BLACKSMITHING CHAT WITH OLD FRIENDS was:[TheForge] WHATTHEHELL
Demon Buddha
[email protected]
Sun Jun 23 21:55:01 2002
Ralph wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Huh... I would never have associated the desireable qualities
> > of a sword with vibration. Weight, "balance", cutting ability,
> > yes.
>
> Because you did not really read the statement. Vibration is was not being
> touted as a good thing. But the vibrations node location was decidedly
> important. All things vibrate. It is the nature of things. If a long item
> is not designed with the thought of the vibrations taken into account you
> will have problems. For example, the suspension bridge that started to rock
> in the wind until it finally collapsed. . Right now I can not remember when
> and where this was... IIRC it was Washington State and in the '40s......
> But the point was that the vibratory node location is very important.
Tacoma Narrows bridge.
As for vibrations, I understand what was said. I never considered
any practical length sword to be long enough for such vibration
to be a significant problem. If the steel is not in a good state
of heat treat, I can see how there may be problems with, say, a
flamberge or a 7 foot long tachi, but it came as a bit of a surprise
that something of more modest proportions such as a katana would
have such problems. But then, if it is of good overall design and
construction, it won't. :)