Kanna Fabrication Notes

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Greg Merritt

I didn’t feel like working in the shop the last few days.  I put my creative efforts to work at the drawing board, instead.

Trying to find detailed instructions for fabricating a kanna dai is challenging.  There is a decent explanation of the process in Odate’s book for a standard smoothing plane, but even that is a little on the vague side.  So I have been searching the internet and compiling what I can on the topic.  I’ve also been putting that information to the test through trial and error.  Mostly error I’m afraid.  They say we learn more from our mistakes than our successes, so there is that consolation.  Anyway, for better or worse I’ve scribbled down my notes on the making of a basic kanna. Continue reading →

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Hira Kanna Remake-Part 2

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Greg Merritt

In Part 1 I recounted my trying weekend in the shop while remaking the dai block to turn this blade into a functioning kanna.  So now that I solved  the mystery of the skewed blade and fixed the chip in the mouth and sole, it was time to see if I could salvage this build.

After work this evening I went straight to the shop.  First I cut the dai block to final length and planed the ends square.  Then a took a few shavings on the sides and top to clean up those surfaces.  I pulled the pin back out Continue reading →

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Hira Kanna Remake-Part 1

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Greg Merritt

Having botched the fitting of the blade to the dai on my first attempt at making a kanna with this new-used blade, I went into this weekend eager to start dai #2.  What I got ended up being one of my most frustrating wood working experiences.

I prepped the maple block.  The slab of maple that I pulled from the attic is grungy and rock hard, but I prepped the block without issue. Continue reading →

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If I Can’t do it Right…

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Greg Merritt

…I can at least learn from my mistakes.
Well crap!  Here I was, all pleased with my freshly minted kanna.  Wrote a post all about it.  Showed it off…blah,blah, blah. Everything was right with my world, but then… Continue reading →

Posted in 5-Tools, Kanna | 20 Comments

Birthing a Hira-Kanna(common plane)

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Greg Merritt

This blog has been quiet as of late, which usually indicates that not much is happening in my wood shop.  In this instance though, that is not the case.  I’ve been in the shop almost everyday trying to get my head around the Japanese kanna.  I’ve made a few dai (plane bodies), tried different bedding angles and made several mounds of shavings.  I’ve also had a couple of email conversations with folks well-versed in the kanna.  These conversations have led me to abandon my original idea of using the kanna without the chip breaker. Continue reading →

Posted in 5-Tools, Kanna | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Kanna Blade Identification-Can you Help?

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Greg Merritt

I’m asking for your help.  I was recently asked about the blade in one of my kanna.  That question made me realize that I know nothing about the Japanese plane blades that I own.  I’m hoping that some of you may be able to give me some insight as to the who, what, when and where of these blades. Continue reading →

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Chisel Setup

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Greg Merritt

My Japanese chisels are middle of the road, decent user-grade chisels.  As such, they are factory produced and marketed for the western buyer.  They are a laminated construction and the steel is good, but the fit and finish is a little on the rough side. Continue reading →

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Training

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Greg Merritt

The best way I know to learn a new skill is through repetition, lots of repetition.  My ultimate goal is to transition over to using the Japanese plane (kanna) exclusively in my woodworking.  However there are several challenges that must be met in order for this to happen. Continue reading →

Posted in 5-Tools, Kanna, Thoughts-Views | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

The Saga of the Kanna Continues

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Greg Merritt

OK…you are probably getting sick of the kanna posts.  Sorry, but you will have to bare with me a little while longer.

Emboldened by my mediocre success with my first dai making experiment, I decided to tackle making a dai to replace the one for my block plane.  Over the years my lack of understanding and experimentation have made a mess of the original dai block.  The blade is a small 36mm(1-1/2″) in width and the resulting plane(kanna) is light and very handy to have at the ready.  I’ve missed having this kanna at my disposal. Continue reading →

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Kanna in Action

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Greg Merritt

In my last post on my about my dai making experiment I talked about how the shavings leaped from the plane.  I tried to explain that to a non-woodworker at my day job and they just couldn’t picture it.  So I shot a short video that shows my plane in action.  I’m horrible at video, but here you go…

Greg Merritt

Posted in Kanna | Tagged | 12 Comments