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

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Kanna: Japanese Hand Plane First Set Up and Use


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

The Japanese hand plane is truly a powerful teacher. Such a simple design: a block of wood, a metal blade and often a sub-blade and pin; but simplicity betrays the long road to master such a tool and use it to create glass smooth finishes on wood, far beyond the smoothness and appearance of sanding.

Do not be intimidated by the Kanna, with some practice and coaching you will soon be able to make wonderful shavings and add the tool as an indispensable resource in finishing your projects and adjusting materials and joinery. In this workshop we will set up a brand new kanna, learn tuning techniques and practice taking shavings.


Topics Covered

  • Learning the construction and parts of a Kanna

  • Preparing and sharpening the blade

  • Preparing and adjusting the sub blade

  • Fitting the blade set to the wood block (dai)

  • Conditioning and adjusting the dai

  • Introduction to the principle and method of “tapping out”

  • Practice planing stock and friendly shaving competition

Included with Tuition

Meals Included - This two day workshop includes catered Lunch and Dinner on the first day, and Breakfast and Lunch on the second day.

Special Tools - Each student will be provided with a small blade fitting scraper , a precision ground steel kanna ban, and a glass conditioning plate.

Prerequisites

While no prior experience is required, we highly recommend previous sharpening experience or first taking the Introduction to Sharpening Workshop to get the most out of this experience. See our Prerequisites information for qualifying prior training.

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

  • 48mm or 54mm Brand New Kanna (Block and Blade Set)

  • Wooden Mallet

  • Plane dia scraper, scraper plane, or wide (18mm+) chisel

  • Hammer

  • 3mm chisel (Oire Nomi)

Optional Tools

  • 3000 Grit Water Stone

  • 12000 Grit Water Stone

  • Straight Edge

  • Small cross peen tapping out hammer

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: