Learn some new skills or perfect what you know.

Announcing upcoming courses and the perfect project for whittlers.

Make Your Own Japanese Plane

Master Carpenter and Teacher Hiroshi Yamaguchi visits Sydney.

Hiroshi Yamaguchi is a trained Japanese woodworker and teacher who moved to Canberra in 2012. Since then he has furthered his craft by working in furniture shops in the ACT before opening his own woodworking school, bringing the craft of traditional Japanese carpentry to both experienced and beginner woodworkers in Australia.

JTA is pleased to announce that Hiroshi-san will be holding a five day course in Kogarah, Sydney in June. Christian undertook this course in Hiroshi's workshop in Canberra several years ago and has been raving about it ever since.

The five days take in a detailed journey across two weekends, including the June long weekend. The first weekend begins with participants receiving their high-quality chisel purchased from Inoue Hamono, a small specialist store for professional woodworkers in Tokyo. Hiroshi then instructs the students on fitting the ferule of the chisel, flattening the back of the blade and sharpening the bevel. Students also receive their new plane blade and tune it to a fine finish, all on traditional Japanese waterstones.

Once students' chisels and plane blades are tuned and ready for work, the long weekend is spent selecting a blank, marking out the required openings and making a perfect custom dai for the plane blade. Hiroshi's guidance comes into its own as a tuned Japanese plane emerges from the block of timber you carefully select, capable of taking beautiful shavings.

The cost of the workshop is $850 including all materials and students finish with their tuned chisel, hand-made plane and a wealth of knowledge and experience about these wonderful tools. Places are unfortunately limited, though a spot can be secured with a deposit. For full details please visit the course's booking page Here

Learn the Art of Sharpening

The Illawarra Woodwork School and Total Tools Fairy Meadow are combining forces to deliver the ultimate sharpening workshop.

Master studio woodworker Stuart Montague established the Illawarra Woodwork School to pass on his love and knowledge of the craft. Later this month Stuart will be running a one-day course on sharpening - and only sharpening. The Illawarra Woodwork School has teamed up with Total Tools Fairy Meadow to roll out the full range of sharpening options, from Tormeks to Veritas guides and, of course, Japanese water stones.

At $90 with lunch provided, it promises to be an informative day of hands-on experience sharpening every kind of tool - and you can bring your own, so be sure that you pack as many as you can! If you've been thinking of exploring your sharpening options but feel overwhelmed by choice, this workshop is the perfect opportunity.

Try out whatever sharpening tools you like on the actual edges you use most often in the shop. Our premium Cerax water stones will be there, so be sure to run a few tools across those. Click here for the event flyer, or call Stuart Montague to book a spot on 0438510145.