Hey guys, over the past month after the first drop of Bolt Kendamas, i realized that i needed to put way more time into my shape, so i was wondering what you guys think. Ken: Do you like a slim or thick ken? Do you like a curved or geometric slip stop? Long or shorter spike? Pointy or bluffed spike? Sarado: wide or narrow? Big or small cups? Defined or smooth edges? Tama: Wide bevel or smaller bevel? Paint or natty? Sticky or cushion? I will be taking all of your answers into account so please help me out!!
Ken: slimmer, curved slip stop, pointy spike. Sarado: wide sarado, big cups and smooth edges (my favorite for lunars with the big chunky cups) Tama: wider bevel, and either natty (I prefer maple with burn lines on the bottom like a 70 30) or cushion (maybe sticky paint if it's super strong and doesn't wear out. I hope this helps, and if you have any specific questions about what I said above just dm me on instagram (@dama.eric)
What I would do is try and find a jka mugen and use it as a template. And then maybe sharpen up the specifics. I. E. The cups slip stop sarado etc. I don't think you could go wrong with that. Just throwing in my 2 cents.
This is how I was until I got my first craft. I shredded that thing until it was so tacky. Tackier than any of my slaydawgs. But, you don't have that In your mind so I completely see where you're coming from. This is another thing to think about. @Ryan Brewer are you going to keep selling your original bolt kendamas? If so definitely make this one a painted one so you can attract a wider range of customers.
Very true. Maybe find some other great damas and see what parts are your favorite from each. I personally like a bigger dama (like 2% bigger or something) because I'm a bigger guy.
Yes we're still selling our original ones, this is once we sell out, looking for ideas on a next batch
Another thing I love with tamas is that circle on the hole where the string goes in. Helps me so much for tracking.
Bluffed spike, long spike smooth cup edges round slip stop wide sarado, I like the current size of your Ken.
I like a slimmer ken with a chunky big cupish sarado, usually of medium width. I like a medium sized tama hole and the paint at the string hole helps a lot like @Eric H mentioned above. As for paint I tend to really enjoy the cushion, I find that cush clear is amazing all around. All around I like more defined edges, they always break in where you need them to anyways.
I'm into all sorts of shapes. I definitely prefer deep cups, curved cup rims a-la 2.0 and yancy, and sharp edges like RWB and HG's are a must.
Make a couple of single prototypes and get some good players to play with them. Probably the biggest thingn for me personally is just having the kendama feel good in my hands. Slaydawgs feel really good, classic homegrowns feel really good. Sweets pro mods feel really good.
Yep. That's a great idea, definitely worth a try. maybe make a poll for what ken, serado and tama people like. After all, you can't please everyone but it's best to get a ton of opinions that are easy to sort through
I really like big cups with quite wide rims so it is more durable. Quite thin sarado and sword like prime shape so it is gunslinger killer. Definitely not short spike so lunard are good. And one thing about underbirds and axes. In my opinion they are good when tama stays on bottom pf big cup and ring. It is bad for underbirds when it doesnt touch the ring. That is what I noticed while playing on damas. Wide bevel, and I think double bevel like GT-KA would work but I have never tried it. About paint I really like tacky paints. I have vever played on natty ash so maybe it is better than everything, but if you want have natty tama l, use the grippy wood. I have sanga kendama and I love the bullet spike. Spikes on it are so easy that they are almost everytime in If you will be doing a natty tama, you should definitely burn lines or something for tracking. Black string definitely. I hope I helped
1. Blunted spike, its more durable 2. Not as wide as a sarado as the first one 3. Huge cups 4.angel cup rims to meet bevel exact to lock in stalls 5.wider sword 6. Chunky slip stop(and if you wanted you could copy the swoop 7. A big base cup to even out, if it's top heavy no lighthouses 8. Maple ken 9.maple tama with Purple Heart stripe 10.No paint
I like what everyone else is saying except about the giant cups. I feel like they take away some skill needed to perform tricks. I don't mind a little bit bigger than usual but I don't think you need huge cups. But it's your idea so do what you'll be happy with.
A lot of similar thoughts on what people here have posted about what they like on their favorite ken shapes, but not every kendama shape will please everyone. I myself am not a big fan of the Prime/NG Homegrown shapes. Doesn't make them bad, but to each their own In the end, make what you think is going to be a really good kendama. Take inspiration from what everyone here has said and from what you have seen yourself work well for other companies and make it your own. Best of luck!