Kumiko, What Are The Best Books and Videos To Learn Buy?

[richard poitras]

I know Google is your friend but I thought for those that have done it or did the search on the topic before me could make some recommendations of books, videos or even a weekend class in Mid-Michigan that may help jump start my learning search with technics and jigs and the best ways to cut the parts.

Thanks Richard

[Jamie Buxton]

Desmond King builds and teaches about kumiko and shoji. http://kskdesign.com.au/ He's written four books now, from basics through to the advanced. You can find them on Amazon. Or if you like video, check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khr5Is3kT8s .

[Brian Holcombe]

I second Jamie's recommendation, Desmond's stuff is excellent.

My favorite book on Japanese construction is 'Measure and Construction of the Japanese House", in that book the author lays out various basic shoji patterns which I find very appealing.

I'll offer some advice that the best you can do is to be absolutely scientifically precise when preparing kumiko, it will help tremendously when you go to start cutting joinery.

Are you planning to build shoji screens or just kumiko?

[Tom Giacomo]

There are several good videos on you tube.

[richard poitras]

Desmond King builds and teaches about kumiko and shoji..

Jamie thanks for the recommendation on King I will check it out.

Brian I am just looking at small kumiko projects to get me started and see how it goes.

I had some one recommend this on an other forum that is a pretty good learn. A guy named Mike Farrington.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqAbRqhEBY4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmOZEAgXE3U&t=666s

[Brian Holcombe]

The difficult part of basic kumiko work is the prep work. Basically your best approach is to dimension within one-two hand plane shavings per side of accurate size. So if your dado kerfs are .125” and .250” respectively then your wood must be rough prepped to just barely oversized to the point where two or four (depending on how accurate you can get) plane shavings leaves a snug fit in the joints. They should not exert pressure on the joint causing it to expand and should not be loose.

If you’re sizing pieces to individual fits it will not be easy work, so do your best to keep that part very accurate.

Good kumiko stays together without glue.

Choose wood without runout. This is easy in small pieces. In large work I make extra so that if I missed a bit if runout and the part breaks I have a direct replacement ready. I cut with the grain when prepping to minimize runout.

[Randy Heinemann]

I believe Mike Peckovich (Fine Woodworking) teaches a class at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking where you make a kumiko project. Not sure the length or the cost and it involves travel to the School which is just outside of Indianapolis. Sometimes, though, taking a hands-on class is the best way to start on a new technique to get the basics correct.

[Ron Brese]

There is a tremendous amount of information about Kumiko online. Enough to get you started just to see if it's something you want to pursue. If you decide it's your thing then there's no limit to what can be created. I'm not there yet. The work of Mike Pekovich is a good example of how to incorporate this work into functional cabinetry. The pics I've post here feature a white pine cabinet with cherry kumiko panel that I've recently completed.

Ron

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[Michelle Rich]

yes, king is the source for good books. Be prepared tho, they are quite expensive.

[Brian Holcombe]

His book on the basics is $25, pretty inexpensive considering the information provided.

[richard poitras]

yes, king is the source for good books. Be prepared tho, they are quite expensive.

The library is my friend :)