Tsuba School: Hosa Kusa - Recreating a Modern Classic, Part 2 - Preparing the tsuba blank.

Tsuba School projects are follow-along online classes which deal with all aspects of Japanese Metalsmithing. This project focuses on how to re-create a Modern Classic Tsuba - 'Hosa-Kusa' originally designed and made by Ford Hallam. The project is divided into several bite-size parts, each of which are available here in the playlist.
This video is PART 2 - Preparing the tsuba blank.
There is also a student support group on Facebook for anyone following along with this at www.facebook.c... where you can post images, ask for advice and generally support one another with this project and any Tsuba School projects.Hoso-kusa, recreating a modern classic.

[@kdweb1]

Thank you for Mr. Hallam. Can hardly wait for Tsuba school to continue.

[@FordHallam]

great to hear, next bit coming today, I'm editing it now.

[@vassa6483]

I must agree with the comments! Awesome series! Thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge!

[@rayminazzi2065]

These are great, thank you.

[@Rsama60]

Really, rally informative series. Thank you. One question. What do you use to pickle the copper.

[@Trainwheel_Time]

I love this series! Thank you so much Ford. Words really can not express how much I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with all of us. Question, does anyone know what the pickeling solution is?

[@FordHallam]

Hi Timothy, Jewellers pickle is a mild acid jewellers use to clean the metal after soldering or other heating work where the metal has oxidised. The acid cleans the metal. . You can get a powder to mix with water that is probably the safest way. Glad to hear you're enjoying the series.

[@Trainwheel_Time]

Thanks Ford. I did find some pickeling solution online and a pickel pot (which I didn't have of course). I must say, I am learning quite a bit and I'm having a great time doing so. Wonderful stuff!

[@apo1915]

great filing job ford.unfortunetly lots of jewelers today dont know how to hold a file much less using it if i may ask. were you trying to polish the surface of the metal?. i think that is copper isent it?.and lastly. what it the thickness of the metal by m.m please. thank you

[@mikealman9259]

The Thickness was 3mm

[@FordHallam]

I was just giving the surface a bit of a pre-polish with water of Ayre stone to remove ugly scratches. I suppose the stone is equivalent to about 600 grit emery

[@mikealman9259]

Thanks for another informative video, could I ask that you give each title a number, ie Ep 1 etc,as I watched the first two inthe wrong order, made no difference in the early stage but would help if following along ata later date ;@)

[@FordHallam]

Hi Mike, I don't know why the main title on the films is just Tsuba School but they are described in the description below, I'll see if I can edit them. Thanks for the comment.