sasaki@harvard.ARPA (06/15/85)
The reference to Japanese tool makers being decendants of sword makers
is not entirely true. It might be that blacksmiths who once made swords
changed to making tools when swordplay was on the down swing, but tool
makers were revered in Japan as much as sword makers were.
Just as sword makers would pass on the techniques and tradition from
generation to generation, so too would tool makers pass on their lore.
Wood workers and carpenters would (and still do) pass tools on to their
sons (alas, almost all wood workers in Japan are male).
Mahogany Masterpieces sells plane blades and chisels made like Japanese
swords (many hammered laminations). They cost a fortune and are probably
no better at cutting than a regular Japanese tool blade, but they are
beautiful, almost too beautiful to be used.
My great uncle would tell stories about some of his tools (alas he sold
them when he left Japan for Hawaii). Planing is often done on a planing
board that has one long board (where the work is placed for planing) and
two legs attached to the long board, a lop-sided tripod. My great uncle
boasted of a blade so sharp and a plane body so well tuned, that all he
needed to do was place the plane on the piece of wood to plane (this
being attached to a planing board) and let the plane go; gravity would
pull the plane down and a perfect shaving would be cut.
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Marty Sasaki net: sasaki@harvard.{arpa,uucp}
Havard University Science Center phone: 617-495-1270
One Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138dave@fluke.UUCP (Dave Van Ess) (06/18/85)
I just read a recommendation for WOODLINE The Japan Woodworker. I also have to agree it is probibly the best place on the west coast to get high quality japanese tools. The last time I was in California I stopped to vist and bought a set of chisels. I spoke with the owner, Fred Damsen. He was most helpful in helping me select a set of chisels. I explained to Fred that I was looking for a set of chisels that I could learn on, but if I destoryed them I wouldn't be out alot of money. Of the four or five different quality levels of chisels I ended up buying ones of the middle quality. If you live in the bay area you should visit the store sometime. It will be worth the effort. Their address is: WOODLINE The Japanworker 1731 Clement St. Alameda, CA 94501 (415) 521-1810 WOODLINE also does catalog sales. Dave Van Ess ps I sometimes wish they didn't do catalog sales. They have a set of Aogami Hagane Usu Tsuki Nomi ( Blue Steel Paring Chisels ). Half of me wants to buy them. The other half (and my wife) doesn't.