I so want to visit that Tokyo tool shop with a few thousand dollars and load up. This is the 2nd video iv'e seen about that shop. It has a huge reputation. Thanks for sharing, Olaf!
Fascinating stuff I’m so glad for you that you were able experience Japanese craftsmanship first hand! I’m a furniture maker of 10 years and have admired the Japanese commitment to excellence above all else it’s not something that really permeates in American culture there are some but quantity over quality is king. I only found your Channel a few days ago and have watched almost 20 videos. I’m not a musician but I really enjoy watching masters of their craft at work and you with your commitment to do the best you are able to within reason of your assignment is why I really like your channel. Sadly there are so many TH-cam “craftsmen” who have huge shops and an abundance of tools who share videos of their work and I feel like they should be ashamed and have their tools taken away for the damage they cause to priceless antiques some of these “restoration” I watch in horror as they defile that which they work on and you bring it to attention on your analysis of a restoration of a violin. Simply I’m just trying to say from one craftsman to another your comment to excellence is appreciated!
Thanks for making this video of your trip! I was also fortunate to be in Tokyo, Matsumoto, Kanegawa and Kyoto in the spring, but I was looking at textiles, and embroidery. I can’t wait to go back! Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎉
I actually went to Tokyo, Japan over the summer of July this year, and yes I did went to violin shop, where they were showcasing all the incredible violin instruments, well crafted and perfect. Thanks for sharing Olaf, I’m glad you enjoyed it. ❤
I'm Canadian but my dad was born near Wuppertal Germany... The area is a real mecca of tooling manufacturers. Whenever I travel there, I allow luggage space and budget for potential overweight baggage fees!! Even accounting for exchange rate and extra fees, the tools are cheaper and crucially way better than what I could get for the same money around here!! Looks like you got yourself a bunch of fine toys to play with there!! As a drummer, mechanical designer by trade and hobby machinist, I appreceate your points towards the end about getting good gear!! It really makes the difference between something being just a task versus feeling great about doing it!
You are so right about having top quality tools, they enable the craftsman to do their best work. I bet you will enjoy working with those new tools now, you just need to find the right place to put them in your shop.
I always wanted to go to Japan to see it and see the instrument makers/ factories. I play drums and IMO Japan makes some of the best drums in the world
Great video Olaf, I'm just a weekend wood hacker. 81 yrs old. and have always had a respect for tools so loved every moment of this video. I have old and yes cheap tools I bought back in the mid 50's to 60's at such a young age I did not have the monetary means to buy expensive tools so had to resort to the "cheap" stuff. But found out very early that if you maintain them and care for them they can get the job done efficiently thanks for sharing. ECF
I certainly admire Japanese craftsmanship, including in the field of woodworking, and they certainly manufacture fine tools. However, I don't think one should underestimate the quality of tools manufactured in other places. I bought most of my chisels about 30 years ago and they were made by a German company, that no longer exists. However, recently I stocked up on chisels and gouges in other sizes and bought ones of a very similar design, also made in Germany. I buy tools from a specialist supplier in Germany that also stocks Japanese tools. I've bought a couple of measuring and marking tools from Japan, but I haven't bought any chisels, because they are relatively expensive and it seemed to me that the German tools offered very good value for the price. The dealer warns that the steel used for the Japanese chisels is very hard and can therefore break easily. They should only be used for cutting and not, for example, prying. Of course, this applies to all chisels and is a good reason not to let other people use one's chisels. I would be interested in trying out some Japanese tools, particulary the saws that cut on the pull, but I have never felt limited by using European-style tools.
It was my turn to check on the the rubbish spot on my neighbours land that day it was plastic but some one dumped a cardboard box. so i took it home ready for next day I opened the box and to my surprise it was full of chisels ! about 40 plus . yes i have them all ! i do a small amount of carpentry. I live in Japan. great video Olaf!
Ya they sure have a huge variety of very fine tools, and saws. Damascus/pattern welding is quite different from the Japanese process of folding layers of hard and soft Tamahagane steel. Pattern welded can be rather random in the pattern it creates (Swirls and whorls), and the purpose is rather different (often decorative). Japanese folded steel creates very even layers of alternating hard and soft steel which makes the blades strong (the softer steel) while holding an excellent edge (the harder more brittle steel). The process is quite complex, particularly the tempering process and how they insulate different parts of the blade which create that wavy pattern found on swords and some tools.
I suggest you read some of J.D. Voerhoven's published articles on Wootz steel/true Damascus. There's a huge difference between what is true Damascus steel, and the myriad of pattern welded/folded metals that are now called damascus. Many are not even steel or iron alloys at all.
What a great trip! Just yesterday I was asking a violinmaking forum about upgrading to Japanese chisels, and which sizes they reach for the most often. I was thinking of getting one or two at a time for starters. Maybe a 12mm and an 18mm? Olaf, what size chisels do you find yourself using most often? And perhaps could you do a follow-up video to this one where you set up these new and used tools and get them ready to use?
Sounds like an amazing trip! Congratulations on all those wonderful tools. A friend of mine became enamored with Japanese tools and travels there frequently. He went to one of the planing competitions (“Kezurou-kai”) where he was able to _rent_ a log to plane! I thought that was pretty funny until I realized that if you were only going to be taking 30-40 thousandths off over the course of the contest, they could probably keep renting the same log for a long time! 😂 Cheers!
You mentioned that you will show the restoration of a few of the tools that you purchased- when you do that, can you mention why the tools you got are so special? Is it the steel alloy, the shape, or what?
I am a bit surprised that you did not get a standard shape bridge knife and some violin makers angle blade knives, also with particular attention to the quality of the steel used. I am sure that the Japanese have carefully evaluated hardness of the steel used for different hardness woods, from spruce to ebony as well as the ability to take and hold an edge.
🎉 Lovely! 🎉 Have you discovered any of the joinery techniques that could be used to better the violin? Possibly like: a "gravity joint," or a joint where the more the violin is played the tighter the joint becomes? Enjoy your new tools. Let us know of how you use them. 💙 🎄
I build mandolins. My design has string tension between ten and fifteen pounds like mandolins were before Bessemer came along. Modern mandolins operate with string tension between twenty and twenty five pounds. Simply putting lighter gage strings results in having terrible intonation. The main problem is mandolins have frets where as the frets of a violin are contained in the players ear and muscle memory. So for mandolins a multi scale fret board is required.
I saw a comment on a Japanese violin maker's video that said something like "They should be using European woodworking tools" as though Japanese woodworking tools are either unsuitable, primitive or inferior quality. And why would they when they have access to such tools as well as the heritage. The amount of European luthiers using various Japanese and Japanese-style tools proves you don't have to use solely European woodworking tools if there are better alternatives or if they just do the job better. I suspect the commenter has never seen Japanese woodworking skills.
Haven't been around here in a while; this was a very fascinating video. Did you find anything different in these Japanese tools that may require you to adapt your technique or workflow accordingly?
Interesting. I'm wondering what differences there are in the forging process, I'll have to read up on that. I'm also curious to see if there are any Japanese tool "reviews", so to speak, and comparisons with cheaper alternatives for fun. You may have just given me a brand new rabbit hole to jump into 😁 Oh, and happy new year; hopefully it's going to be a great one for you and your family 🙂
I find it interesting that Japanese craftsmen are coming to the US toolsmiths to get their woodworking tools. The quality is just as good, the price is cheaper, and they don't have to wait months to get what they ordered. These Japanese woodworkers can custom order exactly what they want from the US. The American smiths are honored that Japanese craftsmen would come to them for their tools. It is a graduation for them.
I like to watch a craftman's channel, but if you're this down on edged weapons, I can only imagine how down you are on firearms, which means this is not the channel for me. We are in different countries, but people in my country that share your beliefs are the most dangerous people to freedom. Editing to say I did unsubscribe.
I so want to visit that Tokyo tool shop with a few thousand dollars and load up. This is the 2nd video iv'e seen about that shop. It has a huge reputation. Thanks for sharing, Olaf!
Fascinating stuff I’m so glad for you that you were able experience Japanese craftsmanship first hand! I’m a furniture maker of 10 years and have admired the Japanese commitment to excellence above all else it’s not something that really permeates in American culture there are some but quantity over quality is king. I only found your Channel a few days ago and have watched almost 20 videos. I’m not a musician but I really enjoy watching masters of their craft at work and you with your commitment to do the best you are able to within reason of your assignment is why I really like your channel. Sadly there are so many TH-cam “craftsmen” who have huge shops and an abundance of tools who share videos of their work and I feel like they should be ashamed and have their tools taken away for the damage they cause to priceless antiques some of these “restoration” I watch in horror as they defile that which they work on and you bring it to attention on your analysis of a restoration of a violin. Simply I’m just trying to say from one craftsman to another your comment to excellence is appreciated!
Thanks for making this video of your trip! I was also fortunate to be in Tokyo, Matsumoto, Kanegawa and Kyoto in the spring, but I was looking at textiles, and embroidery. I can’t wait to go back! Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎉
10:37 the thinness of the shaving blew my mind 🤯
I’d really like to see a video of your work to bring those tools back to life.
I actually went to Tokyo, Japan over the summer of July this year, and yes I did went to violin shop, where they were showcasing all the incredible violin instruments, well crafted and perfect.
Thanks for sharing Olaf, I’m glad you enjoyed it. ❤
What was the name of the violin shop?
Fascinating - taking care of one's tools is so critical. You are an inspiration!😮
So glad you visit my adopted country. Hope you had a great time and visit again soon.
Have fun setting up and using your new plane! It's a bear of a process, but the results can be amazing!
I'm Canadian but my dad was born near Wuppertal Germany... The area is a real mecca of tooling manufacturers. Whenever I travel there, I allow luggage space and budget for potential overweight baggage fees!! Even accounting for exchange rate and extra fees, the tools are cheaper and crucially way better than what I could get for the same money around here!!
Looks like you got yourself a bunch of fine toys to play with there!! As a drummer, mechanical designer by trade and hobby machinist, I appreceate your points towards the end about getting good gear!! It really makes the difference between something being just a task versus feeling great about doing it!
That must have been an exceptional experience!
You are so right about having top quality tools, they enable the craftsman to do their best work.
I bet you will enjoy working with those new tools now, you just need to find the right place to put them in your shop.
Really interesting Olaf, thanks for posting.
Fabulous stuff, Ollie. Loved it.
I always wanted to go to Japan to see it and see the instrument makers/ factories. I play drums and IMO Japan makes some of the best drums in the world
Beautifully made tools, wish I had the sharpening skills they have.
Great video Olaf, I'm just a weekend wood hacker. 81 yrs old. and have always had a respect for tools so loved every moment of this video. I have old and yes cheap tools I bought back in the mid 50's to 60's at such a young age I did not have the monetary means to buy expensive tools so had to resort to the "cheap" stuff. But found out very early that if you maintain them and care for them they can get the job done efficiently thanks for sharing. ECF
Always love your content, Olaf!
Fantastic content, Olaf - greatly appreciated
Awesome, thank you for sharing.
I certainly admire Japanese craftsmanship, including in the field of woodworking, and they certainly manufacture fine tools. However, I don't think one should underestimate the quality of tools manufactured in other places. I bought most of my chisels about 30 years ago and they were made by a German company, that no longer exists. However, recently I stocked up on chisels and gouges in other sizes and bought ones of a very similar design, also made in Germany.
I buy tools from a specialist supplier in Germany that also stocks Japanese tools. I've bought a couple of measuring and marking tools from Japan, but I haven't bought any chisels, because they are relatively expensive and it seemed to me that the German tools offered very good value for the price. The dealer warns that the steel used for the Japanese chisels is very hard and can therefore break easily. They should only be used for cutting and not, for example, prying. Of course, this applies to all chisels and is a good reason not to let other people use one's chisels.
I would be interested in trying out some Japanese tools, particulary the saws that cut on the pull, but I have never felt limited by using European-style tools.
I hope that you will come to sakai next time. the city is famous for cutlery industry. I live in Osaka, just next to sakai.
It was my turn to check on the the rubbish spot on my neighbours land that day it was plastic but some one dumped a cardboard box.
so i took it home ready for next day I opened the box and to my surprise it was full of chisels ! about 40 plus . yes i have them all ! i do a small amount of carpentry. I live in Japan. great video Olaf!
hello this is your nabor marks son saw your video it was very entertaining
No better place for tools. Great video. I can see you in the workshop now saying that top is 0.001mm too thick I’ll cut it a little more.
Ya they sure have a huge variety of very fine tools, and saws. Damascus/pattern welding is quite different from the Japanese process of folding layers of hard and soft Tamahagane steel. Pattern welded can be rather random in the pattern it creates (Swirls and whorls), and the purpose is rather different (often decorative). Japanese folded steel creates very even layers of alternating hard and soft steel which makes the blades strong (the softer steel) while holding an excellent edge (the harder more brittle steel). The process is quite complex, particularly the tempering process and how they insulate different parts of the blade which create that wavy pattern found on swords and some tools.
I suggest you read some of J.D. Voerhoven's published articles on Wootz steel/true Damascus.
There's a huge difference between what is true Damascus steel, and the myriad of pattern welded/folded metals that are now called damascus. Many are not even steel or iron alloys at all.
What a great trip! Just yesterday I was asking a violinmaking forum about upgrading to Japanese chisels, and which sizes they reach for the most often.
I was thinking of getting one or two at a time for starters. Maybe a 12mm and an 18mm?
Olaf, what size chisels do you find yourself using most often? And perhaps could you do a follow-up video to this one where you set up these new and used tools and get them ready to use?
Yes, I use 12 and 15mm most.
It's the full set of gouges that really helps with the scroll, fluting and corners.
@ Awesome, thanks for responding!
Good hat!
Sounds like an amazing trip! Congratulations on all those wonderful tools. A friend of mine became enamored with Japanese tools and travels there frequently. He went to one of the planing competitions (“Kezurou-kai”) where he was able to _rent_ a log to plane! I thought that was pretty funny until I realized that if you were only going to be taking 30-40 thousandths off over the course of the contest, they could probably keep renting the same log for a long time! 😂 Cheers!
lovely thumbnail olaf!
You mentioned that you will show the restoration of a few of the tools that you purchased- when you do that, can you mention why the tools you got are so special? Is it the steel alloy, the shape, or what?
I am a bit surprised that you did not get a standard shape bridge knife and some violin makers angle blade knives, also with particular attention to the quality of the steel used.
I am sure that the Japanese have carefully evaluated hardness of the steel used for different hardness woods, from spruce to ebony as well as the ability to take and hold an edge.
🎉 Lovely! 🎉
Have you discovered any of the joinery techniques that could be used to better the violin?
Possibly like: a "gravity joint," or a joint where the more the violin is played the tighter the joint becomes?
Enjoy your new tools. Let us know of how you use them.
💙 🎄
I had a spring pole wood lathe at one time. I wasn't nearly as good looking as the one in the video. :(
I build mandolins. My design has string tension between ten and fifteen pounds like mandolins were before Bessemer came along. Modern mandolins operate with string tension between twenty and twenty five pounds. Simply putting lighter gage strings results in having terrible intonation. The main problem is mandolins have frets where as the frets of a violin are contained in the players ear and muscle memory. So for mandolins a multi scale fret board is required.
You know what Pablo Casals said about practicing every day, at age 90 ... "I think I'm making progress"
😊😊😊
Cant Germany make tools like that too
I'm 18 yrs old and I've been fixing up violins for about 2 years now. Does anyone have any advice they could give me?
Trip to see the Incredible century old Japanese Woodworking tools in many Museums throughout Japan's cities.. th-cam.com/video/w_1KexEIfds/w-d-xo.html
I saw a comment on a Japanese violin maker's video that said something like "They should be using European woodworking tools" as though Japanese woodworking tools are either unsuitable, primitive or inferior quality. And why would they when they have access to such tools as well as the heritage.
The amount of European luthiers using various Japanese and Japanese-style tools proves you don't have to use solely European woodworking tools if there are better alternatives or if they just do the job better. I suspect the commenter has never seen Japanese woodworking skills.
I would get very greedy... i want to have every tool available, even when lacking the skills..
Haven't been around here in a while; this was a very fascinating video. Did you find anything different in these Japanese tools that may require you to adapt your technique or workflow accordingly?
Not really... They just stay sharper for longer which makes things so much easier.
Interesting. I'm wondering what differences there are in the forging process, I'll have to read up on that. I'm also curious to see if there are any Japanese tool "reviews", so to speak, and comparisons with cheaper alternatives for fun. You may have just given me a brand new rabbit hole to jump into 😁
Oh, and happy new year; hopefully it's going to be a great one for you and your family 🙂
Japanese tools are the best, no matter your craft.
I find it interesting that Japanese craftsmen are coming to the US toolsmiths to get their woodworking tools. The quality is just as good, the price is cheaper, and they don't have to wait months to get what they ordered. These Japanese woodworkers can custom order exactly what they want from the US. The American smiths are honored that Japanese craftsmen would come to them for their tools. It is a graduation for them.
Uh-oh! Better watch out! He might be accused of "cultural appropriation"!
I like to watch a craftman's channel, but if you're this down on edged weapons, I can only imagine how down you are on firearms, which means this is not the channel for me. We are in different countries, but people in my country that share your beliefs are the most dangerous people to freedom. Editing to say I did unsubscribe.
Takes a real clown to post a diatribe on American gun-nuttery, on a video about Japanese tools.
Thanks for that...
The great thing about both our countries is that we have freedom of expression.