Thanks for watching! If you'd like to support Nikita as she brings her store and guesthouse to life, check out the Kickstarter and Instagram for Akitsu Ryokan. We’re so inspired by Nikita and can’t wait to visit again soon!" Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/akitsu/akitsu-guesthouse-and-shop?ref=discovery_newest&total_hits=642842&category_id=258 Instagram instagram.com/akitsuryokan/
Scott & Jess, just give us more….. Japan, tools, woodcarving, reno, more is good! You choose what order, we’ll watch it. 400k subs, just awesome. congratulations.
Nice video! A few notes on Japanese tools. First, the reason one files the katsura is to remove any burrs from the smithing process. The burrs would cut the wood as the katsura is driven on. You shave the wood at the chisel end to lower that little "shoulder" so that you can put the katsura at your desired height. Second, the "mushroom" of wood over the katsura should usually be bigger than yours were. The idea is to completely cover the katsura with wood fibers, so stray hammer blows don't hit metal (which would dig into the chisel, or ding your hammer, or just make the chisel go a funny direction). It is easier to mushroom over the chisel end if you soak the chisel end in water for about 10 minutes. Third, your plane, which cut too deep and then not deep enough, does not have a fully set-up sole. You need to dress the sole in order to get good results. That process is too much to describe in a RUclips comment, but books by Dale Brotherton and Toshio Odate are both excellent on the subject. Glad to see you using these wonderful tools! You have some nice ones.
I'm in the UK. In around 1968 I was a management trainee on a London site. We had a few Indian carpenters who used pull saws. These looked no different to a western saw but the teeth were cut in reverse. The carpenters had them shipped in from India as they could not buy them in the UK. They were however made in Sheffield England.
I would love that. It’s not a RUclips channel but Nikita has started a Instagram and Kickstarter to follow/help her progress Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/akitsu/akitsu-guesthouse-and-shop?ref=discovery_newest&total_hits=642842&category_id=258 Instagram instagram.com/akitsuryokan/
When I do the chisels I dip the handle in water before putting the ring on. Makes it easier to mushroom the end of the handle plus the water makes the handle swell which helps keep the ring in place
Amazing! The craftsmanship that goes into the tools of the craftsmen is a thing of beauty. I think as kiwis we pride ourselves on being generalists (giving everything a go) but there’s something to be said about being a master of a specific craft. Loved this series.
My RUclips watching consists mainly of Japanese carpentry and Scott Brown. I was/am super excited to see your videos covering Japan and Japanese style tools and joinery. Keep them coming!
Hi Scott. Please do not push your Ryoba to start a cut. The steel plate is very thin and there is not reinforcement (such as a brass back on Western saws) to prevent the plate kinking. The reason for the pull action is to cut and create tension in the plate, which keeps it straight. There is not tensioning possible when you push a pull saw forward. The plate is so thin, and the teeth pretty small, that you can start the saw cut (at the closest end, near your hand) without needing to first create a kerf (as you do with a Western saw). Regards from Perth, Derek
The best thing I ever did was to buy Japanese tools. They just seem so natural to use. The joinery is sometimes complex and sometimes easy but either way, very satisfying to complete. One thing I did notice early on was that the Japanese deal mainly with soft woods, making the joinery and carving much easier. Loved your Japan trip and introducing Nikita. What a daring young lady and kudo's to her for attempting something in life completely outside one's comfort zone.
Scott & Jess, I have watched your videos since 2020 and enjoy them immensely. The Japanese series however would be the best by far - an amazing country with such incredible scenery and traditions. Thanks so much for bringing us along with you on your travels ❤❤
The episodes from Japan have been super inspiring! So for sure do more of that. But in general I think your channel is a super great mix of inspiring carpentry and lovely people (Scott, Jess and whoever they are surrounded by). So just keep up the good work 😍
The videos in Japan were fantastic and I’d love to see more of everything. Catching up with Nakita, Japanese carving village etc. I enjoy seeing different cultures and traditions and learning about the way they do things.
I've really enjoyed the Japanese series so far and definitely would look forward to more when you get the chance to edit the footage. Thanks Scott... and of course Jess as well! 😎
8:40 Sugi is endemic to Japan. Called Japanese sugi pine or Japanese red cedar in English, they are in the cypress family. There are some in Teapot Valley.
My wife and I Sunday routine watching your episodes with a coffee, down in canterbury nz. Really interesting to see how Japan do woodworking and their carving look insane!!! Please add videos on both!!! Your a bloody legend!
the best part of japanese saws for a new woodworker, is that as the saw is designed to be used by two hands, it makes it a lot easier for the newbie to cut a straight line. cuts out all the training the hand, for a push saw.
Actually western, or English saws, also provide a place for the second hand in the power saws like rip saws. The same is true with bowsaws that are popular on the continent. Japanese saws are also used single handed as with the rolling crosscut. For the most part the everything is different stuff about other cultures methods doesn't really stand up. I can remember the shock that people had back in the 80s over the idea that the Japanese carpenters held the work with their feet! Oh, wait a second...
The instructions are from guys who make a living putting together chisels for sale. Professional woodworkers would do things differently. You use metal hammers with Japanese chisels. The katsura moves down the handle as the end grain wears down and mushrooms. You grind/file the katsura to help this along. The inside of end grain part of the katsura is rounded to help the mushrooming. The other part gets a taper to help it move down the handle. Should not need kigoroshi to make it fit, or wetting to make it expand. Put some beeswax on the end. You also need to prepare the handle and ferrule to handle the forces from the tang. Square off the tang end of the ferrule on a diamond plate to make positive contact with the tang end of the ferrule. Grind the inside of the handle part of the tag to 45 degrees, and carefully use a knife or chisel to make the handle match that angle so the ferrule doesn't directly push against the handle material. You should look go to the Covington and Sons website, where this is covered in exhaustive detail.
Great video, Scott & Jess! If you haven’t seen this YT channel yet, I’d highly recommend Shoyan Japanese Carpenter. I’ve learned so much about traditional Japanese joinery from there.
I just discovered your channel, what a wonderful video! Please Please give us more on the carving village! I am definitely subscribing for more and digging back through your old videos!
Hey thank you for the chisel instructions. I had two japanese chisels and i didnt know they had to be set up. So i was hammering them with the ring above the wood. I thought thats the way they are using them. And they made bad noise. I feel embarrassed but we are learning every day. So thank you.
I would love to hear more about your Japanese adventures! All of it. I really enjoy your channel and i love seeing how Jess is becoming more involved with the woodworking side when you were at Nikitia's place.
I bought this book many many years ago fascinating insight into Japanese joinery, I believe they build those massive temples without using any metal fixings. Great channel thanks for reminding me of that book, must dig it out.
Yes! More Japan content, please. I haven't been back since 1968 so I love seeing how the country looks today. Yes! More Japanese tool content, please. Their ways of doing things are so much better than the western style, although I'll never give up my great-great grandfather's 1846 wooden plane.
Just stumbled on your channel. I like your content. I most definitely will check out your other videos. What actually got me to watch was the Japanese carpentry subject. Like you, I am also fascinated by Japanese carpentry and their attention to detail. Keep up the good work.
I love your videos. I’m sure you get that a lot. Japanese culture and woodworking is what it is bc of culture. I think that’s why people are so amazed by it. Culture is what rules the Japanese. I hope they don’t loose it
Dear Scott and Jess, I enjoyed every minute of your Japan trip! I went on vacation and missed 3 episodes and then caught up with one hour of SBC amazing. Please show us more Japanese content! Also Congrats to almost 400.000 subscribers. Your channel is so special with a mix of carpentry, building, travel and even just letting us into your daily routine makes you want to go and visit NZ! How did Gaston react that you came home with a set of very nice Japanese tools?
I bought my first set of Japanese Chisels around 1980 and went ahead and did the hoop installation in accordance with similar instructions. Since then I have fleshed out my collection of chisels and have largely not bothered with the process. There are two reasons why. First is that I really liked the quality Japanese chisels and the quality hammers, and worked that way for 10 or 20 years, however, I came to dislike how noisy they are. At that time I discovered rubber carving mallets in 20 and 30 ounces. I by far use the 20 oz most commonly. I had a bit of a hard time adapting to them. Just really didn't like the look, as much as anything else. But they have evolved into what I use most commonly today, because they are basically silent. And with these mallets, I don't really have to worry about the hoops, as long as they are fixed well enough that they don't come off. Often the sets have sturdy hoops, but they are flush and if one uses the steel hammers they make even more noise than when the hoops are properly seated. But this is not a problem with the rubber mallets. Also, while it might seem that the hoops need to be "personalized" should the handles have shrunk. Even in a Canadian winter I have never seen that. One of the things I don't like about not having fitted the hoops on all my chisels is that they look a little "unprofessional". But that is often the cost of having worked well past the dogma over the decades. Second is a cautionary tale. There are what I call "tourist chisels", I have come across these even in sets where they were 500 US a chisel, and by living treasure makers. well, one might say, even more in those cases. They were possibly even worse back in the 80s. These consist of features that seem obviously bogus like sharkskin wrapped handles. The set I fell for were ebony handled Ouchi chisels in Blue Steel, theoretically one of the greatest makers. And they are wonderful chisels, but really, if they don't have White Oak handles, you are probably getting laughed at. Ebony handles are really difficult to compress and basically don't submit all that well to the process. Same with Boxwood. Red oak, is a little chippy. It should be noted that much the same process is used for installing the the handles at the other end, and there is nothing wrong with that work done at the factory, so it is possible with these fancy handles, though I have seen epoxy used on the hoops, that may have been the sharkskin ones, you really can't pare them back. This was back in the 80s when there was next to 0 information exchange, compared to today. I would not normally blame master smiths for these bogus sets, there was a market for the "ultimate" set of chisels, and they were adding features to make their wares even more attractive. But I call them "tourist sets" because I have seen expensive fancy sets where the handles aren't even aligned properly, and have come to be wary of anything that may be for a collector market. The most useful and prized tool in my collection is a Japanese plane I made out of a $13.50 blade that LV was selling. I am on the second dai at this point. I once had a whole catalog of Japanese tools made to trade standards like that. The cheap end are still highly useful if you can actually find them.
Scott, there is a series of videos on the Japanese Tools Australia web site showing the setting up of a plane. There is more to it than setting the depth of the blade.
Superb, loved the Japanese video's. Like you have been fascinated with Japanese joinery for years. Coming from a cabinet making background, I find it great to be able use a mixture western and Japanese tools.
Shoyan Japanese Carpenter & TWCDesign are both also great to watch for woodworking videos. The work they do is great in japan in the way of timber works are more authentic, its nice to see.
I'm a big fan or macrocarpa because of the issue you mentioned here - it's nice, resilient timber without the need for chemical treatment. And it smells good! I love cedar but it's a bit pricey.
YES!! woodcarving, been messing about with carving for the last many years, retired carpenter using mostly demo kauri . Very few books, very little video on the subject wot is available here in nz is mostly on maori carving which is the same but quite different
Bought this book at the beginning of my carpentry career. Still refer to it occasionally although most clients can’t afford the time it takes for this type of joinery in our small town in Canada. Mad respect for the art form tho! Japanese tools are also part of my daily use- esp chisels, pull saws and the tajima chalk line with the pin instead of the hook. Their stringlines are elegant also. Nakita seems a gem. Loved your Japanese episodes
Here in Prague, Czech Republic, in a completely local, non-tourist residential neighbourhood, on a quiet one-way, one-lane street, I walk past the "Tokyo Tools" small shop. I've been threatening to go in. Next time I won't pass it, and I suspect a pull saw is in my future :)
scott , i love watching your videos. the japanese carpentry has been with me for years and got the same book as you do. theres nothing better and more fun then using these tricks in neat carpentry. the satisfaction from doing it is literally pure. also what i was wondering aswell. have both of you ever thought about kids ? greeting from belguim!
Pull saws are (and have been, for centuries) used in European furniture-making as well. Most European _carpentry_ tools cut forward because that makes gravity work in your favour (assuming the work piece is below you) and lets you use your body to push (not just your arm).
We were looking for you and Jess in Japan but missed you, even though it sems we went to similar places. Love this content (well... love all your content!). Arigato gozaimas :)
I know you just got back, but the trip to North America has to be in the making. Collabs with the Samurai Carpenter and Richard at Finish Carpentry TV would be epic.
Gorgeous tools Scott, I definitely look forward to seeing what you do with them in the future. Also, I've been scanning through older videos trying to figure out what that blue-teal accent wall colour is, but can't find it mentioned anywhere. What it is? I love it. Thanks!
Odd you mention Samurai Carpenter. I was going to reference him as a suggestion to you for a project he made that would be a great project for you, a treat for Jess, and a perfect addition ion to your garden. A few years back (maybe 4 by now) he made a cedar hot tub for his yard. Since you just mentioned a hand tool/Japanese joinery project and cedar, the trifecta of elements for you to undertake whilst you take a break from the reno.
A bit surprised you didn't pick up a 'Yari Ganna' - the spear/plane chisel. I could see it quickly becoming part of your job site gear. I don't have one only because I can't sharpen freehand (and not even well with bucket load of gadgets & machines) Can we expect a Tori/Gazebo for the Brown family back yard in the future? Considering NZ and Japan have regular earth movement at a level that never makes the news. Maybe Nikita could get a sponsorship from Makita?
Thanks for watching! If you'd like to support Nikita as she brings her store and guesthouse to life, check out the Kickstarter and Instagram for Akitsu Ryokan. We’re so inspired by Nikita and can’t wait to visit again soon!"
Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/akitsu/akitsu-guesthouse-and-shop?ref=discovery_newest&total_hits=642842&category_id=258
Instagram instagram.com/akitsuryokan/
Scott & Jess, just give us more….. Japan, tools, woodcarving, reno, more is good! You choose what order, we’ll watch it. 400k subs, just awesome. congratulations.
Just give us more Scott & Jess 😅
Nice video! A few notes on Japanese tools.
First, the reason one files the katsura is to remove any burrs from the smithing process. The burrs would cut the wood as the katsura is driven on. You shave the wood at the chisel end to lower that little "shoulder" so that you can put the katsura at your desired height.
Second, the "mushroom" of wood over the katsura should usually be bigger than yours were. The idea is to completely cover the katsura with wood fibers, so stray hammer blows don't hit metal (which would dig into the chisel, or ding your hammer, or just make the chisel go a funny direction). It is easier to mushroom over the chisel end if you soak the chisel end in water for about 10 minutes.
Third, your plane, which cut too deep and then not deep enough, does not have a fully set-up sole. You need to dress the sole in order to get good results. That process is too much to describe in a RUclips comment, but books by Dale Brotherton and Toshio Odate are both excellent on the subject.
Glad to see you using these wonderful tools! You have some nice ones.
I'm in the UK. In around 1968 I was a management trainee on a London site. We had a few Indian carpenters who used pull saws. These looked no different to a western saw but the teeth were cut in reverse. The carpenters had them shipped in from India as they could not buy them in the UK. They were however made in Sheffield England.
Your channel is one of the few that gets an instant watch, so no shutting up, and yes more content. I am letting you know.
Yes please more of the woodcarving! The little snippets you showed here are stunning, I'd love to see more!
Nikita should start a RUclips channel. Also nice of you to mention Samurai Carpenter, hopefully we can see a collab in the future.
Came here to say the same thing: she should start a RUclips channel
Does she have a insta channel?
Definitely! It was a lot of fun seeing her life there and following along.
I would love that. It’s not a RUclips channel but Nikita has started a Instagram and Kickstarter to follow/help her progress
Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/akitsu/akitsu-guesthouse-and-shop?ref=discovery_newest&total_hits=642842&category_id=258
Instagram instagram.com/akitsuryokan/
Best start to a Sunday morning. Fresh coffee and a SBC vid, especially with some Japanese tools.
Good start to my Sunday and inspiration for the start of my week…coffee and carpentry…aah yes :)
When I do the chisels I dip the handle in water before putting the ring on. Makes it easier to mushroom the end of the handle plus the water makes the handle swell which helps keep the ring in place
Amazing! The craftsmanship that goes into the tools of the craftsmen is a thing of beauty. I think as kiwis we pride ourselves on being generalists (giving everything a go) but there’s something to be said about being a master of a specific craft. Loved this series.
My RUclips watching consists mainly of Japanese carpentry and Scott Brown. I was/am super excited to see your videos covering Japan and Japanese style tools and joinery. Keep them coming!
Hi Scott. Please do not push your Ryoba to start a cut. The steel plate is very thin and there is not reinforcement (such as a brass back on Western saws) to prevent the plate kinking. The reason for the pull action is to cut and create tension in the plate, which keeps it straight. There is not tensioning possible when you push a pull saw forward. The plate is so thin, and the teeth pretty small, that you can start the saw cut (at the closest end, near your hand) without needing to first create a kerf (as you do with a Western saw). Regards from Perth, Derek
The best thing I ever did was to buy Japanese tools. They just seem so natural to use. The joinery is sometimes complex and sometimes easy but either way, very satisfying to complete. One thing I did notice early on was that the Japanese deal mainly with soft woods, making the joinery and carving much easier. Loved your Japan trip and introducing Nikita. What a daring young lady and kudo's to her for attempting something in life completely outside one's comfort zone.
Talking about Japan is great. Nikita is great. Hope you get to visit there again.
Scott & Jess, I have watched your videos since 2020 and enjoy them immensely. The Japanese series however would be the best by far - an amazing country with such incredible scenery and traditions. Thanks so much for bringing us along with you on your travels ❤❤
The episodes from Japan have been super inspiring! So for sure do more of that.
But in general I think your channel is a super great mix of inspiring carpentry and lovely people (Scott, Jess and whoever they are surrounded by).
So just keep up the good work 😍
Fabulous SBC & Jess . I love the sights of Japan and seeing Nikita!!
Jess your garden looks amazing !💐😎Scott you are inspiring!
Nikita should start her own channel about the house renovation
Pleased you’ve both had a great time in Japan, love it that you’ve embraced Japanese tools Scott. Thanks for the latest exciting episode.👍👍
The videos in Japan were fantastic and I’d love to see more of everything. Catching up with Nakita, Japanese carving village etc. I enjoy seeing different cultures and traditions and learning about the way they do things.
Loving the content Scott. So Stoked you guys had such an awesome time in Japan!
I've really enjoyed the Japanese series so far and definitely would look forward to more when you get the chance to edit the footage. Thanks Scott... and of course Jess as well! 😎
I love this channel, it's my 'go to' relax and enjoy space. Have a great day guys x
8:40 Sugi is endemic to Japan. Called Japanese sugi pine or Japanese red cedar in English, they are in the cypress family. There are some in Teapot Valley.
Great update, Scott. Jess's garden is fantastic. Now off to kickstarter to throw something in the pot for Nikita.
Thanks Scott & Jess, I booked my weekend in Japan instantly.
My wife and I Sunday routine watching your episodes with a coffee, down in canterbury nz. Really interesting to see how Japan do woodworking and their carving look insane!!! Please add videos on both!!! Your a bloody legend!
the best part of japanese saws for a new woodworker, is that as the saw is designed to be used by two hands, it makes it a lot easier for the newbie to cut a straight line. cuts out all the training the hand, for a push saw.
Actually western, or English saws, also provide a place for the second hand in the power saws like rip saws. The same is true with bowsaws that are popular on the continent. Japanese saws are also used single handed as with the rolling crosscut.
For the most part the everything is different stuff about other cultures methods doesn't really stand up. I can remember the shock that people had back in the 80s over the idea that the Japanese carpenters held the work with their feet! Oh, wait a second...
The instructions are from guys who make a living putting together chisels for sale. Professional woodworkers would do things differently.
You use metal hammers with Japanese chisels. The katsura moves down the handle as the end grain wears down and mushrooms. You grind/file the katsura to help this along. The inside of end grain part of the katsura is rounded to help the mushrooming. The other part gets a taper to help it move down the handle. Should not need kigoroshi to make it fit, or wetting to make it expand. Put some beeswax on the end.
You also need to prepare the handle and ferrule to handle the forces from the tang. Square off the tang end of the ferrule on a diamond plate to make positive contact with the tang end of the ferrule. Grind the inside of the handle part of the tag to 45 degrees, and carefully use a knife or chisel to make the handle match that angle so the ferrule doesn't directly push against the handle material.
You should look go to the Covington and Sons website, where this is covered in exhaustive detail.
I never get enough of Japan, MORE! 😁
I've loved all the Japan videos. Thank you so much. Yes, please show us the carving village!
Great video, Scott & Jess! If you haven’t seen this YT channel yet, I’d highly recommend Shoyan Japanese Carpenter. I’ve learned so much about traditional Japanese joinery from there.
Solid content, facilitating connections, community and collaboration.
Well done on 400k Subs! You haven't hit it yet I know, but if I don't do it now I'll forget.
Thanks Tools!
Leaving shortly for Japan. Cant wait. Thanks for the warm up!
Thank you Scotty and Jess you bring goodness to this world and I thank you for that.
Learning more about wood carving from your trip to Japan would be fantastic. We really enjoy the content you and Jess are creating. Thank you!
The garden looks great, Jess. Like a wildflower meadow.
Japanese joinery is absolutely amazing. I hope you do more with it.
Another quality SBC production. Keep it up!!
I just discovered your channel, what a wonderful video! Please Please give us more on the carving village! I am definitely subscribing for more and digging back through your old videos!
Hey thank you for the chisel instructions. I had two japanese chisels and i didnt know they had to be set up. So i was hammering them with the ring above the wood. I thought thats the way they are using them. And they made bad noise. I feel embarrassed but we are learning every day. So thank you.
This was a good example about creating great work with minimal space and tools. Excellent video Scott!
Fun episode guys. Japan definitely on our bucket list.
Samurai carpenter is such a top channel
I stopped watching him years ago. He was soo arrogant and everyone else was crap. Don’t know if he’s changed, might have to watch a couple and see.
Yes, would love to hear more about the wood carving village …thanks great video
I would love to hear more about your Japanese adventures! All of it. I really enjoy your channel and i love seeing how Jess is becoming more involved with the woodworking side when you were at Nikitia's place.
Hi Scott I love learning about Carpentry all over the world I'd love to see more on both.
More Jess, more Scott, more Ray, more Nikita, more Makita 🙂
Love to watch & learn from you guys. Please don't hesitate doing that woodcarving village in Japan
One of the other reasons Japanese use pull saws is it allows the blade to be much thinner, allowing for finer work.
And when used correctly, much faster and more accurate.
Another aspect of a saw that is going to be pulled is that it can be made thinner and is therefore more precise and cuts with less tear out.
10:42 if you work on the ground, holding the piece with your feet, the pull for both the saw and the plane make sense.
Really loved the Japan series, would love to see more. And Nikita too because she is amazing
Love it all Scott, love all the Japanes joinery. Keep ot coming
Great video! Yes, more Japan videos! Yes, a video on the carpenter's village! Thank you
I bought this book many many years ago fascinating insight into Japanese joinery, I believe they build those massive temples without using any metal fixings. Great channel thanks for reminding me of that book, must dig it out.
Yes please more Japanese wood carving !!!!
Yes! More Japan content, please. I haven't been back since 1968 so I love seeing how the country looks today.
Yes! More Japanese tool content, please. Their ways of doing things are so much better than the western style, although I'll never give up my great-great grandfather's 1846 wooden plane.
Been since 1995 for me.
Yes please more wood carving Scotty mate . Love your channel ❤
Just stumbled on your channel. I like your content. I most definitely will check out your other videos. What actually got me to watch was the Japanese carpentry subject. Like you, I am also fascinated by Japanese carpentry and their attention to detail. Keep up the good work.
I love your videos. I’m sure you get that a lot. Japanese culture and woodworking is what it is bc of culture. I think that’s why people are so amazed by it. Culture is what rules the Japanese. I hope they don’t loose it
Dear Scott and Jess, I enjoyed every minute of your Japan trip! I went on vacation and missed 3 episodes and then caught up with one hour of SBC amazing. Please show us more Japanese content! Also Congrats to almost 400.000 subscribers. Your channel is so special with a mix of carpentry, building, travel and even just letting us into your daily routine makes you want to go and visit NZ! How did Gaston react that you came home with a set of very nice Japanese tools?
More Japan trip content please! Anything and everything you've got in the can.
Well Scott in Germany also has metal rings on the chisels and doesn't use a normal hammer when working with chisels but rather a large beech hammer.
I would love to see more of the wood carving village!
At 6:00, a "hack" that I use for fine adjustment - tap the kanna body (dai) on your workbench - either heel or toe for very fine adjustments.
Also, the hammer (gennou) that you are using is a tad too large.
Yes I would like to hear more about Japanese Carpentry. Thanks.
I bought my first set of Japanese Chisels around 1980 and went ahead and did the hoop installation in accordance with similar instructions. Since then I have fleshed out my collection of chisels and have largely not bothered with the process. There are two reasons why.
First is that I really liked the quality Japanese chisels and the quality hammers, and worked that way for 10 or 20 years, however, I came to dislike how noisy they are. At that time I discovered rubber carving mallets in 20 and 30 ounces. I by far use the 20 oz most commonly. I had a bit of a hard time adapting to them. Just really didn't like the look, as much as anything else. But they have evolved into what I use most commonly today, because they are basically silent. And with these mallets, I don't really have to worry about the hoops, as long as they are fixed well enough that they don't come off. Often the sets have sturdy hoops, but they are flush and if one uses the steel hammers they make even more noise than when the hoops are properly seated. But this is not a problem with the rubber mallets. Also, while it might seem that the hoops need to be "personalized" should the handles have shrunk. Even in a Canadian winter I have never seen that. One of the things I don't like about not having fitted the hoops on all my chisels is that they look a little "unprofessional". But that is often the cost of having worked well past the dogma over the decades.
Second is a cautionary tale. There are what I call "tourist chisels", I have come across these even in sets where they were 500 US a chisel, and by living treasure makers. well, one might say, even more in those cases. They were possibly even worse back in the 80s. These consist of features that seem obviously bogus like sharkskin wrapped handles. The set I fell for were ebony handled Ouchi chisels in Blue Steel, theoretically one of the greatest makers. And they are wonderful chisels, but really, if they don't have White Oak handles, you are probably getting laughed at. Ebony handles are really difficult to compress and basically don't submit all that well to the process. Same with Boxwood. Red oak, is a little chippy. It should be noted that much the same process is used for installing the the handles at the other end, and there is nothing wrong with that work done at the factory, so it is possible with these fancy handles, though I have seen epoxy used on the hoops, that may have been the sharkskin ones, you really can't pare them back. This was back in the 80s when there was next to 0 information exchange, compared to today.
I would not normally blame master smiths for these bogus sets, there was a market for the "ultimate" set of chisels, and they were adding features to make their wares even more attractive. But I call them "tourist sets" because I have seen expensive fancy sets where the handles aren't even aligned properly, and have come to be wary of anything that may be for a collector market.
The most useful and prized tool in my collection is a Japanese plane I made out of a $13.50 blade that LV was selling. I am on the second dai at this point. I once had a whole catalog of Japanese tools made to trade standards like that. The cheap end are still highly useful if you can actually find them.
That carving village looked incredible!!
Good on Jess for keeping the travel carpentry centric
Great stuff Scott! Love all the Japan content, fascinating.
Scott, there is a series of videos on the Japanese Tools Australia web site showing the setting up of a plane. There is more to it than setting the depth of the blade.
Superb, loved the Japanese video's. Like you have been fascinated with Japanese joinery for years. Coming from a cabinet making background, I find it great to be able use a mixture western and Japanese tools.
Would love to see more on Japanese travels and wood working from your journey, also the wood craft village
I’m so stoked to see you get your Japanese joinery on. Big fan of both you and the joinery. It is hard isn’t it.
Shoyan Japanese Carpenter & TWCDesign are both also great to watch for woodworking videos. The work they do is great in japan in the way of timber works are more authentic, its nice to see.
Scott! The Samurai Carpenter is like your tall friend Raymond ;) He's Dutch as well, moved to Canada.
I'm a big fan or macrocarpa because of the issue you mentioned here - it's nice, resilient timber without the need for chemical treatment. And it smells good! I love cedar but it's a bit pricey.
Love the new toys Scott maybe in the future you could do some thing on Sharpening good job Guys
Wood carving village would be really cool to see.
YES!! woodcarving, been messing about with carving for the last many years, retired carpenter using mostly demo kauri . Very few books, very little video on the subject wot is available here in nz is mostly on maori carving which is the same but quite different
Yes, more is fine. Great stuff. Thank you for sharing.
Agree, great working sojourn in a lovely part of Japan
What a beautyful garden Jess!
Bought this book at the beginning of my carpentry career. Still refer to it occasionally although most clients can’t afford the time it takes for this type of joinery in our small town in Canada. Mad respect for the art form tho! Japanese tools are also part of my daily use- esp chisels, pull saws and the tajima chalk line with the pin instead of the hook. Their stringlines are elegant also.
Nakita seems a gem. Loved your Japanese episodes
Here in Prague, Czech Republic, in a completely local, non-tourist residential neighbourhood, on a quiet one-way, one-lane street, I walk past the "Tokyo Tools" small shop. I've been threatening to go in. Next time I won't pass it, and I suspect a pull saw is in my future :)
scott , i love watching your videos. the japanese carpentry has been with me for years and got the same book as you do. theres nothing better and more fun then using these tricks in neat carpentry. the satisfaction from doing it is literally pure. also what i was wondering aswell. have both of you ever thought about kids ?
greeting from belguim!
Bro 100% Wanna see more of the wood carving village!
Hey Scott
You should build a Japanese Torii for your wife’s beautiful garden!?
Might make a good video to commemorate your trip to Japan
Cheers
Congrats on the 400k!
Pull saws are (and have been, for centuries) used in European furniture-making as well. Most European _carpentry_ tools cut forward because that makes gravity work in your favour (assuming the work piece is below you) and lets you use your body to push (not just your arm).
We were looking for you and Jess in Japan but missed you, even though it sems we went to similar places. Love this content (well... love all your content!). Arigato gozaimas :)
silky hand tools and your garden is looking amazing . tip top
I know you just got back, but the trip to North America has to be in the making. Collabs with the Samurai Carpenter and Richard at Finish Carpentry TV would be epic.
Would love to see more about about the Japanese carving village.
Love the Japan content, so interesting, and different.
Gorgeous tools Scott, I definitely look forward to seeing what you do with them in the future.
Also, I've been scanning through older videos trying to figure out what that blue-teal accent wall colour is, but can't find it mentioned anywhere. What it is? I love it. Thanks!
Odd you mention Samurai Carpenter. I was going to reference him as a suggestion to you for a project he made that would be a great project for you, a treat for Jess, and a perfect addition ion to your garden. A few years back (maybe 4 by now) he made a cedar hot tub for his yard. Since you just mentioned a hand tool/Japanese joinery project and cedar, the trifecta of elements for you to undertake whilst you take a break from the reno.
A bit surprised you didn't pick up a 'Yari Ganna' - the spear/plane chisel. I could see it quickly becoming part of your job site gear. I don't have one only because I can't sharpen freehand (and not even well with bucket load of gadgets & machines)
Can we expect a Tori/Gazebo for the Brown family back yard in the future? Considering NZ and Japan have regular earth movement at a level that never makes the news.
Maybe Nikita could get a sponsorship from Makita?