7.31.2010

Fire Shovel Chisel (juno nomi)


A specialty chisel used by a Getaya (Japanese Clog/Sandal Maker). The bevel is sharpened at very low angles for paring the bottoms of the paulownia wood (kiri) geta. These chisels are used between the teeth across the grain. Kiri is an especially soft fast growing hardwood comparable in density to balsa wood. According to the size of the sheath, it should be close to full length.



















7.30.2010

Pair of 60mm Hiraganna (平鉋)

A pair of Japanese smoothing planes that just came in. Both are 60mm set at softwood angle (8 bu) in Japanese white oak dai. The dai were sequentially cut, as one is labeled 23 and the other 24 in the bed. The left of the blade has marked vertically "青" or Blue Receiving Combination. The top has stamped "銀" read as "too gin". I haven't been able to translate the stamping inside of the gourd mark yet. Both are unused, and still have that new kanna smell.














7.29.2010

Line Marking Gauge (Suji Keshiki)

A basic Japanese Line Marking Gauge (Suji Keshiki). This one is made of Japanese white oak, as a thumb screw to hold the beam instead of a wedge.



























7.28.2010

Splitting Gauge (wari keshiki)

One of the many types of marking gauges (keshiki). Some are as simple as nails and wood scraps, others have thumbscrews to tighten the beam. This particular type is used to rip thin pieces of clear grained softwood into strips. The curved shape of the bottom allows depth control of the knife while slitting. It is used in a couple of progressive passes. The first pass would score the wood and the second would slit the wood. In thicker woods, the board can be flipped over and scored and slit from both sides.













7.24.2010

Gotoku Kanna (5 Purpose Plane)


At one point I ended up with two of these, so I sold this one. I still have the other in the toolbox. Previous owned had sharpened the blade to a slight skew, and I didn't think I would ever have the time to correct the blade (I don't own a mechanical grinder). Seems like they would be handy for rabbets and such. The five uses are: Left Rabbet, Right Rabbet, Left Groove, Right Groove and Smoothing Plane. There was no mei/kao on the plane irons, so maker was unknown. The dai was stamped in sumi, but was not legible. Tsunesaburo is the only blacksmith I am aware of still producing this type of plane.











7.23.2010

'Shio' Jointer Plane in Nagadai












A nagadai kanna I sold a while back. A very nice tool, one that I sort of regret selling. This is one of the few tools I have had damaged by US Customs during inspection. Box was torn to shreds, and although the sender has always packed up everything exceptionally well, the blades were taken out of the packaging. This is one of the reasons I don't use SAL shipping for nice stuff anymore. (more to come)