TLDR: I’m learning how to hand plane with a Japanese Kanna. Beginning woodworking.
Just wanted to share my journey since I don’t really have anyone to share with.
i dont remember what started the rabbit hole of Japanese woodworking. I think what appealed to me was the simplicity. The other notable thing is I wanted to take the time to learn how to build things by hand with simple hand tools. Another aspect was I didn’t want to buy all of the tools (power) because that’s its own black hole of cost and space which I’m limited on as it is. Ill admit scared to use them (powertools) I also have a lot of hobbies and I’m downsizing things which I cannot do anymore.
So I decided to get my first Kanna. Excited when I received it comically simple; yet sophisticated.
I read as much as I could finding out there’s so limited information out there but I found a few gold mines of information.
The good thing is I already had sharpening stones from my one and only knife I use for cooking Which I sharpen at least monthly sometimes more situation dependent. It’s a nice knife but it’s not pretty since I sort of messed up sharpening it doesn’t bother me. Freehand sharpening nonetheless is difficult alone.
Sweet get a few different types of wood. Hard maple, cherry, red oak, cedar. Scraps from a cabinet shop small. Now the fun begins or so I thought. Now I don’t have a bench or anything that would help clamp so I had to get creative to at least attempt to take my first shavings. Hilariously attempting to use scrap wood on my knees holding the scrap to keep the block I’m working on still. Works but I don’t recommend my knees hurt.
Knowing nothing but watching videos of Japanese carpenters and other woodworkers using a Kanna effortlessly take shavings. OH BOY was I humbled immediately pull with all my might. Why is this so hard to pull? Why is there a huge gash in the wood? What direction is the grain? Am I doing this right? Why did this rip out so much? Tearout?
Ok let’s look for more information. Learn, read, watch. Ok i think I understand or do I?
Well I tell you what I learned really quick how to screw up a kanna quickly and learned that a mass produced kanna both the blade and dai are a great way to learn what NOT to do. While I did learn how to get some shavings I learned the results I was looking for were not going to be achieved with this specific tool.
What I did learn through my happy accident was little details on what to look for with the Kanna what I had purchased was considered a block plane not a smoothing plane massively different results. Whether or not you can still achieve quality results with the cheap one still questionable but I need to fix it before I can attempt with that.
So I bought another one well 3 with different types of steel. (i guess you could say carried away) but I wanted to know what different steels could do And sizes.
So I tried again with the newer ones after setting them up properly from the box was impressed at the ability to cut immediately. Night and day difference. I thought maybe it was i sucked at sharpening. Nope that beginner block was as floppy as a fish out of water. (it was partly my fault for taking too much off when tuning the bed) it can be fixed but it’s now used as taking off rough marks.
So I’ve been working on Hard maple, cherry, oak and cedar. I’ve been able to get a glass finish on Maple and cherry not great but also not bad either I think there’s room for improvement for sure. Theres a few little details and things ive learned to correct.
Oak on the other hand is pretty torn up so that’s gunna take some time to correct it’s extremely difficult for me to work with So far. I can get super fine shavings but since it wasn’t level or flat to begin with along with my ”mistakes” learning it’s going to require some elbow grease to correct.
Since starting woodworking I have setup a planing beam and I’m working on building a planing bench. I’m learning what I need and that would be helpful.
Im a bit intimidated at starting any type of joinery. I have made a tenon screwed up on one part split because I got carried away. Havent made a mortise yet. Just practicing on scrap.
Anyways if you read all of that thanks for reading.