Setting up a Japanese Chisel - Part 1 of 3 - Setting the Hoop
Getting the most from your Japanese chisel requires that it be set up and tuned before use. In this first video of a three part series, we set the hoop...
Mitchell McDermott |
Japanese Tools Tips
Welcome to the JTA Blog with tips and tricks to setup and tune your tools to interesting facts from at home and abroad.
Chisel Tips
View all-
-
Setting Up a Japanese Chisel - Part 3 of 3 - Sharpening the Bevel
It's time to get this chisel sharp and get to work! Sharpening a Japanese chisel follows the same principles as any edged woodworking tool. We greatly prefer to use waterstones,...
Mitchell McDermott |
-
Setting up a Japanese Chisel - Part 2 of 3 - Lapping the Back
Lapping the back of a Japanese chisel allows it's cutting edge to achieve it's full potential, and be referenced correctly against straight lines when driving or flat surfaces when paring....
Mitchell McDermott |
JTA's Plane Tips
View all-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Part 1 of 5 - Lapping the Back of the Blade
Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a Japanese plane, and guess what - it's not doing ANYTHING straight out of the box! Gosh dang and darn it! Fear not!...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Part 2 of 5 - Sharpening the Bevel
With the back of our plane's blade lapped flat, it is time to turn our attention to the fun side - the bevel. If you have sharpened any plane blade...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Part 3 of 5 - Fitting the Blade to the Block
Once our blade is beautifully sharp, the next job is to fit it to the block (dai). We want to arrive at a fit that requires firm hammer hits to...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Part 4 of 5 - Tuning the Sole
The blade is sharp and set, and it is time to take control of the sole! Establish Your Contact Patches The plane will need a contact patch both at the...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Part 5 of 5 - Fitting the Chipbreaker
The last part (for the moment) in our Japanese plane tuning series! In this video, we get back on the sharpening equipment to tune and fit the chipbreaker. Lap the...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Addendum C - The Tsutsumi
Many high-end hand-made kanna feature a tsutsumi - an extra facet below the blade that cradles the bevel as it sits in the block. We haven't touched on the tsutsumi thus...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Addendum B - Ura Dashi (Tapping Out a Plane Blade)
Well, here we are. You're thinking of taking a hammer to your beautiful Japanese plane blade. You have either totally lost it or you're a brave woodworker dedicated to your...
Christian Timbs |
-
Tuning Japanese Planes - Addendum A - The Mimi
The Mimi are the "ears" of the Japanese plane blade, the facets either side of the cutting edge. Their purpose is to allow the cutting edge to present itself to...
Christian Timbs |
Sharpening
View all-
Sharpening FAQ: Why isn't my blade getting sharp?
We recently received an email from JDizzle (name changed for his privacy, obviously) who is not getting the results he expects after sharpening with waterstones. We will update this post...
Mitchell McDermott |
-
Sharpening - Our Most Frequently Asked Questions - Part 1
We get lots of questions about sharpening, so in this video, we try to answer those that seem to pop up most often. Have a skip through to see if...
Christian Timbs |
-
3 Sharpening Tips for Beginners
Looking to start out with waterstones? It's not as tricky as it looks, and with some practice, you'll be getting your tools razor sharp and loving the process at the...
Christian Timbs |
The JTA Carving Circle
View all-
Heavy Sharpening for Carving Tools
Remove chips from u-gouges while maintaining your tool's angle with this simple jig.
Christian Timbs |
-
Basic Maintenance of Carving Tools
Carving tools work best when razor sharp with a polished edge. However, their curves and profiles make them a trickier proposition to sharpen than straight-edged woodworking tools. In this video,...
Christian Timbs |
-
Carving Tips for Beginners
Starting out with carving can be a process of trial and error, all too often including band-aids and four letter words. In this short video, Christian shows you three techniques that...
Christian Timbs |
