Thread: Japanese/American Oak's Versus Australian Timbers

There's a member on the forum that asked the same question, pretty much.
His user name is Ikkyu... perhaps searching for his threads and pm'ing him would assist you.

Have fun....

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

Last thing we need is someone beloved $40 made in China Oak bokuto etc exploding or being shredded by an Australian monster timber. Some people would cry.

let them cry , and have them queing up at your door to bye your $100 "black but" weapons

I have sent a private message to Ikkyu. I participated in the bokken thread a while back. While this question is related I found that the old thread was rather dead.

My question is more about information that point's to the Janka, rupture, elasticity rating for Japanese Oak - Do they even use Janka outside Australia?

I got some private messages may be of interest.

I just posted to your other thread.
Exador does have some nice jap oak boards in good long lengths too.

cheers

Why not have a yarn with the smart boys and girls at the CRC for Wood Innovation http://www.crcwood.unimelb.edu.au/index.html?

G’day thumbsucker,
I haven’t spent much time training in ryu’s that involve hard bokuto to bokuto striking but as a rule we always used bokuto of the same wood you could never use a white oak bokken against say a bokken made of lignum vitae. As for timbers used for bokuto I’ve found timber that is dried well for more then 5 years works best IMO timber that is straight gained and has been dried well with good stability qualities are 100% important. I’m told that Japanese white oak (shiro kashi) is a slow growing tree that used to grow in the colder mountain areas of Japan the best wood of which was ¼ sawn and dried for over ten years. My guess is much of the wood we buy today isn’t dried for long engouh that goes for the Japanese white oak. I can’t help you with the Janka rating of Japanese white oak I’ve owned bokuto made out of this wood that would not dent under normal and then I’ve had ones that I can mark with my finger nail. I’ve also had the same with two spotted gum bokuto one was hard as rock the other dented up pretty fast taking good care of them is also another factor using the right oil e.g. pure tung oil. I have taken up Taiji Jian a chinese martial sword art lately I have given up my other training and making bokuto I’m now learning how to make scabbards and fittings for Chinese swords. I never got to the point where I found the best Aussie wood for bokuto making but only years of training with a weapon made of one of our great timbers will you find the right one. but I’m pretty sure one of our Aussie hardwoods would make a great bokuto maybe even better then that made else where . I’m no expert but I’m happy to help which ever way I can oh and I didn’t get your pm for some reason:mad:.

Ikkyu