Thread: HSC Japanese Project

Hi Josh

Think about using;
1/ wedges in the ends of your tenons.
or
2/ using dowel as pins.

Great design, really great design.

Hi Josh, my initial thoughts are the same as Snowgum's, but after I've had my coffee & woken up I'll check a couple of my books and see what a Japanese craftsman may have used. You might also message a member here, goodwoody, who spent some time in Japan and can probably help with getting it right.

If I understand your question about the panels: You could attach the panels by inserting them into grooves in the legs and rails. If the panels are veneered plywood or mdf you won't have to worry about wood movement. If the drawers are going to sit on that bottom panel, you could simply drop the panel into rebates on the lower rails. I'd also consider adding an intermediate rail to support that lower panel so it doesn't sag under the weight of the drawers.

You show through tenons on the ends of the long rails. I assume you also have blind tenons on the short rails. Do those underlap the long rail tenons? If you haven't already detailed that intersection it might take a little thought.

I'm not sure how the top is constructed but you might run into a problem with having the legs tenoned into it that way. If/when the top shrinks or swells the top could split or buckle or put tension on the rail joinery. But I might be misinterpreting your design.

Admire your dedication but why in the middle of holidays are you worrying about this? there must be 8-9 months ahead unless your late from last year.

He’s very sensible to start early. He will probably only have a few hours a week in the woodwork shop. I worked as a classroom assistant in a high school woodwork shop and witnessed the kids running out of time to finish their VCE projects. The sooner he gets on the tools the more chance he has of completing his project.

Originally Posted by Josh_dennis

... I'm attempting this project with no nail or screws and mostly frictions and glue joints. ...

Hi Josh

The Japanese name for that style of furniture making is sashimono - except they do not use glue either - and usually their designs are much lighter than your design. Remember the maxims : -

• the line that you leave out is as important as the line you leave in, and
• remove the inessential, and nothing else.

Do some googling on sashimono.

An excellent text on Japanese joinery is: -
Kiyosi Seike, "The Art of Japanese Joinery."

Hi, yes I'm planning on doing that for the through motise and tenon joints which you can see from the front.
Thanks

Hi, I've attached some photos of what I'm currently thinking as well what I think you are describing, the problem I'm having is when attempting to rebate the top and bottom panels they will run into the motise of the side panels as there is only a 10mm distance between the edge of each pannels.
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Originally Posted by Tonyz

Admire your dedication but why in the middle of holidays are you worrying about this? there must be 8-9 months ahead unless your late from last year.

Thanks Mate, trying to get ahead before going back to school as my timeplan for the project is very tight as well I'm doing 3 units of math and another 3 units of science.
I don't have a lot of time this year and just using the break I can to get ahead in all classes.

Yes, the time plan is tight as you can see attached. Time action plan Activity.docx

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Hi Josh

The Japanese name for that style of furniture making is sashimono - except they do not use glue either - and usually their designs are much lighter than your design. Remember the maxims : -

• the line that you leave out is as important as the line you leave in, and
• remove the inessential, and nothing else.

Do some googling on sashimono.

An excellent text on Japanese joinery is: -
Kiyosi Seike, "The Art of Japanese Joinery."

If I was given more time I would attempt to create the project without glue and that was one of my goals for the project when presenting it to my class, but then my teacher reminded me about how little amount of time we have. I'll look into sashimono and attempt on finding the book.
Thanks

Hi Josh,

What tools and experience have you had woodworking?.

Originally Posted by Josh_dennis

Hi, I've attached some photos of what I'm currently thinking as well what I think you are describing, the problem I'm having is when attempting to rebate the top and bottom panels they will run into the motise of the side panels as there is only a 10mm distance between the edge of each pannels.

If I have this right you're saying that the mortises are 10mm in from the side of the framing members? If that is correct a groove (dado) in the framing member 5mm deep will be plenty to adequately house the side panels and shouldn't unduly weaken the mortise and tenon joints.

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver71

Hi Josh,

What tools and experience have you had woodworking?.

I have access to a highschool work shop which has machines like thicknesses, drill press machines, table saw and all the other standard tools. I've just purchased a japanese pull saw which I'm attempting to use on this project. I've created 2 river tables which are attached as well a tripod table and jewelry box along with other tools and smaller projects. The tripod table as well doesn't have any screws and mostly uses dowels.

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