By Wilbur Pan

August 6, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members
(use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Samurai Tech: How and Why Japanese Chisels Are So Awesome

It is well known that Japanese chisels (and plane blades) are able to be sharpened to a higher degree than most hand tools, and will hold that edge for a longer time while still being easy to sharpen. The reasons why this is true are less obvious. In this interactive class, you’ll learn the easy-to-understand reasons why Japanese tools have those properties, and how to apply that knowledge to get the best use out of your Japanese chisels.

You’ll learn how to buy a Japanese chisel, how to attain that super sharp edge, and how to best use them in your shop for woodworking.

Feel free to attend this online class in your shop with your Japanese chisels, where you can receive direct feedback on your questions about your tools.

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Brian Holcombe

Sunday, June 11th, 2023
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members
(use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Chisel Setup

In this class, you will learn about the design and strengths of the Japanese chisel, along with in-depth knowledge of how to set them up to perform at their best.

Japanese chisels, due to their laminated construction, can be honed incredibly keenly and yet remain easy to sharpen. And handles, often reinforced with metal hoops, can be struck with steel hammers and still last decades with the proper setup. This class will cover preparation of the blade, handle and hoop.

For those who cannot make the live class, or who want to follow along with their own tools later, access to the video will be available for two weeks after the live lesson.

Tools recommended for class:

• Half round file or a flat file and a round file
• Pencil
• Spare chisel
• Hammer and anvil or heavy block of wood
• Hoop installation device (not required)
• A way to remove the hoop, either a socket or round piece of wood
• Fine sharpening stone
• Diamond plate or a way to flatten the stone

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Wilbur Pan

Sunday, May 21, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members
(use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Saws

Interested in using a Japanese saw, but don’t know where to start? This class is for you. In this class, you’ll learn why Japanese saws are a great option for hand saws, what makes them work so well, the types of Japanese saws, and practical ways to use them in your workshop.

This class is intended for any woodworker interested in Japanese saws. You don’t have to use Japanese tools, and you don’t have to be a hand tool woodworker to benefit from this class. There will be many demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities for questions and answers.

If you have a Japanese saw to bring to class, it may be useful to follow along with.

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Toby Hargreaves

April 29th, 2023
10am - 3pm PT

$250

8 person limit.
Location: Bonny Doon, CA

Log Peeling Workshop

Many of us have seen images of a Japanese teahouse, framed with flawlessly smooth round logs. However, anyone who has tried peeling the bark off of a tree knows that it can be extremely difficult and usually requires a metal tool like a draw knife.

It turns out there is a trick to getting a beautiful peel, and that is timing. At certain times of year, usually the spring, trees put out a lot of new growth, and the sap flows abundantly below the bark, allowing for easy peeling. This workshop aims to hit the timing right and give you the chance to peel your own teahouse pole.

Along with hands-on peeling and washing of logs, topics covered will be peeling timing, tools, and techniques. Importance of washing and seasoning logs will be discussed, along with sewari (control joint for checking).

Of course, we are dealing with natural rhythms, so there is no guarantee that we will achieve this. However, we had a good peel last year on April 1st, and it has been a wet year so far, so chances are good. On the off chance the bark is not slipping, we will have a backup workshop in round wood joinery lined up.

By Andrew Hunter

February 05, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Link to the zoom class will be emailed to you after you register and a reminder will be sent before the class is scheduled..

Layout and Joinery

There is no better feeling than when, at the end of a project, the pieces are coming together for the first time and each joint fits perfectly, with no fine tuning necessary. In this zoom class Andrew Hunter will demonstrate methods for getting this kind of fit every time.

The key to achieving the perfect fit is all about having confidence in your layout lines. Andrew will discuss various ways to create a precise layout including; mill, square and scribe rule, and of course Japanese center line layout. If each line is drawn in the right place, then all that is left to create a perfect fit is not cutting over these lines.

This is where the sharpness and precision of Japanese hand tools shine. Andrew will describe the tools he uses to cut and shave right to the line, without going over it! He will also get into the physics of a tight fit, looking at how the wood fibers react to compression under different circumstances.

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Andrew Hunter

January 29, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Link to the zoom class will be emailed to you after you register and a reminder will be sent before the class is scheduled.

Dimensioning Lumber by Hand

Learning to dimension lumber by hand is a most fundamental skill, right up there with sharpening! In this live, beginner level zoom class Andrew will take you through the steps to flatten, square and smooth any sized board. He will demonstrate the process with three Japanese hand planes, a rough, a jointer and a smoother and will describe how each is tuned differently depending on the task. Even if you use western planes the principals Andrew will demonstrate are universal. He will show you how to use winding sticks to judge flatness, give you tips for reading the grain and will demonstrate the planing process in a variety of wood species and figure. This is going to be a great class, so sign up to watch the shavings fly!

Please note that this is a lecture-based class. Tools are not required, and instead students are encouraged to observe and ask questions. 

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Andrew Hunter

January 15, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Link to the zoom class will be emailed to you after you register and a reminder will be sent before the class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Planes

This online lecture is intended for students who are new to the world of Japanese handplanes (Kanna).

Maybe you've been thinking about buying a Japanese plane or maybe you already have one and need a little help getting it in full working order.  Well, this is the class for you! From buying and setting up a new plane to using it to create a mirror smooth surface, Andrew will cover all the basics.  

He will introduce students to a wide variety of different planes with many uses, from rough work to smoothing and joinery.  He will also discuss and demonstrate the many ways he uses Kanna in his own shop as a furniture maker. 

So, if you have been thinking about diving into the magical world of Japanese planes, wait no longer, this reduced price class is the perfect opportunity to jump in!

Please note that we are planning to release these classes at a future date via streaming and/or download. By signing up for class, you are agreeing to be recorded and included in these future recordings.

By Andrew Hunter

January 8, 2023
11am - 1pm PT / 2 - 4pm ET

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Link to the zoom class will be emailed to you after you register and a reminder will be sent before the class is scheduled.

Sharpening

Good woodworking s