About this Blog
Welcome. This blog aims to serve two purposes. First, it is a project diary of sorts. Second, I hope to provide some ideas, resources, and tips to others. It has been difficult to find information on Japanese style woodworking in English, so wherever I can I will put information out there with the desire that someone can use it, correct it, or add to it.
Handtools:
Power tools have their place and I use them for milling. But my preference is to use hand tools and enjoy the process - without so much noise and dust. I use Western and Japanese hand tools depending on the wood and the task but sometimes I make my own tools. I inherited traditional American tools and have reclaimed them from "genuine antique" status to "serviceable" status. Travels in Japan long ago exposed me to that world of woodworking and toolmaking perfection and I have been trying to learn more about it ever since.
Materials:
Recent projects have been largely in softwoods because the Japanese tools that I use are designed and prepared for them. Also, I tend to work wood that I can salvage or buy locally and that rules out many hardwoods. Redwood, Alaskan yellow cedar, various pines, Monterey cypress, Port Orford cedar, western red cedar - some can even be free if the wind blows hard or you remodel an old building.
Kezurou-kai USA:
From 2015-2018 I was working with the Kezurou-kai USA group to help build the organization and get their digital presence in order - so I did not have a lot of time to blog or woodwork. However, I have learned much from the members and leaders of Kezurou-kai USA.
If you are getting started down the road of discovery about (mostly) Japanese woodworking, carpentry, furniture, handtools and toolmaking, I urge you to take a look at the Kez USA organization. Kez usually has a single main event per year, but we organize and promote smaller projects and lend our help to others who organize - or want to organize - a local event. Kezuroukai USA continues to build their membership across North America and they are an officially recognized chapter of Kezurou-kai Japan.
Handtools:
Power tools have their place and I use them for milling. But my preference is to use hand tools and enjoy the process - without so much noise and dust. I use Western and Japanese hand tools depending on the wood and the task but sometimes I make my own tools. I inherited traditional American tools and have reclaimed them from "genuine antique" status to "serviceable" status. Travels in Japan long ago exposed me to that world of woodworking and toolmaking perfection and I have been trying to learn more about it ever since.
Materials:
Recent projects have been largely in softwoods because the Japanese tools that I use are designed and prepared for them. Also, I tend to work wood that I can salvage or buy locally and that rules out many hardwoods. Redwood, Alaskan yellow cedar, various pines, Monterey cypress, Port Orford cedar, western red cedar - some can even be free if the wind blows hard or you remodel an old building.
Kezurou-kai USA:
From 2015-2018 I was working with the Kezurou-kai USA group to help build the organization and get their digital presence in order - so I did not have a lot of time to blog or woodwork. However, I have learned much from the members and leaders of Kezurou-kai USA.
If you are getting started down the road of discovery about (mostly) Japanese woodworking, carpentry, furniture, handtools and toolmaking, I urge you to take a look at the Kez USA organization. Kez usually has a single main event per year, but we organize and promote smaller projects and lend our help to others who organize - or want to organize - a local event. Kezuroukai USA continues to build their membership across North America and they are an officially recognized chapter of Kezurou-kai Japan.
Please take a look http://kezuroukai.us
Recently:
I moved from California to the Kona area of Hawaii and have been focused on building a house. Just about done with that, so it is my hope to get back to blogging once I resume a steady flow of furniture projects. Hopefully that will be 2023 but the honey-do list is long yet...
Thanks for your interest.
Peter McAneny
Peter McAneny
