Japanese boring gimlets

[Harlan Barnhart]

Recently I saw some youtube videos of Japanese woodworkers using a gimlet to bore holes. It looked really quick and handy. I want to make one or two. I thought of starting with a case hardened, masonry nail but I don't really know how to shape the business end. Does anyone own these? How do they work? Is the bit shank square in cross-section? How pointy are the points?

[Jim Koepke]

I am not sure of the Japanese gimlets. Mine start with a fine thread like those found on an auger bit followed by a body that looks a little like a twist drill.

Lee Valley sells gimlets

jtk

[Pam Niedermayer]

Harlan, perhaps you could post a photo or drawing of what you call a Japanese gimlet. If you're talking about a wooden tool shaped more or less like a brace, perhaps I can help.

Pam

[Harlan Barnhart]

Pam, perhaps I am using the wrong word. The tool I have in mind has a metal "bit" something like a square awl, I think, and a long handle that the user spins between two palms.

[John Coloccia]

I THINK you're describing a Japanese hand drill. It has a long, round shaft and there's a point on the end...sometimes it's a spade, sometimes it's a V cutter. You put it between your palms and twist. Can you post the videos? Anyhow, I'm not an expert by any means on Japanese woodworking tools, but I believe that's the equivalent of our egg beater. The only thing that makes me think this is that I read about it in a book somewhere, or maybe saw it on a show. It just sounds very familiar.

[Stuart Tierney]

Ready for an edumacation?

There's 4 different types that I am aware of.

The most common is a triangular one, that is either a triangle profile only at the tip on a round shaft or is triangular the full length. Only at the tip drills a fixed size hole, as deep as you want. The full length are tapered, so naturally drill a tapered hole. Straight for nails, tapered for screws.

There's a 4 sided version as well, same thing as the 3 sided, but usually used for larger sizes.

Next is what's called a "nezumi-ba" which translates as "mouse-tooth". Looks like a miniature spade bit on the end of the shaft. A longer centre point with two outer scribes/cutters. Used for larger holes.

Lastly is what can only be described as a spoon drill. A 'U' shaped piece of steel sharpened with a flat bevel on the end. Used for deeper holes, and not so easy to use. Quite rare, and I've only seen a few of these. The one sitting in front of me right now included...


Using them is simple enough, just put the tip on the spot and see-saw away on the handle with your hands, applying a little pressure downward as you go.

Handy, cheap and effective little devices and can be easily sharpened up again. Only really useful for about 1" of drilling depth though, since they do have some trouble clearing chips at times, and once you get in a ways, the chips clog up a bit and you stop drilling more than making a self-filling cavity.

Never worried too much about them until now though. Maybe I should take a few minutes to make them available?

Stu.

[john brenton]

So it's like an archimides drill?

[David Weaver]

Hopefully, folks won't buy them thinking that they'll sink them into a SYP drawer side at the same rate the guy in the video dropped them through what looked like paulownia or something similar.

Stu - you should probably stock them, so people can tinker with them and see if they like them for making screw holes. I'd rather twist them than an eggbeater.

[Pam Niedermayer]

So it's like an archimides drill?

More like a fire starter with metal bit on one end. :)

Harlan, now I see what you're talking about. Gimlet is probably as good a name as any. There's one available on the bay at the moment, very cheap, so might be good for trying.

Stuart, I've only seen the pointed square and the big hole outrigger bits, would love to see the other two. Probably Odate's Japanese Tools book describes them, but can't seem to find it right now.

Pam

[David Weaver]

I think odate calls them gimlets, too. It's as good of a word to use as any, but will probably turn up mostly german style bits and those wire-framed T-handled things.

[Sam Takeuchi]

These (http://www.takenaka.co.jp/daiku/kiri/img/krt01s.JPG) stuff yeh?

[ray hampton]

fire starter, PAM beat me to it
wood lathe turning bits are shape similar to a spoon bit or spoon bill

[Harlan Barnhart]

Thanks for the info everyone. I will probably make a prototype and see how it works. A case hardened nail is square to start with so it makes sense to try a square one first.

David, it looks like you saw the same video I did. He made quick work of those pins. The drilling looked effortless.

[Chris Vandiver]

Here you go; http://www.hidatool.com/shop/shop.html
Hida Tool stocks Japanese gimlets.

[Pam Niedermayer]

Here you go; http://www.hidatool.com/shop/shop.html
Hida Tool stocks Japanese gimlets.

OK, but where? In what category?

Pam

[Jason Chestnut]

Hida's site is a pain in the but to link to, isn't it? I just found the gimlets under the top-level Bamboo menu. There's a Gimlet entry that takes you to them. Three sizes with square or triangular tips. Not sure of the difference in use.

[Pam Niedermayer]

Hida's site is a pain in the but to link to, isn't it? I just found the gimlets under the top-level Bamboo menu. There's a Gimlet entry that takes you to them. Three sizes with square or triangular tips. Not sure of the difference in use.

It certainly is; but the store in person is a treasure trove, love visiting there.

Maybe the gimlets are under the Bamboo entry because they're used mostly in bamboo, fence making and the like?

Pam

[Jason Chestnut]

It certainly is; but the store in person is a treasure trove, love visiting there.

Maybe the gimlets are under the Bamboo entry because they're used mostly in bamboo, fence making and the like?

Pam

Could be. I've never used one before, so I wonder. I'd love to get to visit their store one day.

[jamie shard]

Folks, help please!

I'm trying to find the youtube video that featured the japanese cabinet maker... I'm pretty sure it was linked off of this site in one of the threads, but I can't find it. Anybody still have the link?

-jamie

[David Wong]

Is this what you are looking for?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85GrCHbdaJ4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwzeONtOAFg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U98YYBeG7NI&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQNyA0SBoVA&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIEIaZFOCaU&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVZXYh_b-34&feature=related

[jamie shard]

Yes!! Thank you David!

(I really enjoy the part when he closes one drawer and the others pop open due to air pressure!)

-jamie

[Pam Niedermayer]

David, that's a great video series, many thanks. Love the way he lays out (Not) and cuts dovetails, really love that bit when he uses a cutting gauge to stab cut the dovetails on the drawer sides, have to watch this series again. Anybody have a better photo of that small ironed plane he uses to cut the dovetail mitre? Or, gasp, know what it's called? Some sort of rebate?

Pam