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Japanese Wood Craftsmen

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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Any one here into wood craftsmanship? I have always loved working with wood and have quite a lot of wood working tools. It's just since getting involved with these British cars, it's been put on the back shelf for a while. Watching a show on TV a while back on building the Japanese temples, I was fascinated by the craftsmanship of the Japanese wood workers and their techniques. They appear second to none and are a joy to watch! Not saying we don't have some excellent craftsmen, it's just the precision of their work in building these temples is amazing! They mostly use hand tools, very little power. Some of their way of using tools is different also, like, they pull a saw, not push it, they pull a plane verses push. We all know just how beautiful these temples are when completed. One thing I noticed is I didn't see any young workers, mostly older fellows. Maybe the apprenticeship is quite lengthy. I could set and watch them work for hours. Just thinking about them this morning and thought I'd mention it. PJ
 
I don't do anything near that big, but I have built dollhouses from scratch for my brother's girls. Each one got one when young. And each a different style. Now these were Barbie sized houses so at 2 inches to the foot there's not really much premade stuff to use so I had to turn my own balusters, make doors, etc. Last one had a copy of a front door I found online on an 18th century federal building, had something like 50 pieces in the door and casing.

These houses don't start with plans, just a few pictures in my head and I glue, screw together, paint and assemble until it looks like the mental images.
 
I envy you your ability to visualize houses like that - if I start without a plan, I don't finish. :smile:

in terms of the Japanese stuff, it is amazing. I have a couple of "pulling" saws - much finer weight than North American as they don't get pushed and as such don't need to be stiffer. They buckle easily though when you forget and do push. I perceive the same meticulousness in that construction, again, nothing against North American and maybe it is just an outsider looking in but some of it is mind boggling.

incidently, there is a car equivalent. I recently saw this on youtube. Fascinating. ( a bit long but...)

 
I feel fortunate to be able to just "see" what I want, help with the car work as well. I'm told I get it from one of my grandfathers who was that way but passed on when I was a small child. I work behind a computer screen and it's nice to have something I can do that I can actually touch.
 
One thing I noticed is I didn't see any young workers, mostly older fellows. Maybe the apprenticeship is quite lengthy.
Click to expand...

Interesting observation. I'm sure length of apprenticeship is a factor, but it's much deeper than that. The required level of commitment plus the lack of appreciation, recognition, money... It doesn't surprise me that young people turn their attention elsewhere. Also, there's frequently a reluctance (for many reasons) on the part of a master craftsman to take an apprentice. I've seen that first hand from both sides.

Anyway,

I am fascinated with Japanese wood working tools/techniques but... I love a good workbench and I'm a little to steeped in the European tradition to change.

Japanese pull-saws, I love 'em. Wabi-sabi, love it too. :thumbsup:

I use Japanese chisels, gouges and knives. The steel is laminated and holds an edge longer than most other tools. On the downside they demand more care when sharpening.

I draw the line at the pulled plane though. Not for me.
 
My dad bough a Japanese pull saw some 20 years ago, it's a great saw that I still use.
 
JPSmit said:
Interestingly, read this yesterday

https://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/08/21/elderly-more-likely-to-be-employed-than-teens/?mod=e2fb&mg=blogs-wsj&url=http%253A%252F%252Fblogs.wsj.com%252Feconomics%252F2013%252F08%252F21%252Felderly-more-likely-to-be-employed-than-teens%253Fmod%253De2fb
Click to expand...

Interesting JP! First I've seen that article. I totally agree with a good education, but along with that, out of high school and into a good technical school, usually much cheaper in cost, isn't such a bad idea either for a family stretching their budget a bit. And, most of them are hands on! PJ
 
I also use a pull sow for almost all hand sawing although I still like a good backsaw (push) for dovetails and similar detail work. On your other point, it seems like the vast majority of North American woodworkers are older too. Maybe the current youth just aren't willing to devote the time it takes to acquire reasonable skills at making things of wood, surely one of nature's most beautiful creations.
 
What's a "pull pig"?

We still on the bacon talk ?
 
Could be though, Pull sow! :highly_amused:

 
Don't get this at all...
Went and Goggled "push Sow" just to one up ya, and for some reason, a bunch of images of babes in wheel chairs show up??
 
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