Computer time is very limited in the office in Japan so this is just a quick blog. Our project is progressing very nicely, I have been primarily working on building the Japanese tea house learning how to use Japanese hewing tools, pull saws, chisels and planes all of which work quite differently to European tools. We start work at 7.30am and work till 6pm, this means that I am not just getting to try each tool but to cut many many joints with them under the watchful eye of the master carpenters. The first saw cuts were shaky and joints slow but after several days repetition things really begin to flow.
Nicola has been filming and photographing and updating the Kesurokai blog most days. For now I am just going to post one of her video clips here and for more have a look at the Kesurokai blog. This starts with me having my first go at Japanese style hewing with the large mazakari axe, afterwards one of the Japanese carpenters trying hewing European style finishing the surface with a Gransfors broad axe.
That looks like fun Robin .Lifting the log up onto that frame up would have been too.One question though , why were you hewing the beam up there in the sky , rather than down on the ground ? The waste wood is a lot of extra weight to hoist .JockPS . where is the edit button on this thing ….
Hi Jock,The big log was rolled up the sloping timbers so not too much work. It was up there for pit sawing and we were just rough hewing ready to lay out the lines for sawing along.
Ok , than makes sense now , cheers .