Kamisori Handle Wrapping

[jdto]

A while ago, I acquired this Nagamasa Kamisori and it turned out to be a great find, taking a really nice edge and tamahagane to boot. The one drawback was the handle, which was a bit awkward for my big fingers. I finally ordered some black waxed cotton hobby thread from Ebay and wrapped the handle, which I think turned out rather nicely! I also took out the dremel and ground down the end of the handle, which was rough and had a protruding piece.


Here are some photos.


A quick before:

After

Of course, the little flaw in the string showed up right near the end of the wrapping, so it stayed on


I'm thinking about rubbing a bit of beeswax on the handle, then melting it in with the heat gun.

 

[Doc226]

Very nicely done.

 

[smalltank]

cool!

 

[Price]

Very nice work, Jack.

 

[johnmrson]

That looks really good. Does it feel OK to hold in the hand?

 

[jdto]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

That looks really good. Does it feel OK to hold in the hand?

Feels much better than the plain steel.

 

[tomjr]

very well done

 

[Legion]

Nice job. Is the waxed thread you used whipping twine? That stuff has many handy uses. I need a new roll of it. I use it all the time for various things.

 

[Obiwan]

Nice job (and nice razor)

 

[jdto]

Nice job. Is the waxed thread you used whipping twine? That stuff has many handy uses. I need a new roll of it. I use it all the time for various things.

Thanks. As far as I know, it's "hobby string" for making necklaces and stuff. I guess it's just waxed cotton cord of 1mm diameter.

 

[¢orey]

Great job.

 

[MrDentini]

Well done, can you share the technique used for a complete noob like myself?
Thanks.

 

[jdto]

Hmmm...I'll try to lay it out for you. Maybe I should make a video, if I can get SWMBO to act as cameraperson.

1) Take about a metre or a metre and a half of the cord.
2) Lay about 2cm worth down the shaft of the handle and start wrapping back over it.
3) continue to wrap, pulling very tightly and ensuring the strands are tightly fit together with no spaces between them.
4) Slice your pinky finger, because it has to happen at least once when dealing with a laser-sharp kamisori
5) When you get about 2cm from the other end, take the other end of your cord and tuck it back under, leaving a long enough piece that you can grab it and pull it through when you're done wrapping.
6) Wrap over top of the folded back cord, then, when you get to the end of the handle, pull that piece of cord through to tighten everything up.
7) Very carefully cut that piece of cord with an exacto or SE razor blade right where it emerges from between the wrappings, so that it is no longer visible.
8) For a thicker handle, repeat (I did this).

 

[MrDentini]

mm very interesting, but wouldn't the "closing" be easier if you make a coupla knots? I don't know how to explain that in words, but I do that sort of knot when I finish sewing buttons on a shirt, for example.

 

[jdto]

Not if you want it to look clean. That wrap doesn't actually have any knots. The tightness of the wrap keeps the ends in place and then, when you pull that last piece tight, you'd be hard-pressed to get it loose. At least, that's what it looks like to me. I'm quite happy with the way this turned out and the only thing I would change would be to examine the whole length of the cord to avoid the flaws that showed up near the end.

Here's a really bad graphic of what I did

 

[MrDentini]

The drawing really clarifies a lot, thanks.

 

[Bayamontate]

This is what I did with a sample packet of Sugru.

http://straightrazorplace.com/workshop/85769-kamisori-sugru-experiment.html

 

[ladykate]

Nice example. It looks very serviceable.

I tie off mine, too - I use blonde waxed seine cord usually. I have other colors but I like the blonde stuff. Also, I put a dab of CA on the cord at the end points. It stops the loops from sliding off the back of the handle or sliding forward. It wicks into the cord and is invisible. It really works well - I've taken off handles and the ends of the cord come off as a solid piece due to the glue.

 

[Seraphim]

You may be able to put CA over the entire surface of the twine and it'll soak in on make the wrap bombproof. I've done that successfully a few times myself.

Wax will likely remain tacky/uncomfortable forever.

 

[tomjr]

well done