask any and all questions! Try to keep questions in the right part of the tutorial though, so that others can see the question/answer dialogue. Also, feel free to critique the format of these, and the video quality and clarity. I'm really trying to make these very detailed and clear, so please let me know if they don't work. Thanks for checking this out!
Intro to the Tutorials: <--- You're here
Part 2- Planning & Research Tutorial: [link]
Part 3- Tools & Materials Tutorial: [link]
Part 4- Drawing out the Katana: [link]
Part 5- Shaping the Blade: [link]
Part 6- Shaping the Blade (cont.): [link]
Part 7- Laying out the Habaki: [link]
Basic Chisel Tutorial: [link]
Sageo Knot Tutorial: [link]
Related content
Comments: 55
Don't know if you read these but I think i have it sorted now, thanks for supplying the tutorials
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Hm. I have been contemplating making a sword for a cosplay, however, it would not be a Katana.
Is it still possible, in your opinion, to use your tutorial while planning on making a different kind of sword and sheath?
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Well, there are many parts that are fairly unique to the katana that I cover. The sheath method is pretty universal, as are some of the parts. So short answer is "probably not" unless you're confident enough to heavily adapt the tutorials.
But the long answer is "What are you working on"? I'd be happy to try and point you in the right direction if I have a better idea of what you're going for.
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cool i always wanted a real one but there so freaking expensive hehe but now i can make my own thanks
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can you pleas tell me whar i might find the spasific wood, like what store
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Thanks! I'm gonna try and make Bill's katana from Kill Bill for my dad for his birthday, and these will help to no end 
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Glad to hear it, good luck!
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I am already making the tsuka. How wide should it be?
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Well, you're basically building a box around the tang, so whatever thickness you need to do that with the 1/4" wood.
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Hello, I have recently started making wooden swords (mostly japanese swords). I have seen your videos and you make the coolest swords! I am a pro at making the blades and sharpening them but I haven't made the tsuka. I can't wait to see your next video!
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This is amazing! The best tutorial I have found yet... and I've been looking at a lot. Thanks for making these videos. This is very useful and informative! I really hope mine turn out as great as yours.
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So far, this is an amazing tutorial. Thank you for sharing your method. The end result is great and I know I will be attempting this now thanks to your instructions here.
I had to fave this because it's so informative, and I also am sharing this with my group here on dA because this is hands down one of the most useful deviations of it's kind I've seen!
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Please forgive me, I've been gone for a very long time. My thanks to you, comments like yours are the reason I put forth the effort, and make that effort worth it.
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hey there Piratecaptain,
i think your work is great and tutorials are simple and sweet... you kinda left us hanging with the katana tutorial on how to carve out the habaki and so on and so forth... this is the first one i have made well process of being made... started 3 times over gonna start over again today... ps you the sword master.
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Hello. Thanks very much for your kind words. As for continuing the tutorials, I never can be sure when they will come out. It all depends on the time I get to work on them. Each tutorial I make represents several hours work in just a few minutes.
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hi there sorry if i sounded rude in my last comment its just that im anxious to know how you have made your habaki and other parts as i have finished my entire sword, to the end design and kanji designs on the blade and sheeth... it is not the neatest of work but its my first and sort of made from my head... cant wait to view ur tutorials on the following parts.
I have started making two tanto's called the twins, do i make them the same as the katana just on a smaller scale or is the principle and method different.
thanks.
keep well.
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Not at all, no worries! I'm glad you're looking forward to them. As for tantos, the process is basically the same, just scaled down. I would look online at some examples to get the proportions right though.
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Hi ! First thanks for these really great tutorials
Just wondering if you know when you'll add the other new tutorials for the multi-pieces katana ?
I really want to do a multi-pieces katana and I think your tutorial will save me a lot of trouble ^^
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Hey, you're welcome! I put the tuts out as often as I can, they take a ton of work to put together. But I hope to get some up pretty quick.
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Hehe always the same problem with tutorials
Really useful but it take a really really long time to make them (especially video ones ^^)
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Exactly. Hard to explain things too.
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hey piratecaptain, i love your tutorials and i have been following your katana instructions and have cut out the blade.
i have also shaped the blade quite well thanks to your clear instructions and explanations, 
i was wondering when the next videos on how to make the tsuba, the habaki,the sheath, the handle, and all of the other aesthetics, are going to be put up.
thanks!
ps. I'M ALSO A NEW MEMBER, 
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Hey, glad to hear the tuts are helpful to you! Unfortunately I don't have a set time for when I can make the tuts, simply because they take a ton of time to make, and it's hard to find the time. But I get them done as soon as I can.
Welcome to da, good to have you with us.
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First of all, I would like to say that you have the best tutorials of how to make a wood katana with simplicity and no powers tools(sorry chioky, your tutorial is great and all, but this one is way easier to understand and follow). Im a bit new in the swordmaking field, and with your tutorial Im finally can make a nice curve katana(well, until now im only do the blade, still waiting to see the tutorials about the hilt, sheat, etc).
After the moral booster, the questions XD.
Wich expessure the wood that you use for the blade have? Mine has 1,5 cm (Im used to this expessure for bastard swords, but have no idea if its is good for a katana)
You will make a video of how make the blood gro"something"? I really miss that(although i miss a video of how cut the curve properly, even after have making a perfect curve, I still fell that Im probably doing something wrong)
I would ask a third thing here... but i simple forgot what was about soo...
And to end, I would like to say again that your tutorial is pretty amazing(the how you found to make a curve is simple and efective in a way that I can only discribe as awesome), and say sorry for my bad english(Im brasilian, and I realy tired now, wich just make it worse XD).
Thanks and I will be waiting for the rest of tutorials.
---
When I stayed in the very depths of Hell, in front of the gate to Lefeu Universe, one of my soldiers ask me if we had any chances. I turn to all my mans and say:
If you are afraid, turn back now! If you have doubts, turn back now! If you have any sense of danger, if you have any hope or dream, turn back now too! Im going there to die. This is a inevitable truth, I will die there... but I will kill everything from that place first.
Garland Whisperwind, Storm Lord of the Wind
"So, just because that Tormenta dragon is four or maybe five times stronger than a God avatar, do you think I should retreat? Wait here, I will bring the jaws of that overgrowthed lizard to you and then, ask me again if I should retreat!"
Hawel Joleon, Storm Lord of the Earth
(He's not brave. He's just stupid enough to know when he's in danger)
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Thank you very much! I'm glad you have found them helpful so far, and that you will find the rest of them equally helpful!
As for the first question, I'm not sure what you mean by "expressure". I buy strip wood that is 3 inches wide, 4 feet long, and .25 inches thick. Hope that answers your question.
For the second question, yes, I will be making a video to show how to cut the blood groove.
Thanks again, it is not a problem to answer your questions, so let me know if you have any more. You did a great job with the english too, better than my portuguese!
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Love how you don't use power tools and how you still got such a great outcome from it :] I'm thinking of getting the wood all at once so is the wood used for the saya and tsuka all cut from the same sized wood as the blade?
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Thanks very much, I'm glad you appreciate the hand tools too. As for the wood, it is all the same size, I figured it would be easier that way. Thanks again!
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Good, cause they'll be coming fast! I hope to finish them in 3 weeks.
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By the way, if you (or anyone else) were looking for a very detailed and amazing resource book on samurai swords, check out 'The Samurai Sword: A Handbook' by John M. Yumoto. It's a nearly 200 page book on the history and stages of the different weapons and almost every single possible variation like temper marks, etc, and all the terms. If you want to check it out look someplace like here [link]
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Hey, thanks a bunch, I'll check it out for sure. It sounds like an excellent reference!
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Sweet! Looking forward to checking out this tutorial....learn a thing or two.
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Yeah, I'm hoping it'll help people out a little, and maybe people will have pointers for me too!
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You and chioky have inspired me to try my hand at a nice katana again, and I really need to know how to make a nice sheath.
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Glad to hear it! My sheaths turn out alright, hopefully they're what you're looking for.
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Thanks, I'll do my best!
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Very excellent work Captain! I'm looking forward to your completed tutorials.
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