Japanese Plane Making

Make your own Japanese Kanna! The Kanna, or Japanese plane, is a cornerstone of Japanese woodworking. Skilled use of a precisely set Kanna enables woodworkers to create the distinct and elegant glass-smooth surface that is a signature characteristic Japanese woodworking.

Each participant will make their own Dai (plane body). During the class participants learn about the different bedding angles for the Kanna blade, the optimal wood grain orientation for the Dai and how to set up your plane with and without a chip breaker.

Required Tools:

• Plane components 

1. Japanese plane iron from 48mm to 60mm 
2. Matching Dai blank 
3. European Beech, Japanese white oak or with the 
4. wood of your choice 
5. Chip breaker 
6. Dai pin 

• 3mm (1/8”) bench chisel 
• 12mm (1/2”) or 15mm(5/8”) or 18mm(3/4”) bench 
• chisel 
• 24mm (1”) paring or bench chisel 
• Osahiki or flush cutting saw 
• Square 
• Hammer 
• Pencil and eraser 

Optional:

• Block plane 
• Scraper plane 

Pre-requisites: Sharpening with Japanese Waterstones Introduction and one previous joinery class with Mokuchi

Additional Fees: An additional tools or dai components purchased from Mokuchi will be charged separately

Mokuchi is a Japanese tool retailer and can provide guidance on obtaining tools and selecting your dai component pieces. Mokuchi provides a student discount.