Yesterday I received a very exciting parcel through the post, my German Friend Hannes after his carpentry apprenticeship spent his journeyman time working in Japan with traditional temple builders. When he helped me build our timber framed logstore I coveted his beautiful Japanese tools and in particular a gorgeous carpenters axe.
Hannes has just been back out to Japan and visited the Smith that made the axe and bought one for me. The work is exquisite, and I have no doubt that the balance in use will be perfect too. Here it is along with a good quality waterstone and a pile of plane shavings for pakaging.
When I use this tool I will think of Hannes, the lessons I learn’t from him and also feel conected to the Smith in Japan and their culture of supreme craftsmanship.
This is a video I took a few years ago of a wonderfuly skilled craftsman using one of these axes to hew beams.
It’s about time i said hello and how much i enjoy your blog.Regards,Mattty
Hi Matty,Glad you enjoy it, its always nice to know that people are reading and enjoying.
Nice post. It is interesting to see a different hewing approach. Makes me nervous around the toes, though!
How did your friend come into contact with the japanese carpenters?i am looking to go there to learn but am finding it difficult to source carpenters
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I don't know it may have been through the German Journeyman organisation.Hannes is coming to the UK in October for the Carpenters Fellowships Frame event so you could ask him there. He speaks Japanese which helps.