Where do I go to learn about Japanese chisels?

[Chris Hachet]

I would like to learn about Japanese chisels, although not ready to buy any yet. a better workbench a moxon vise, and some specialty tools like a plow plane and a router plane come first.

But I would like to start reading and learning, where on the net do I go?

[Tony Wilkins]

Get Toshio Odate's book. Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Spirit, Tradition, and Use.

http://www.hidatool.com/woodworking/books%20for%20woodworking%20tools?product_id=1357

[Ryan Baker]

You're in a pretty good spot right now.

I'm no expert on Japanese tools, so I will let David or someone give you a better answer. But there is a lot of info out there if you search around a bit. There are almost always a few threads going on in here about Japanese chisels too, and there is a lot of good stuff in them if read through it all. You might also talk to Stu at ToolsFromJapan when you are ready to ask more directed questions.

[David Weaver]

Odate's book is a good start.

I can't tell you anything about the super high end chisels, but of the more affordable chisels, you just want to ask around on the forums when you buy what the good makers are in a given price range.

[Winton Applegate]

Thought I would send you some tool porn. Get your mind off that kick about buying those OTHER tools first. What are you thinking.
:eek::)
Just regard me as the local tool pusher. I don't get anything monetary out of it. Oh noooo it goes deeper than that.
The satisfaction of corrupting another one. That's what I'm after.

First off what the heck happened to the Japan Woodworker web site and the photos ?
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product/156783/112-Blue-Steel-Damascus-Paring-Chisel-Iyoroi.aspx
As I recall some body bought JW right ?
Sheeeeesh. Works of art portrayed that way ! What a shame.
Order the catalog by mail it hasn't changed much; at least the last one I saw hadn't.
Here is a photo of one of mine.
Just take your tax return every year and buy one.
Or sell that second car. You will be spending a lot more time in the shop so who needs to be driving around all the time right ?
Yah . . . it is kind of a different world . . . REAL tools are. Wait till you see the Marques and Holties. Sorry about the spelling I can't afford to know how to spell those (but I would sure like to).

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

Woodcraft bought JWW. Although it's seemed for a while that there's much better photos in the catalog than online. Sometimes you need the catalog just to get enough of a picture to figure out which one of something is one you wanted.

[Chris Fournier]

Get Toshio Odate's book. Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Spirit, Tradition, and Use.

http://www.hidatool.com/woodworking/books%20for%20woodworking%20tools?product_id=1357


Good advice! Great book with plenty of insights into these very interesting tools and the philosophy behind them.

[Stanley Covington]

I would like to learn about Japanese chisels, although not ready to buy any yet. a better workbench a moxon vise, and some specialty tools like a plow plane and a router plane come first.

But I would like to start reading and learning, where on the net do I go?

Ask detailed questions, and you will receive detailed answers.

Stan