Reddit reviews Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use

Here is the canonical westerner's guide to taking care of Japanese woodworking tools, which has sections on sharpening, maintaining chisels, etc.

These are my first fine woodworking tools, yes, however I used to build sets so I am familiar with basic wood work. In the months leading up to my purchase I read two books on Japanese tools and woodworking. There are links to both at the bottom. Both have extensive chapters on the use and set up of all japanese tools. I recommend checking them out if these tools interest you!! Also the samurai carpenter has some killer how to videos on the subject. Thanks for the advice and good luck setting up your kanna. Take a sick day and knock it out haha... 🌲🌲

https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Woodworking-Tools-Tradition-Spirit/dp/0941936465

https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Woodworking-Handbook-Tool-Techniques/dp/0881790036

Start here

I don't know about anything locally where you are, but I'm finding there are some great resources available online and in books.

• Toshiro Odate's book is full of great information about tools and the workshop. It's the thing I see most commonly referenced.
  
• The Workbench Book has some more information on Japanese-influenced workbenches that look less back-breaking than Toshiro's ways of always sitting on the floor.
  
• Here's a detailed blog journey of a man discovering Japanese woodworking techniques from Odate's book. It's nice to see a person has done the things Odate has described in his book this century :P . Oh! And he has in there somewhere a great video playlist of japanese woodworkers using all sorts of tools.
  
• Here's a Japanese youtuber you might check out lots of workshop maintenance and DIY projects:
  Bayashi23
  
• And here's Ishtani, a Japanese furniture maker

I wouldn't say "as described my me", more me trying to do as I was shown. At one point, one of the older Japanese woodworkers was asked how long it would take me to master my kanna. And without any hesitation, he answered "Five years". And that was only three months ago.

I don't know of any videos in particular. I will recommend Toshio Odate's book: Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use https://www.amazon.com/dp/0941936465
I was re-reading it the other day and everything he wrote was the same as what I was told.