Amazing Japanese Hakone Marquetry

[Bradley Gray]

A short video. The epitome of hand plane skill.

http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/video/amazing-japanese-hakone-marquetry-mesmerizing

[Van Huskey]

That is very cool, it reminds me of the process of making murrini (glass).

[Andrew Hughes]

Shoot I can do that,I'll need to practice.
Be back in 50 years.:D

[Bradley Gray]

I'm ready now, I just need 50 years to sharpen.

[Mike Cutler]

Wow! That's impressive.

[Van Huskey]

Shoot I can do that,I'll need to practice.
Be back in 50 years.:D

After I watched this I think most people here could build up the blocks, though it would be a good reason to buy a Bridge City Tools Jointmaker, but slicing the veneers that thin would certainly be beyond my skills.

[Bill McNiel]

Bradley,
Thank you for sharing this and reminding me once again how limited my skill set actually is.
Regards - Bill

[Brian W Evans]

Here's a bit more modern way to do it:

https://youtu.be/3B5g7X0h0Nk

To get the veneers, he uses one of those planing machines that I've only ever seen in Japanese videos (approx. 9 minute mark). He also uses a hydraulic press and a table saw with a donkey's ear sled.

This stuff is beautiful but I think I would go crazy if I had to do this guy's job for more than a few days.

[Brian Holcombe]

There are a few super surfacers in the US.

[Patrick Walsh]

Probably more than a few..

Shop just closed close to me and had a nice one at auction. Sadly I couldn’t muster up any need and excuse for needing it lol..


There are a few super surfacers in the US.

[Bradley Gray]

There are a few super surfacers in the US.


Brian,Are you talking about machines or craftsmen?

[Brian Holcombe]

Probably more than a few..

Shop just closed close to me and had a nice one at auction. Sadly I couldn’t muster up any need and excuse for needing it lol..

Interesting, did they do timber framing?

[Brian Holcombe]

Brian,Are you talking about machines or craftsmen?

Machines, like the one shown in the second video.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Re: super surfacers

My day job is with a timber framing company that has a background in doing Japanese style work. We recently acquired a barely used Marunaka super surfacer (as well as a Marunaka wet grinder) but have yet to set them up. They are 3 phase and run on 200 volts and require step down transformers, as well as a couple of other small hurdles to overcome before setup.

They came from a high end furniture manufacturer in Berkley, CA where the machines were used for one large Japanese timber project for the president of Oracle Software and sat around the shop for many years unused.

Really looking forward to using it for surfacing timbers as well as furniture parts.

[Patrick Walsh]

Nope.

DR Dimes.

Furniture makers. I was surprised also but I guess it could make quick work of some aspects of their work. I don’t know much of supersurfaces I just know of them. I understand what they do but maybe not their limited or maybe even myriad of uses.

Much of their pieces are specked as having a hand planed finish “I have a few” and I imagine maybe many of the parts were sent through one of these machines vrs the fairytale of some guy doing it all actually by hand lol..


Interesting, did they do timber framing?

[Brian Holcombe]

Ah, that makes sense that they have one then.

Phillip, that’s awesome. I know a few people who own and run them, I think they’re under utilized in the US. The finished product is more precise than sanded. This is my guess but based on my experience with hand planing it is considerably less expensive and faster to plane a finish than to sand to one. I spend less than $50/year on abrasives and finish parts more rapidly than I can with a DA.

I finish parts in one hand plane stroke typically and they remain dimensionally accurate. From those who super surface they tell me that they machine plane slightly oversize then count strokes on the super surfacer for a finished part that us dimensionally perfect and finished.

This makes certain projects a breeze. Stuff like timber work where it requires multiple plane strokes over a surface is better performed by super surfacer. Shoji frames just the same since they are so precise and chasing a minor tearout literally ruins the part since it spoils the fit.

[Michael Costa]

Perhaps he will take an apprentice. And I could learn to be a Ninja on my down time.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Brian,

Yes, for timber work, finish planing is considerably cheaper (less consumables $ and much less labor (4x faster) if you're well set up and know what you're doing.) We currently use power planers ranging from the normal 3 1/4" up to 12" wide for finish planing timber. It totally depends on how cupped the timbers are, but with nice materials I can usually get the finish I'm after in 1 or 2 light passes, which removes less than 1/32" total thickness. This is generally acceptable for timber framing as far as final dimensions.

The other major advantage is that for oil finished timbers (mainly tung oil based), the planed timbers literally shine and reflect light so beautifully after planing compared to the dull, matte, muddy clarity that results from sanding. I know you're very familiar with these differences in your own work, but some folks out there seem to be able to discern no difference between sanded and planed finishes. Of course, we're only finish sanding to 120-150 on timber frames (if we do have to sand for some reason) so the comparison isn't completely apples of oranges, but there is still a discernable difference.

[Brian Holcombe]

Do you guys have a beam planer/molder in the shop? One with the traveling head?

Mark Hennebury posted a square edge jointer, which face and edge joints at the same time a while back, I thought that would be pretty nice to use for heavy work where it’s difficult to maintain contact with a fence.

I leave the material planed without oiling for outdoor use, I put up an AYC fence over the summer for a client, looks unchanged after 6mo except for some shrinkage at the green posts.

[Julie Moriarty]

I watched the linked video then went on a journey into YouTube Japanese handwork. Didn't know if I'd make it back. I'm always fascinated by how they do what they do.

[Donn Ward]

Beautiful work! I am not only in awe of his craftsmanship but also his ability to sit crosslegged and work hours on end. I hurt thinking about it!

[Patrick Walsh]

It would be a dream to me to do such work day in and day out.

Almost like working meditation.

I do think it would take a very specific personality type though. Not for everyone that’s for sure.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Do you guys have a beam planer/molder in the shop? One with the traveling head?

Mark Hennebury posted a square edge jointer, which face and edge joints at the same time a while back, I thought that would be pretty nice to use for heavy work where it’s difficult to maintain contact with a fence.

I leave the material planed without oiling for outdoor use, I put up an AYC fence over the summer for a client, looks unchanged after 6mo except for some shrinkage at the green posts.

We do not. I just looked it up for reference and could see how it would be really handy to have around.

I’d love to do some work with planed timbers sans oil finish, but it’s hard to convince clients down the wabi sabi path of aged wood. They are out there, but most folks think they want some type of finish on outdoor timber even though it pretty much always requires a recurring maintenance schedule or they end up looking crappy after a handful of years in the elements with no maintenance. One day...

[Brian Holcombe]

We do not. I just looked it up for reference and could see how it would be really handy to have around.

I’d love to do some work with planed timbers sans oil finish, but it’s hard to convince clients down the wabi sabi path of aged wood. They are out there, but most folks think they want some type of finish on outdoor timber even though it pretty much always requires a recurring maintenance schedule or they end up looking crappy after a handful of years in the elements with no maintenance. One day...

True, it's not an easy sell. Most people want a finish, so I occasionally with use a spar varnish on some things. Luckily the fence was easy, they pretty much just let me do as I desired.