You Hav To See This Man's Work To Believe It - honest

[Steve B]

Why would I not expect that from someone with your name?

knock on wood

Steve

[RicodJour]

There's a picture of him hand cutting them with a saw. Looked easy enough. I mean, come on, one tool - how hard could it be? ;)

R

[charlie b]

Miter the corners of the box, glue it up then make saw cuts acrossed the corners. Plane stock down to the width of the saw kerf - in this case in the thin veneer range, slip pieces in the saw kerf with a LITTLE bit of thinned glue and wait. when the glue dries pare off the excess and carefully scrape or plane off any high bits of veneer. the idea is simple. the execution at this size is probably not simple.

charlie b

[Robatoy]

simply mindblowing.....

r

[RicodJour]

That's a splined miter, a many splendored but still splined miter. Here's a picture showing what the guy in question does - true finger joints the width of a saw blade.

Looks like he had a little blow-out, but that's the wabi in his work.

[Leuf]

The site uses frames, this is the link you wanted (I think):

[Teamcasa]

"RicodJour"

Again, Its his patience that I admire. I'd have to make a machine to do that! But it would not be Wabi Sabi! (Imperfect) Dave

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[charlie b]

Looking closely at the second and third picture on the page Leuf provided I stand corrected. He didn't take the easy way with veneer thin "splines". He actually cut ectremely fine finger/box joints - and on a mitered corner at that. This man is amazing! To think up this joint is impressive. To be able to actually make it - even if the "fingers" were twice the width of those he actually made - is astounding. A very good designer, a wonderful eye for wood AND the woodworking skills to do this level of work. Truly a rare combination.

charlie b

[Bruce Barnett]

That's not what he did on this one. Jaw-dropping.

[RicodJour]

R

[Lee Michaels]

Those are all valid points Charlie.

What I would add to the above remarks is that this guy has some amazing physical skills. Great visual acuity and the delicate touch of a surgeon would be required. And the patience of Job. And an almost mystical relationship with tools and wood.

The list goes on. You can not say enough good things about this man and his work.

Another thought I have about this level or artisanship and beauty, is it art? There are always those artistic purists who proclaim that no craftsman type project ever achieves the status of pure art. I think that many people would catagorize Kintaro Yazawa's work as true works of art. I know that I would.

Again I get very humble when I see things like this. My wife, the quilter, looked at Yazawa's work last night and just proclaimed him to be some kind of mystical woodworker. Beyond normal abilities and sensibilities. Sort of an Olympic level artist. Almost beyond our ability to understand or comprehend.

Now that is good! (Funny that she never says anything about me like that!)

Lee Michaels

[Locutus]

Is it just me, or does this peice appear to be flipping you off?

[Tom Nie]

Thought I had it figured until I thought some more.

TomNie

[bc]

Check again Charlie, those aren't splined miters like you are describing, those are honest to goodness fingerjoints- the width of a sawblade. Even more impressive huh. I'm with John B: shop full of tools for sale, only slightly used by a rank amateur! bc

[Smaug Ichorfang]

Not intendng to detract from the man's work (but perhaps to embrace it...), doesn't his choice of wood and the condition it's in (moisture content, etc.) have a lot to do with what he can do with the wood? Seems like you can do lot more when the wood "likes" what you're doing to it and you don't have to fight it. I know I've had many fights against wood where I chose material that was too soft/hard/brittle/, too porous, etc. Sometmes you go where the wood takes you, sometimes you can gently direct the wood. Brute force seldom seems to help, and more is definitly not better.

[RicodJour]

Not sure how you could detract from the guy's work. It speaks for itself far more clearly than a critic could. But it's good for you sanity to remember that he only shows the work that is up to snuff.

If you check out the guy's web site you'll see that he uses a wide variety of woods. Beyond that, any woodworker knows that careful stock preparation and sharp tools are mandatory for quality work.

R

[Steve W]

Ya, I love the finger joint detail. Pretty cool.

[charlie b]

Absolutely and an overlooked subject in most wodworking books, tapes and magazine articles etc.. Some woods you can use for almost anything and some shouldn't be used for certain applications. Trying to do handcut dovetails in soft pine is normally an exercise in futility, often discouraging people enough to give up on trying again. BUT - if they had the luxury of practicing in mahogany for example, or cherry or maple the problem with crushing and tearing the wood rather than cutting or paring it would be significantly reduced or eliminated.

And using SHARP cutting tools, be it chopping dovetails or turning on a lathe - especially on a lathe is often one more source for success and satisfaction or failure and frustration.

And stock prep is another often overlooked factor. If you've ever tried half blinds when one or both parts are either cupped or twisted, or the ends weren't cut square you'll eventually figure out that that might be why the joints don't close nice and neat, or why your box or drawer etc. is out of square in one or more planes.

Part of the beauty of this man's work is that it requires not only the skill to make it, but the knowledge of his tools and wood. We get blown away by technique but seldom realize the underlying, seldom obvious, knowledge required BEFORE the first tool touches the wood.

This guy is truly a master woodworker

charlie b

[Toller]

I looked at it, thought it was impossible, then saw the name. Okay...

But how is it made?

I suppose a better question is "how is any of it made", but it is only the trick box that looks impossible rather than incredible.

[Pete C.]

Spectacular work.

Japanese saws in the shop of a Japanese guy who lives in Japan - Who'd a thunk it... :)

Pete C.