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Hello all
I am seeking some guidance and advice preferably hands on.
I live in Brisbane and would like to see,feel and use some Japanese tools before I start throwing money at some tools.
So if you know someone or you are someone who would not mind helping me out, please feel free to send me a pm.
Cheers Michael
Hi Michael - as Jtool users we are few and far between so local hands on help maybe difficult to find, however if you ask questions via the forum many will surely help.
What tools are you looking at? Nomi, Kanna, Kibiki, Nokogiri?
Are you looking budget, medium or high cost brand tools?
Here is my list of various Jtools brands listed in a partially subjective descending order of quality / price / collectability. Be aware that brands go in and out of fashion. Also what difference there may be between one brand and another can be subjective or trivial for tools at roughly at the same level requiring a certain sensitivity to differentiate, however difference between the top and the bottom can be as night and day. Most people have very limited experience with different brands and they will often make recommendations based on their limited exposure. Do not discount New/Old Stock their are some amazing tools by unknown makers or with wholesale branding that are excellent.
Nomi
Kiyohisa (Probably the best of the current blacksmith - 3 year wait) $$$$ 2 on order
Tasai (One of the Cult brands lovely fit and finish - 1 year wait) $$$$ - I own 1 With 1 on order
Kunikei (I love his artestry - 6 month wait) $$$$ I own 1 With 1 on order
Kikuhiromaru (Great Value For Money - 1 month wait) $$$ I own 4
Masashige (Affordable but tuff - I am rather fond of his work I plan to buy more- 1 month wait) $$ I own 1 With 2 on order
Iyoroi $$
Takahashi $$
Ouchi (One of the first brands sold in the West back in the 1970's) $ I own 2
Koyamaichi $
Fujikawa $
Kanna (All Very Good Not Really very much between them)
Kunio Yokoyama (Now retired I believe) $$$$
Funahiro (Many would say he is the best) $$$$
Tsunesaburo (Huge range of steels and plane types) $$$
KeiSaburo (A new generation forging forward) $$$ (I am considering placing an order)
Waterstones (Very Personal Preference)
Sigma (Hard and wide range of grits)
Naniwa
Bester
King (Soft matrix old style)
Genno
Masayuki Baba $$$$
Tenryuu $$$
Aida Hiroki $$$
Online Tool Stores
Mandaraya (My go to shop) - Japanese Language
Kanamonoya - Japanese Language
Noborihamono - Japanese Language
Proshophokuto - Japanese Language
Tools from Japan
Japan Tool
Youtube Resources
https://www.youtube.com/user/Sumokun/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/tracestudy/videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWpLYnUZDIU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzVOK7suaJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx39f4Y7l8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKuqd-l2LHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C14yYCRq5XU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xSb-QK95BQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2VQHYX1N4k
Thank you for so much information I see there is a lot for me to take in.
Be careful, ask questions.
If you get a kanna get a small kanna first like a 48mm wide blade. Avoid the large kanna initially as they are more difficult to setup and use. If you use western temperate hardwoods get a Omote-najimi angle 42º thats your bedding angle.
A good intro into all the steel types can be read here:
Steel used in Tsunesaburo planes. : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
As for chisels its a mater of taste, what you plan to build, temples, houses or fine furniture. Most chisels are made from White Steel No. 1 however sometimes you get Blue Steel chisels and their is a trend to use HSS as well.
Their are many types of nomi:
Mentori oire-nomi - The most common style "‘Mentori’ literally translates as ‘chamfered’ and in this case creates the often seen ‘bevel edge’ chisel familiar to most woodworkers. Of similar ‘bulk’ to the Kaku-uchi oire-nomi but the with upper edges of the blade made bevelled."
Attachment 436142
Kaku-uchi oire-nomi. - An older style pre 1950's akin to a western firmer chisel - many like myself prefer their aesthetics "Kaku-uchi oire-nomi chisels are of a traditional style with a square/box type (Isosoles Trapezoid(US)/Trapezium(UK)) cross section. The sides of these chisels are slightly angled and there is no flat land on the sides of the blade or bevelled edges as present in the typically seen ‘oire-nomi’.
Attachment 436143
Hira-machi oire-nomi - "The flat neck of these chisels is designed to allow a flush paring cut to be performed without damage to surrounding areas as the rounded, bulging neck of a more common oire-nomi may cause. Thinner in profile than is usual, these chisels are more of a furniture makers chisel than a carpenter’s chisel, but have the basic strength to cope with regular chiselling tasks."
Attachment 436144
Tataki Nomi - More a carpenter chisel - heavier d longer.
Usu Nomi - Fine pairing chisel
Attachment 436145
Their are dozens more specialised chisel, mortising chisels, chisels for cleaning out the corners of mortises, to scrape mortise bottoms, fishtail (bachi) and skew.
Also their is timber handle material. Here is a good articles:
Japan Tool
White Oak is sturdy and unpretentious but gets dirty easy, Gumi is however my favourite for a sticking chisel. Red Oak is nice but not durable.
Another thing is appearance versus function - it is tempting to buy Damascus style laminated tools with all the pretty patterns and folds, however this is gaudy and detracts from the essence of the tool. A beautiful tool is Wabi Sabi imperfect in its perfection. The Japanese value the aesthetics of ambiguity.
Two books that you must read are:
Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 1 The Basics Paperback – January 30, 2012 by Desmond King (Desmond is a QLD who lived in Japan and would be the most knowledgeable Japanese woodworker in Australia/West)
Attachment 436147
Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use by Toshio Odate
Attachment 436146
Thank you again thumbsucker
you have given me so much to take in
I appreciate and am grateful for your time and effort
domo arigato gozaimasu
Just noticed that the JTools website links are broken.
Mandaraya (My go to shop) - Japanese Language http://www2.odn.ne.jp/mandaraya/
Kanamonoya - Japanese Language http://www.e-kanamonoya.jp
Noborihamono - Japanese Language http://noborihamono.com
Proshophokuto - Japanese Language http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~ttoishi/sub4.htm
Use Google Chrome for auto translate or get a translation plugin - however it can still often be a mystery. Japanese is just so different to English grammatically and conceptually.
I enjoy sharing knowledge about JTools however I fear that a lifetime would not be enough to comprehend their mysteries.
This is a great guide to buying used Japanese tools
https://joinerynotebook.blogspot.com...ing-guide.html
Here is my Japanese Woodworking bookmarks I have collected totalling 156 links, it would take your months to go through it. Enjoy :;
eBay Japanese Tools
Japanese Planes
Japanese Chisels
Japanese Axes
Japanese Saws
Japanese Hammers
Kanamonoya71
Tool Merchants Western
Tools From Japan
Japan Tool - Home
Wood working tool, Japanese wood working tool shop
Hida Tool Hardware Company
Shop Woodworking Tools at Japan Woodworker
Suzuki-ya, Superior Japanese Hand Tools
Tool Merchants Japanese
Kanamonoya - YES
Noborihamono - YES
Pro Shop Hokuto - YES
Mandaraya - YES
Tool Blacksmiths / Manufacturing
BANSHU-MIKI-UCHI-HAMONO
List of Japanese Blacksmith
Products
Ioroi
Skills of Sanjo Blacksmithing - SANJO CITY
The Japanese tradirtional Blacksmith NAKAYA-HEIJI
Fujikawa Tools Miki City
Tsunesaburo planes
Specialty mail order Aldea of carpenter tools, hardware
金物のまち三木
Metal : Banshu Miki Forged Blades
Ouchi
大内俊明／大内鑿製作所<- YouTube
Ouchi chisel Works | woodworking classroom expedition
4 minutes and 1-sun Konari fourth generation Diary custom chisel Manufacturing Co., Ouchi (Tsunouchi)
Miki Chamber of Commerce and Industry [Bussan exhibit space: Mfg. Co., Ouchi chisel]
Manufacturing Co., Ouchi chisel
Manufacturing Co., Ouchi chisel
Power Tools Center Fuji shop carpenter&#39;s tool
Craftsman introduction ... Ouchi Toshiaki Motoyuki blacksmith-Miki
株式会社 大内鑿製作所
▶Mahogany Masterpieces video - YouTube
Blogs Forums
鋸 Nokogiri-Kanna-Nomi
Joinery Notebook
Japanese Woodworking Forums • Index page
Joinery Notebook: Used Tool Buying Guide (eBay)
My Dougu
New Shizutanil
Dogyu
PF Cabinetmaker - Dogyu 70mm kanna | Facebook
PF Cabinetmaker - Dogyu 70mm kanna | Facebook
Dogyu 70mm kanna | Facebook
DOCUMENTS
Japanese Woodworking Forums • View topic - Kuro Matsu
Japanese Woodworking Forums :: View topic - Japanese Interpreter Please
Shapton USA, Pepperell MA
All In The Family?
Kanna Tuning
How to tune up a kanna part 1 - YouTube
How to tune up a kanna part 2 - YouTube
How to tune up a kanna part 3 - YouTube
Japan Tool - Technique Knowledge - Uniqueness of Japanese Planes
Nomi Tuning
Japanese Chisel Tuneup - Part 1 - Fine Woodworking
Japanese Chisel Tuneup - Part 2 - Fine Woodworking
Japanese Chisel Tuneup - Part 3 - Fine Woodworking
How to Set the Hoops on Japanese Chisels
Japan Tool - Chisels - Handle Making
the Carpentry Way: Two on Test (Part 2)
the Carpentry Way: Japanese chisels
Here’s ho(o)ping « Tools from Japan blog.
Joinery
継ぎ手<- YouTube
04 square dovetail joints - YouTube
square EriwaariTsugi joint
ChiTsugi joint
square ferrule joint fittings
square deformation joint
Sabiduria y antiguedad , Los japoneses - 1 de 4 - YouTube
Natural Stones
Some history and thoughts on the mine structure of Kyoto | thejapanblade.com Blog
Precise Sharpening
Waterstone, Bench, Natural, 400 to 800 Grit, 220mm x 65mm x 65m - The Wood Works Book & Tool Co.
Waterstone, Bench, Natural, 800 to 1200 Grit, 220mm x 65mm x 62 - The Wood Works Book & Tool Co.
Japanese Whetstone Glossary | TomoNagura.Com
nakayama ohira awasedo natural japanese stones thejapanblade
nakayama ohira awasedo natural japanese stones thejapanblade
Japanese Natural Stones Toishi
Craftsman
Richard Wiborg
Douglas Brooks Boatbuilder - Welcome!
Custom Japanese Shoji Screens | Bluefield Joiners Japanese Architectural Woodworking | Shoji Screens
Ryohes woodworking
Traditional Maritime Skills
DM King | Shoji and Kumiko Design | Queensland Australia ::
Furniture Maker Kintaro Yazawa:Japanese Woodwork, Joinery, Japanese traditional woodworking
Craftsman Video
Mahogany Masterpieces video - YouTube
Japanese Tools Smiths
Ouchi
Symbol struggle 4th Mfg. Co. chisel by Ouchi
Tsunesaburo Planes
Japanese Tools Stores
Knife Making Steel
Shinwa Measuring Tools Corp.
Steel | DICTUM GmbH - More Than Tools
Japan Tool - Home
Japan-Tool Online Shopping Cart
Wood working tool, Japanese wood working tool shop
Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
index
Welcome to Hida Tool's Web Site
Japanwoodworker - Home - The Japan Woodworker Catalog
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum -
Two pines
Japanese Chisels
HMS Enterprises, Inc : JapaneseTools.com
Japanese Tools Setup Use
Sumokun - YouTube
Japanese Tool Glossary A-M
Daiku Dojo -- Japanese Style Woodworking Group
Ura-dashi — Tapping out
How to Use a Japanese Plane 1: How to Set the Blade
Tuning a Japanese hand-plane
How to Sharpen a Plane Blade Part1: How to Make a Beautiful Ura (Uraoshi Technique)
How to Sharpen a Plane Blade Part2: How to sharpen the front side.
How to Sharpen a Plane Blade Part 3: How to sharpen the front side freehanded.
Some new Japanese Chisels by Yamahiro
giant Cypress: Japanese woodworking tool punk • Japanese plane set up - I: fitting the blade
giant Cypress: Japanese woodworking tool punk • Japanese plane set up - II: Sole conditioning
giant Cypress: Japanese woodworking tool punk • Japanese plane set up - III: Final tweaks
Japanese Hand Saws - The Wood Works Book & Tool Co.
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum - Commentary1: The different types of nomi
How to set up a brand new chisel
An exploration of the backing materials used in Japanese blades. : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
Steel used in Tsunesaburo planes. : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
Japanese Woodworking Books
Making Shoji: Toshio Odate: 9780941936477: Amazon.com: Books
Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens: Jay van Arsdale: 9780870118647: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: The Soul of a Tree: A Master Woodworkers Reflections (9780870119033): George Nakashima: Books
Art Of Japanese Joinery: Kiyosi Seike: 9780834815162: Amazon.com: Books
The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: The Secrets of a Craft: Azby Brown: 9784770019783: Amazon.com: Books
The Complete Japanese Joinery: Hideo Sato, Yasua Nakahara, Koichi Paul Nii: 9780881791211: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: Japanese Joinery: A Handbook for Joiners and Carpenters (9780881790016): Yasuo Nakahara: Books
Amazon.com: Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 1 The Basics (9780987258304): Desmond King: Books
Home | Select II Ceramic Waterstone
japanese tool company woodworking tool blade knife whetstone kanna nomi ono nokogiri
japanesesaw - RK TRADING
Japanese Woodworking Blogs Forums
Japanese Woodworking Forums • Index page
Daiku Dojo -- Japanese Woodworking Group
giant Cypress: Japanese woodworking tool punk
the Carpentry Way
Robin Wood: Japanese woodworking tools, axes and adzes
Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
Museums
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum | Home
Traditional Crafts of Japan
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
General Tool Resources
japanese tool Description
Daiku Dojo -- Interesting Web Links
:<<>>: JAANUS :<<>>: Terminology of Japanese Architecture Art History
Getting a handle on things... « Tools from Japan blog.
Traditional Crafts of Japan
Skills of Sanjo Blacksmithing - SANJO CITY
Denshi Jisho - Online Japanese dictionary
Japanese units of measurement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Convert Japanese length units
KANNA ALPHEBETICAL
Kezurou-kai USA
Convert 寸 to cm | Japanese sun to centimeters
Japanese weights and measures - Everything2.com
Here is an Aussie site japanesetools.com.au
I have brought a saw, combo stone and some marking knives from them, both F2F and online.
I agree with the addage to buy the best tool you can afford, this makes me a tool snob.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat
Personally their are much better sources with much better range of choices and prices.
Most stuff they sell is factory made and is made for the mass consumption market.
They do stock some brand names but you are buying off the shelf, almost all others sellers will allow you to customise your purchase.
If price is a constraint factor then look at new/old stock. For far less money you can get some amazing tools.
This is were I would advice most people to start out. Buy an old kanna and an old nomi then learn to set up and use, then spread out.
You're probably overwhelmed at this point but...
Another chisel maker to add to the list would be Hidari Konobu (左小信). Saitou-san being the main blacksmith. I've got 8 chisels from him. All excellent fit and finish with great edge retention. Hard to find these outside of Japan best to get in contact with people in Japan and they can order these quite easily. He is more known as an excellent carving chisel maker rather than standard chisels but the fit and finish is superb regardless.
Regarding Kiyohisa, last I heard a few months back he was ill and the waitlist is growing longer. I hope he recovers (if he hasn't already).
As for kanna, Takeo Nakano, Fusaichi Yamaguchi and Yamamoto all make excellent kanna for their price, too. I cant justify purchasing from japanesetools.com.au when the same can be had for a reasonable discount direct from Japan for most items they stock.
Best of luck. Don't get sucked in like I have.... It gets very involved haha.
Thanks Thumbsucker. Will spend the next few weeks while off my feet reading the links!
Having watched his comments over many years I would recommend Stan Covington if anyone needs a guiding hand from someone living in Japan. Covington & Sons Tools – Information about using and maintaining woodworking tools, especially Japanese chisels and planes