Yellow sponges to contain ink are mounted in the lid and body. Phasers and proton torpedoes are currently not available options for this model. The design looks much like a space ship with a non-slip grip. A side view of the Shinwa Sharp-line sumitsubo with extra-fine line. When it comes to sumitsubo, Shinwa is the older and more experienced of the two, but Tajima has more eye-catching products and a powerful marketing department with a nation-wide distribution network. Two of both brand’s most popular models, in various states of undress, are shown below. There are two major brands of sumitsubo on the market in Japan today: Shinwa of steel square fame and Tajima best known for its tape measures. Major Brands of Modern Sumitsubo Available Today This rubber button in turn presses down on the line and sponges transferring ink to the line. This is not possible in the modern sumitsubo with its covered ink reservoir, so instead, one pushes down on a rubber button while spooling out the line to achieve the same results. Gentle Reader may recall from the previous article that, when using the traditional sumitsubo, one must simultaneously press down on both the line and wadding in the ink well with a bamboo sumisashi as the line is spooled out to ensure an adequate amount of ink soaks into the line. All that’s necessary to change a line is to open the ink reservoir, remove the reel, tie the new line to the reel and karuko, replace the reel, lay the line through the reservoir, and close the lid. And don’t forget your safety glasses.Ĭhanging the line of the modern sumitsubo is much easier than with traditional sumitsubo because there are no holes to thread the line through. leaky eyeball syndrome), the karuko sold with most of these sumitsubo are designed to automatically retract the needle safely into a plastic housing when released.Īs someone who has unintentionally initiated one or two haphazard tattoo patterns on hand and arm over the years with flying karuko needles, your humble servant highly recommends Gentle Readers “stick” with these retractable needles. Please note that this spring action, while quick and convenient, is not 100% blue bunnies and fairy farts because the karuko’s sharp little point can give the user a serious boo boo if control is lost. Some versions lack this spring and must be rewound by rotating the reel using one’s fingertips. In the case of automatic sumitsubo, as are the examples shown, a coil spring enclosed in the reel mechanism automatically spools the line back onto the reel in preparation for the next snap. This combination of sponges and seals works quite well so long as one doesn’t add too much ink. In the better sumitsubo this reservoir has rubber seals and special slits to prevent ink from leaking. The ink reservoir is concealed under a little plastic hinged door that one opens to add ink to little sponges. At the opposite end of the material, the line is aligned with another mark, tensioned, lifted up and released snapping against the material and leaving behind a line of ink.īesides the intergalactic alien design influence, the most obvious difference between these modern sumitsubo and the traditional ones is that the line, the reel, and the ink reservoir are entirely enclosed in a cleverly-designed, tough and lightweight plastic housing which not only keeps the ink from drying as quickly, but permits the tool to be dropped into a tool bag or toolbox without risk of getting black ink all over everything. The wet line is then secured to the material to be marked at one end using a “karuko” bob with a needle. These modern sumitsubo function much the same as traditional wooden sumitsubo in that a line, stored on a reel, is spooled out through a reservoir containing absorbent material soaked with ink, becoming partially saturated with ink. Gentle Readers must decide for themselves whether or not alien machine lifeforms from a far galaxy were engaged in the design process or not, but I have no doubts on the matter (シ). In the previous article your humble servant mentioned that this style of sumitsubo appears to have been designed by Cylons, the chrome-plated red-eyed nemesis of the Battlestar Galactica and her brave crew. In this edition we will take a look at the modern version sold in hardware stores around Japan. In the previous article in our series about the Sumitsubo, we examined some traditional wooden examples, and a plastic version of the same. Thus he passes through life Miyamoto Mushashi – Go Rin no Sho The way of the carpenter is to become proficient in the use of his tools First to lay his plans with true measure and then perform his work according to plan. The newest Cylon-inspired modern sumitsubo by Shinwa
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