Woodworking Notebook

View my notes on tools and suppliers.

Favorite Resources

These are the books, sites, and YouTube channels that have made a recent impression on me. I’d like to hear your recommendations.

Books

Japanese Woodworking Tools by Toshio Odate,

It seems that everyone has read this book. On that impression I started with it too, and recommend the book. It strikes a good balance between text, photos and drawings. The book imparts a sense of the lay of the land within the Japanese woodworking tradition.

The Art of Japanese Carpentry, Plane Setup and Tuning by Chris Hall

This guide alone took me from clueless to having a basicly functional plane.

Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 1 The Basics by Desmond King

I have not read this book throughly, since although interested am not currently pursuing Shoji and Kumiko. I got this book because it contains information on plane setup, including the only English language resource I have found that details kiwa kanna setup.

Blogs

Covington & Sons Tools by Stan Covintgon

An excellent blog. I recommend reading his safety rules first. I’m sure reading this has saved me at least one significant injury.

Heartwood: inside the woodshop by Rob Porcaro

Big Sand Woodworking by Jon Billing

The Carpentry Way by Chris Hall

YouTube

Tracestudy Kanna Project

An excellent series of videos detailing the function of Japanese planes. They are in Japanese and only have auto-translate subtitles availalbe, which means that they are a better resource for after gaining an initial understanding. Thank’s to the transanlation, I learned that “uragane” the chip breaker is also the word for “slush fund”.

Baba Masayuki handles a gennou

Japanese Web

Soho Hammer, Hiroki Aida’s Company

Many beautiful pictures here, as well as some useful information. There is a list of official dealers, and names for each of the styles.

Saw Sharpening

Description of a saw vise

Saw sharpening noborihamono

http://www.kenchikuyogo.com/415-no/005-nokobasami.htm

Other

https://kurashinokoto.com/how-to-use-plane/