My first Dha ....a few questions please

kronckew · 17th November 2007, 11:14 PM

never done them in rattan myself, have done them in rope and cordage, the basic knotwork is the simple turks head shown on the linked page. thin rattan strips are soaked in hot water to make them pliable, then the knot is tied & tightened into place. have no idea where you'd get rattan, but as they use it to re-weave chair seats, there must be a craft supplier somewhere on the internet

katana · 18th November 2007, 09:58 PM

Great stuff Kronckew

, on the hilt the strands are about 1mm wide (1/25th of an inch) it has the look and feel of rattan but I am not certain. To cut rattan into strips 1mm wide seems a skilled process, unless a tool/jig is used.
Failing that, I am wondering whether I could finish the handle in Ray skin...but I am not certain if that would be 'acceptable' ...as I would like to keep the repairs as close to its ethnic origins as possible.

Regards

kronckew · 19th November 2007, 08:32 AM

hi katana,

found that 1.5mm 'carriage' cane strips used in reweaving cane chair seats is split from rattan. can find that on the internet in 25ft. thru 1000 ft. spools, the latter may be a bit more than you need

i gather in thailand/burma, in the areas they make dhas/darbs that the little old ladies of the family sit around making the rings in a range fairly std sizes so they can be slipped over the grips & adjusted into place without too much fuss.

i imagine the supply of similar little old ladies in your area may be a bit limited tho, which is why i suggested using some lengths of flat braided twine (non-fuzzy type) of roughly the same color.

here's one i prepared earlier (it's on a long (1.25in. dia) shafted Cold Steel Assegai) i used a fairly coarse organic string to improve the grip as i was not trying to match anything, the ends of the spirally wound area were pulled back under the last few turns & cut off, the whole was 'varnished' by soaking in extra virgin olive oil which dried nicely after a few weeks. the spear shaft was also so treated.

PUFF · 19th November 2007, 12:08 PM

Traditionally, native people in this area made rattan strip with knife like this...

But, if you try local furniture makers, you may find one at reasonable size... like this
http://www.marshallmcgurk.com/SitUpon/diysales.htm

You can follow Turk Head technique. These pictures may also help.
http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...CB%C7%D2%C2%2A
http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...A1%CA%D2%C1%2A
http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...CB%C7%D2%C2%2A

In one of those link. You may notice a metal can with holes. That 's a special tool for making very very thin strips. Dont forget to soak the strips and trim their nodes before passing through the hole(s).

katana · 19th November 2007, 08:39 PM

Hi Kronckew, I (again) appreciate your advice and help.

Hi Puff,
thank you for the additional information and links. It is always good to see the tools and techniques used by locals (which are used by the makers of the weapons we all cherish)

Kind Regards David

Ferguson · 19th November 2007, 09:14 PM

Information on braiding rattan rings. Hope it's helpful.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4844

Steve

katana · 19th November 2007, 10:28 PM

Thank you Steve,
excellent post and well executed ( well it is a weapons forum

)

I think it would be a very good idea if your 'how to' thread was added to a new 'sticky' catergory that others could add to. eg how to ...make a scabbard, re-hilt a Tulwar, replacing/ repairing damaged brass work etc. The need for minor repairs and restorations seem more common these days.....or maybe because interest in Ethnic weapons is increasing, people are more inclined to improve the condition of their pieces.

Either way it would be a good resource for 'repair information'

Anyone any thoughts ?

David

19th November 2007, 08:32 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	hi katana, found that 1.5mm 'carriage' cane strips used in reweaving cane chair seats is split from rattan. can find that on the internet in 25ft. thru 1000 ft. spools, the latter may be a bit more than you need i gather in thailand/burma, in the areas they make dhas/darbs that the little old ladies of the family sit around making the rings in a range fairly std sizes so they can be slipped over the grips & adjusted into place without too much fuss. i imagine the supply of similar little old ladies in your area may be a bit limited tho, which is why i suggested using some lengths of flat braided twine (non-fuzzy type) of roughly the same color. here's one i prepared earlier (it's on a long (1.25in. dia) shafted Cold Steel Assegai) i used a fairly coarse organic string to improve the grip as i was not trying to match anything, the ends of the spirally wound area were pulled back under the last few turns & cut off, the whole was 'varnished' by soaking in extra virgin olive oil which dried nicely after a few weeks. the spear shaft was also so treated. Last edited by kronckew; 19th November 2007 at 08:43 AM.

17th November 2007, 11:14 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	never done them in rattan myself, have done them in rope and cordage, the basic knotwork is the simple turks head shown on the linked page. thin rattan strips are soaked in hot water to make them pliable, then the knot is tied & tightened into place. have no idea where you'd get rattan, but as they use it to re-weave chair seats, there must be a craft supplier somewhere on the internet

18th November 2007, 09:58 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Great stuff Kronckew , on the hilt the strands are about 1mm wide (1/25th of an inch) it has the look and feel of rattan but I am not certain. To cut rattan into strips 1mm wide seems a skilled process, unless a tool/jig is used. Failing that, I am wondering whether I could finish the handle in Ray skin...but I am not certain if that would be 'acceptable' ...as I would like to keep the repairs as close to its ethnic origins as possible. Regards

19th November 2007, 12:08 PM	#4
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Traditionally, native people in this area made rattan strip with knife like this... But, if you try local furniture makers, you may find one at reasonable size... like this http://www.marshallmcgurk.com/SitUpon/diysales.htm You can follow Turk Head technique. These pictures may also help. http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...CB%C7%D2%C2%2A http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...A1%CA%D2%C1%2A http://www.thaiblades.com/forums/sho...CB%C7%D2%C2%2A In one of those link. You may notice a metal can with holes. That 's a special tool for making very very thin strips. Dont forget to soak the strips and trim their nodes before passing through the hole(s).

19th November 2007, 08:39 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Kronckew, I (again) appreciate your advice and help. Hi Puff, thank you for the additional information and links. It is always good to see the tools and techniques used by locals (which are used by the makers of the weapons we all cherish) Kind Regards David

19th November 2007, 09:14 PM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Information on braiding rattan rings. Hope it's helpful. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4844 Steve

19th November 2007, 10:28 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you Steve, excellent post and well executed ( well it is a weapons forum ) I think it would be a very good idea if your 'how to' thread was added to a new 'sticky' catergory that others could add to. eg how to ...make a scabbard, re-hilt a Tulwar, replacing/ repairing damaged brass work etc. The need for minor repairs and restorations seem more common these days.....or maybe because interest in Ethnic weapons is increasing, people are more inclined to improve the condition of their pieces. Either way it would be a good resource for 'repair information' Anyone any thoughts ? David