MechanOdachi

For my 3D art class I decided to make a katana as my art project.  The modern machining methods and materials I use are chosen to juxtapose against the ancient art of Japanese swordsmithing.  

The blade is a single piece of 60” 1095 High Carbon Steel, waterjet, belt sanded, and machined to a 1/8” edge (in order to not make a weapon) on a manual mill using tapered end-mills. The ferrule and guard are waterjet and finished aluminum, while the handles are manually sanded HDPE.

I ultimately wasn’t able to heat treat the edge, despite my access to the university blacksmithing shop and a weak attempt to make an insulated 4’ long furnace and oil trough. The final touches that were waiting on the heat treat also didn’t get finished: like the tip grind and the handle wrap.

It was a lot of fun manufacturing the blade!.