Never Stop Building - Crafting Wood with Japanese Techniques
Crafting Wood with Japanese Techniques

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Japanese Woodworking Bootcamp


  • Never Stop Building LLC 772 Rome Road Mercer, ME, 04957 United States (map)

All right grunts! It’s time to get serious! Whether you want a no mercy refresher on the fundamental skills of Japanese woodworking or you are a beginner and want to be prepared for our 2024 Timber Framing Workshop led by Japanese master craftsman Kohei Yamamoto, then this is the training block for you!

Drill instructor Jason Fox is gonna transform you from weak, soft clay into mortise cutting machines! In three full, action packed days, we will set up and sharpen a Japanese chisel, learn basic layout, and using hand and power tools drill on cutting mortise and tenon joinery until your face bleeds! Finally we will end with time trials to quickly improve your joinery abilities. Stand by to GET SOME!

All joking aside, this will be an accelerated learning experience that will push you beyond your false limitations. We will start each morning at dawn with stretches, sharpening, and a warm up exercise. The days will be a combination of instruction and practice drills. And the evenings will be available for continued practice and review. You will get out as much as you put in.

The best way to learn about joinery is to cut joints. Jason’s system of time-boxing and progressive increments proves to you (by a trial of fire) that you can cut the joint, because you must.
— Morgan Donn, Apprentice

Topics Covered

  • Setting up and sharpening a new Japanese chisel

  • Understanding basic layout marks and the principles of cutting joinery

  • Basic handsaw instruction

  • Use of the handsaw, power saw, drill and chisel to chop a mortise and cut a tenon.

  • Joinery time trials.

Included with Tuition

Meals Included - This three day workshop includes catered Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day, you’re gonna need fuel because we will be burning hot!

Prerequisites

None, come as you are!

Required Tools

The following tools are required to get the most out of your experience. A loner may be available but not guaranteed. A curated kit of premium Japanese tools will be available for purchase at checkout.

  • 1000 Grit Water Stone

  • 6000 Grit Water Stone

  • Diamond Flattening Plate

  • 240-270mm Ryoba Saw

  • 24mm Japanese Chisel (Brand new, unused, Tataki/Timber or Oire/Bench preferred)

  • Japanese Hammer (350-500g)

  • 150 or 300mm Sashigane / Square

Optional Tools

  • Chisel Ring/Hoop Setter tool

  • Marking gauge (Japanese kebiki preferred)

  • Impact driver

  • Quality small circular saw

Register Below

Begin your registration process below. You’ll have the option to purchased curated tools during checkout.

Attendance limited to 6 students.


Please kindly review our class and workshop policies at the link below:

For events lasting more than day we offer rustic camping on the property:

For recommended tools for this class and your woodworking career: