TLDW #21 - Making a Tanto Habaki with simple tools

**WARNING: This is the longer process version intended for serious students of knifemaking. Watch the overview edit here: • TimeWarp #10 - Forging...
Making a classical tanto style habaki forged from reclaimed copper, silver soldering in the charcoal forge.
Material is scrap copper from an electrical bus bar, shape is forged and bent, soldering done with hard silver solder in the charcoal forge with fuigo, finish work done with files and rasps.
Machigane info: islandblacksmit...
See the finished tanto and process here: islandblacksmit...

[@ВладимирМячин-ш6д]

Most of the craftsmen show videos of them doing things using a variety of modern expensive machines, grinders, gas burners and special tools. And this author of the video did 90% of the work with a hammer and 10% with a chisel and a file! The result is excellent! This is a real blacksmith! Super-master! Thanks !

[@islandblacksmith]

...simple tools still work well!

[@ВладимирМячин-ш6д]

@@islandblacksmith It is very good !

[@jimmyvandergeest328]

Wow how a tiny Piece can become a masterpiece!!!! Respect

[@jimfrank4800]

Oh my gosh! Your work is just amazing. I've made several habaki over the years, so I really enjoyed the detail of this video. Also, your cinematography is so simple and elegant, it really adds to the video. Thank you so much for your beautiful video.

[@islandblacksmith]

much appreciated!

[@temnysh]

Such a simple detail. It seems that it is simple. And so much work. Respect.

[@islandblacksmith]

thank you! detail is so important in the japanese craft tradition!

[@marcusgerhold8657]

One of the most beautifully made Habaki ive ever seen, Masterful.

[@ducontra666999]

Thank you, its so hard find a tutorial with simple tools

[@3npitsu992]

Yeah, all tutorials used mills and cnc

[@jimibutters5933]

I am wanting to get into forging as a hobby. My goal is to make a nice Tanto style knife for myself. After watching your masterful work I am starting to think I may be in way over my head.

[@islandblacksmith]

Making a classical tanto style habaki forged from reclaimed copper. **WARNING: This is the longer process version intended for serious students of knifemaking. Watch the overview edit here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goSbhWpniNSkr80 Material is scrap copper from an electrical bus bar, shape is forged and bent, soldering done with hard silver solder in the charcoal forge with fuigo, finish work done with files and rasps. More about the process here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/ Machigane info: islandblacksmith.ca/2014/10/classical-tanto-construction-habaki-%E3%81%AE-machigane/ See the finished tanto here: islandblacksmith.ca/2019/08/furusato-tanto/

[@lancelottavola9685]

I wonder, the ancient use the same silver solder you use , or diferent solder ?

[@islandblacksmith]

i have used silver solder, which is similar to historical alloys in japan, but mainly i use fine (pure) silver which is definitely available in any time period...it just has to be more carefully applied as the melting temperature is higher...

[@lancelottavola9685]

@@islandblacksmith thanks for the info. I have an original katana from kamakura period, I need to restaur and this video helps.

[@a-sheep-of-christ]

I tried punching holes into pieces of copper, metal, brass. Filing it down. Stock removal Habaki, fuchi and kashira was my idea. Now after failing miserably and many attempts - I look at this guy and realise. Some have it - and some dont. Makes you appreciate his craft. Id buy his stuff, seeing he smiths them himself - and his skill is such that he makes it looks simple too.

[@islandblacksmith]

stock removal habaki would be challenging, but certainly possible...i think wrapping the jacket and soldering in a machigane is probably easier in the long run so you might as well learn the traditional way...but either way it is not an easy task, like a custom fit piece of jewelery, some specialized craftsmen in japan focus on habaki alone as a lifetime pursuit...keep it up!

[@ironsideedgeworks]

Thank you for sharing your process. Beautiful Work.

[@dmitriykuznetsov1978]

Мне нравится как этот человек создаёт свои шедевры, и самое главное что без лишнего трепа! Просто, молча делая своё дело.

[@ОлегСтогний-й7н]

Субтитры не помешали бы .

[@davidwelton3607]

Awesome work. I'm going to attempt my first habaki tomorrow. We'll see how it goes...

[@islandblacksmith]

great! more detail here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-habaki/ machigane info: islandblacksmith.ca/2014/10/classical-tanto-construction-habaki-%E3%81%AE-machigane/

[@stanleyjaxen8759]

this is my favourite one so far the geometry is divine, thank you so much wouls be cool to see a soldering instruction for this, i gather you packed the solder behind the join bound with wire and heated to cherry red and capillary flow soldered the join but no silver seems to show through when you file it down

[@N.M.E.]

When the fit is good enough, and the gaps are small, one can get the silver to be practically invisible without etching and a microscope

[@mattm9759]

Wow amazing! to watch all the parts that make up a japanese sword forged and hand made just incredible

[@islandblacksmith]

it is amazing what can be done with a hammer and a file!

[@joresvanwensen922]

Gonna make mine this way from now on. My way was terribly hard compared to this. Thank you for showing this 😊

[@islandblacksmith]

great! more detail here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-habaki/ machigane info: islandblacksmith.ca/2014/10/classical-tanto-construction-habaki-%E3%81%AE-machigane/

[@drpablovazquez]

Very beautiful work, congratulations.

[@rodneylangstroth4577]

Excellent work Sir

[@RougemontForge]

An excellent tutorial! I need to make myself one of those punches for doming the inside of the habaki.

[@islandblacksmith]

pretty handy tool, also doubles as a rough form to forge on later...should have radius in both directions but front to back is the important one to prep for the bend...

[@ЕвгенийЕвгеньевич-м5в]

your work of the master should be paid as the work of a dentist🏵

[@islandblacksmith]

haha, it is a lot like making jewelry most of the time!

[@yizhuolin3906]

wait... at 21:57 did you just plug a short pencil in a bamboo so you don't have to waste it when it's short? that's brilliant!

[@islandblacksmith]

just find one that fits tightly! ^__^

[@PatheticPeasant]

If you have a thick enough piece of copper, could a guy still some holes, so some file work to get it started on the knife and then heat it and hammer it onto the blade? This way it's fitted without folding and soldering. Or would this method be to complicated?

[@islandblacksmith]

best to always start with the 1000 year old tried and tested method first...

[@TheDocChannel]

Beautiful work.

[@KF1]

Awesome work

[@lucaazeri1700]

Top of the line job

[@tikataka11]

Just Perfect , really enjoy your work !! Have great weekend and regards from Europa .........XXXX !

[@ericcartrette6118]

Very nice work as always. I've got a piece of copper that I'm hoping is thick enough to make a habaki or two. I suspect I'll refer to this video plenty of times when I get started.

[@islandblacksmith]

excellent! you may find some additional useful information here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/

[@ericcartrette6118]

Thanks! I'll be checking it out.

[@Ohyouknowbro]

What did you use to weld/solder?? Was it silver solder? This is the hardest part for me to grasp lol

[@islandblacksmith]

yes, medium or hard silver solder or even just fine silver if you are very careful with the heat...takes some practice but a clean and well-fit joint and careful heating are the most important parts...

[@Ohyouknowbro]

@@islandblacksmith awesome thank you so much for the info!!! I appreciate it a ton

[@islandblacksmith]

there's a lot of detail on the process here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-habaki/

[@ivanclerc2488]

Great work 👏!!! how to join copper! what glue did you use?

[@islandblacksmith]

pure silver, sterling silver, or silver solder...borax for flux...

[@randycamp4280]

Did I miss something about soldering? I saw you make the flux to join the 2 pieces and put it into the forge. Please explain what you did. This video was amazing by the way.

[@islandblacksmith]

you did! 14:45 is a small strip of fine silver bent into a horseshoe, it is coated in flux and set onto the machigane before going into the forge...you can see it at 15:01 ...plenty more details here: islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-habaki/

[@johnhoward3271]

I've heard of " O.C.D. ! ( now I've seen it on KZbin ) ! You're darn good at what You do , but , I'm afraid I'm going to have to hide all the knives in the house AGAIN ( before I get susideal , watching You )

[@islandblacksmith]

it is amazing to learn how long real things take to make in the real world, isn't it! ...that's why i always try to link the short edit in the description, this version is for students of the forge...

[@rafaelmattos4275]

Sempre que eu olho para um habaki eu me lembro de um cadeado! Pelo formato ser pra mim parecido e ser feito de metais parecido ...Então a pergunta é será que daria para fazer um habaki apartir de um cadeado? Se alguém já pensou nessa hipótese também dê alguma sugestão ou se expresse.

[@islandblacksmith]

i would like to see a padlock made in the shape/form of habaki! ^__^

[@blacktemplar2207]

habaki is definitely the most fun part in swordmaking :D

[@islandblacksmith]

...like precision-fit jewellery for the blade...

[@federicogomez4983]

Que producto utilizan para unir las partes del habaki?, gracias

[@Soulsmithing]

Very nicely done!

[@18IMAMGODINA]

When you "quench" the copper does it warp at all? Im aware that it makes it softer but does it warp it like it warps irons , it would be very dificult to soften copper so that you can work on it if it warps every time , Great work on the tanto and im aware im a bit late xD

[@islandblacksmith]

not that i am aware of but it wouldn't really matter much as it is in an annealed state...

[@18IMAMGODINA]

@@islandblacksmith Ah , yes it is softer and easier to work on right , thank you for response . Your videos are first and foremost very informative especially for someone who is trying to learn the process and is also just as much inspiring , keep up the great work!

[@islandblacksmith]

..and plenty more detail on the website...keep it up!

[@lancelottavola9685]

hello, what is the formula for the solder you use in the habaki ? LIKE

[@中山新-d6w]

おみごと 素晴らしい物を見せてもらいました。

[@akatoxin2246]

うーん、何て無駄のない作業工程。仕上がりの美しさといい加工精度といい感嘆するばかり。

[@islandblacksmith]

arigatou...madamadadesu! m(-______-)m

[@luizferreirafreitas6395]

eu gostei muito desse habaki e me ajudou bastante

[@TheMrplongeur]

Now let's make some Mokume Gane :D Great way to forge a Habaki by the way !

[@islandblacksmith]

i have seen just a couple of late edo tsuba made from mokumegane, no habaki or other fittings yet...but they may be out there somewhere...shakudo would be cool!

[@TheMrplongeur]

Not specially to make fittings, you can make some jewerly or buttons with mokume gane :D Shakudo would certainly be cool for fittings

[@ians1464]

Yeah you did good job that was nice work there

[@artificial_element]

how do you know how long the thick part of the habaki has to be?

[@woodstockxx]

Beautiful work..Done this before have you ? .. I’d love to try it but sadly can’t see myself being anywhere near as handy with a hammer..lol

[@islandblacksmith]

...this is how you get handy...one at a time!

[@exboyben5290]

Perfect

[@thefamily_ak1863]

So good

[@paulwiggins183]

So, are you closing the slot on the edge side of the habaki, just with the cold hammering... or leaving it open? I've rerun the video many times to get a good view but can not make it out. Some of your pieces look closed and some appear open.

[@islandblacksmith]

the edge side is usually a hairline opening from the end of the machigane forward, basically closed but not joined in any way...if the edge has ubuha there may be a slightly wider gap... islandblacksmith.ca/2014/10/classical-tanto-construction-habaki-%E3%81%AE-machigane/

[@paulwiggins183]

Got it. It is a challenge to tailor words to describe three dimensions. We are all trying to learn in the absence of masters standing beside us. Or something.

[@Marlin7830]

Will any silver solder work when soldering in the wedge piece?

[@islandblacksmith]

yes, real silver solder in any temp, or even sterling or fine silver...all strong enough, some easier to use than others...

[@Marlin7830]

@@islandblacksmith thanks and that's awesome work 😎

[@PKBladesmith]

Hi, Dave! Could you tell us what camera do you use to film your videos? I love your work, very inspirational. Cheers from Poland.

[@islandblacksmith]

much appreciated! nothing special, just my digital still camera for all my photos and video...it is an older model olympus omd-em5 with an adapter for glass lenses made in the 1980's...

[@PKBladesmith]

thanks for answer! once again - i love your videos, cheers

[@williamavery9185]

I am sure i have all these simple tools in my shed, the forge may be a bit harder. What with the niebours and her washing .

[@islandblacksmith]

definitely no forging on wash day! ...but the forge itself can be very small and simple: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWbLpWOGa82lkKc

[@johnbautista4517]

What is that thing you put inside the habaki before heating🤔

[@islandblacksmith]

plenty of info in the description...hard silver solder and borax flux...

[@johnbautista4517]

@@islandblacksmith thank you sir now i know im just a beginner and i want to learn many things about forging😁

[@nude-hd.xyz-besduldingsi3616]

最高にクールな短刀ですな。しかも海外の人だし、日本人の僕よりも行動力あって羨ましい。

[@islandblacksmith]

m(-_____-)m ...madamadadesu!

[@Rsama60]

Very beautiful. But simple tools? He used two of the most sophisticated tools there are. His hands.

[@islandblacksmith]

very true!

[@GG-gm4mx]

Cool profesional

[@harpicep888]

QUESTION How thick katana habaki is?

[@emreguzelgorur9332]

This is art :)

[@МюмюнЕргин]

Your a lifesaver

[@islandblacksmith]

there's more detail and info on the website, down at the bottom of the process page...

[@windigowhispers]

are you forging a taper into the sides of the habaki?

[@islandblacksmith]

yes, a small amount...the back end shouldn't be like a huge wedge though...saya holding pressure is only on the ha and the mune, not the sides...

[@stanli811]

восхитительно

[@kevinmorales9451]

Master

[@lelongclaude8181]

Fantastique

[@владимирлебедев-ш2ю]

Klass 🇷🇺👍👍👍

[@АлексейЧердаков-р5л]

красавчик!

[@jeovaneleiteparedes1557]

Utilidade pública

[@DEEPDIVERever]

Magic!)

[@andre-dx4yw]

simple tools plus forge lol

[@islandblacksmith]

simple tools and a simple forge: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWbLpWOGa82lkKc