How to make Sode No Shirayuki

Tutorial: Making Rukia's Sode No Shirayuki from Bleach

So I got alot of requests asking me if I could make a tutorial on how to make rukia's sode no shirayuki. Now it indeed is a beautifull sword and desrves to be made at that same beauty and elegance. So since I dont have the original sode no shirayuki anymore, nor can I make the sword again I was stuck in a problem. I cant use 3D programs so istead I just doodled all the steps that are required to make the sword sufficiently. Measurments will not be supplied or your sode no shirayuki will turn out exactly like mine lol. You will have to relay the steps with the discriptions located here to fully understand how to make rukia's Sode No Shirayuki. As always this tutorial is a but hard to understand sometimes so please feel free to answer any questions.

Step 1: The first part is drawing out the sword. This is simple if you have done it before please look at this link for more details: [link] However please listen closely, the bottom half of Sode No Shiryuki is wider then 30mm thus if you drew it on a 90mm wide strip pine, it would not have enough space. Do not worry just draw the sword or Tang as normal. Then cut out the sword using a coping saw and follow this tutorial to help you: [link]

Step 2: Then comes the boring part grab a hand file and start sharpening the blade. Details of sharpening the sword can be found in this tutorial: [link] Remember the blade should be half sharpened along the width and if possible leave a visible line of where it starts sloping.

Step 3: Next you must draw out the tsuba on a piece of MDF with a pencil. Then cut out the tsuba using a coping saw. Then finnaly cut out all the holes in the tsuba using a drill and a coping saw. Details of this information can be found in this tutorial: [link]

Step 4: Then you must create the habaki for the sword. Draw and then cut out using crafting knifes the pieces of balsa for the habaki. Glue them in place onto the sword using woodglue, and when dried use woodfiller to fill the sides and gaps. Details of creating the habaki can be found in this tutorial: [link]

Step 5: Afterwards grab a pencil and draw out the outline of the handles of sode no shirayuki onto strip pine. Then cut them out using a coping saw, remember to round the handles. In this situation just glue the handles into place though I still reccommend screwing. Details of this information can be found in this tutorial: [link] Remember the handles for sode no shirayuki have a round hilt. Also there should be a trench gap along the side of the handle where the pieces of handle you just stuck down, the bottom half is wider then 30mm. leave it for now.

Step 6: Draw out the details of the handles onto balsa wood and then cut them out with a craft knife. Then glue the pieces of balsa wood details on top of the handles in position using wood glue. Details of this can be found in the tutorial here: [link]

Step 7: Now after everything has dried and in place, the trench that I mentioned in step 5 should still be visible. Now grab some wood filler and fill in the sides of the handles and everywhere else with visible marks. Then use sandpaper to smooth the handle to a round finish. There should be no visible marks. Then grab a hook screw and screw it into the bottom of the hilt make sure its small enough to make a knot in it. Information on applying wood filler to the sides of things can be found here: [link]

Step 8: Next when your sword is dust free and mark free, grab some white primer spray paint and spray several coats all over the sword in a well ventilated room. When the sword is entirely covered then use white gloss spray paint and coat the entire sword a maximum of 2 times. Wait for paint to dry and do not inhale the fumes. Details or spraypainting a sword can be found here: [link]

Step 9: Then grab a 2 metre long white ribbon and a lengh of nylon string. Seal the end of one end of the ribbon using nail varnish to stop it fraying. Then on the other end fold the corners of the ribbon until it makes an arrow shape. They should cross over, Then get the bylon string and thread it through the opening in the top. Then with a string and sowing needle, sow both the ribbon and the nylon string in place firmly.

Step 10: To create the center piece for the string of sode no shirayuki grab 2 chess pawn pieces. Cut off the round heads off them and drill a hole right through the center of them with a drill, just larger then the width of the nylon string. Then on one of the chess pawn pieces make a counter sink not a large one. Also remember the paint the chess pawn pieces with white primer then white gloss spray paint. Then make a knot in the nylon string. Slide the chess pawn pieces on either end of the nylon string. The chess pawn piece that has a counter sink will have enough space to engulf the knot. Then the other chess pawn piece can fully encompass the knot and you should be able to now glue the pieces together.

Step 11: Now grab some wooden balls preferable with holes already driller through them. Spray them with white primer and then white gloss spray paint. Then make a knot in the nylon string and this time just push the wooden balls onto the knot. This will keep it in place as long as you dont force it out. Then Sode No Shirayuki's tail should be complete. Tie off the end of the nylon string onto the hook screw on the end of the hilt on sode no shirayuki. Then cut off the excess string or light it to seal it.

Step 12: Finnaly you must do the tsukamaki process to wrap the handles of Sode No Shirayuki. Currently I only have one handle wrap tutorial the one I used for my sode no shirayuki which is this one: [link]