Tsukamaki Tool Review
Oct 31, 2014 23:00:04 GMT
Post by frankthebunny on Oct 31, 2014 23:00:04 GMT
(take two. I was almost done with the first draft, hit the wrong button and *poof* it all disappeared :x )
Hey All,
I have been trying out a couple of new tools for a few weeks and I now feel I have enough info and experience with them to give my thoughts.
Since there is no official tool review section, I'll just go ahead and put in here on the customization board.
The two tools I'll be discussing are the kiridashi and kujiri, better known as the Japanese utility knife and scratch awl/punch awl/socket awl. I purchased both of these from the Japan Woodworker website which is a US based importer that carries an extensive line of Japanese made woodworking/crafting tools.
The Kiridashi
overall length - 181mm/ 7 1/8"
blade length - 46mm
width - 18mm/ 3/4"
thickness - just under 3mm
weight - 60 gm
Kiridashi are used for many different applications including carving, chipping, cutting, scoring, and piercing and they come in a large assortment of shapes and sizes depending on the purpose. There are both double beveled and single beveled edges available. Many are made by sandwiching a harder carbon steel in between two layers of softer carbon steel or essentially, a sanmai lamination.
(ignore the katana geometry)
The description for this particular model states it is made with "western pattern blue steel" (not the Zoolander pose) which is a high carbon steel enveloped by a softer carbon steel. This provides the knife with a very hard cutting edge but maintains overall flexibility.
The reason I got this kiridashi was because I need one tool that had the qualities of the two I was using previously. I needed a thin blade that was also very strong. I was using either a blade with a lot of niku which wasn't great for thin cuts or a standard razor utility knife which was thin but very fragile and would often snap during a cut into wood or other hard material. This kiridashi handles both functions perfectly.
I ordered the 3/4", double bevel model which is the measurement of the width, not the cutting edge. It arrived about a week later and was packaged in an outer plastic sleeve with an additional plastic cover for the sharp blade.
The edge came very sharp but I always like to hone my blades on a stone and strop to make sure they're as sharp as I need them to be. Once I did this it easily popped hairs.
You can see the lamination clearly
You can see the mei or identifying mark in the below pic
Kiridashi often come with no fitted handle or scales and can be a bit uncomfortable to grip so I wrapped cord around mine which made it much easier to hold. I was impressed with the knife overall and especially with the strength of the edge. I've used it to cut wood, soft and hard, leather, cord, and even raw samegawa which I did by hitting the back with a mallet to chop through the thick hard skin. It cut with ease and only required a quick touch up on the strop to split hairs again.
I like using this kiridashi and now that I'm used to it, I will wind up adding a few more to my toolbox. There are many kiridashi available both in Japan and here in the states and while some can be pretty expensive, the models forged by Mr. Ikeuchi from Japan Woodworker are a very good starting point. I would definitely recommend this kiridashi to anyone looking for a good strong utility knife.
The Kujiri
overall length - 98mm / 3 13/16"
blade/point length - 43mm
handle length - 55mm
handle diameter - 15mm
weight - 19gm
The kujiri or awl, is an awesome little multi-purpose tool that can be used for scratching, scribing, piercing, punching, and for for many tsukamaki-shi, it aids in tsukamaki. Before I attained this tool I was using a combination of a shaped and polished horn awl that I made myself and a straight point dental pick. I purchased this at the same time as the kiridashi from Japan Woodworker and chose the "mini" size.
The blade or tip is made from tool steel and came pretty sharp but it needed to be refined in order to not snag the delicate silk fibers of the tsukaito. After sanding it with high grit paper and stropping it, it was perfect and din't snag or fray the silk. I use this tool to help manipulate the tsukaito and position the washi paper while doing tsukamaki and since there is often samegawa underneath, I was worried about the tip being damaged. Not only did the tip hold up just fine against the same, it barely showed any scratches and only needed a quick strop to shine again. The handle which is made of white oak, is comfortable and smooth and I use the bottom to tap the tsukaito folds and further help shape the hishi as I go.
The kiridashi and kujiri are now two of my favorite tsukamaki tools and replaces the four separate tools I used before. I have seen the kujiri for less on other sites but often they are sold directly from Japan and the higher shipping makes it about the same price in the end. I also saw some kiridashi on ebay but went with a recommended vendor instead.
I would definitely recommend these two tools from Japan Woodworker if you're in the market for such things.
Next up is a Japanese saya nomi and a Japanese block plane, which I do plan to buy one of these days when I can afford them
Thanks for looking
Josh
Hey All,
I have been trying out a couple of new tools for a few weeks and I now feel I have enough info and experience with them to give my thoughts.
Since there is no official tool review section, I'll just go ahead and put in here on the customization board.
The two tools I'll be discussing are the kiridashi and kujiri, better known as the Japanese utility knife and scratch awl/punch awl/socket awl. I purchased both of these from the Japan Woodworker website which is a US based importer that carries an extensive line of Japanese made woodworking/crafting tools.
The Kiridashi
overall length - 181mm/ 7 1/8"
blade length - 46mm
width - 18mm/ 3/4"
thickness - just under 3mm
weight - 60 gm
Kiridashi are used for many different applications including carving, chipping, cutting, scoring, and piercing and they come in a large assortment of shapes and sizes depending on the purpose. There are both double beveled and single beveled edges available. Many are made by sandwiching a harder carbon steel in between two layers of softer carbon steel or essentially, a sanmai lamination.
(ignore the katana geometry)
The description for this particular model states it is made with "western pattern blue steel" (not the Zoolander pose) which is a high carbon steel enveloped by a softer carbon steel. This provides the knife with a very hard cutting edge but maintains overall flexibility.
The reason I got this kiridashi was because I need one tool that had the qualities of the two I was using previously. I needed a thin blade that was also very strong. I was using either a blade with a lot of niku which wasn't great for thin cuts or a standard razor utility knife which was thin but very fragile and would often snap during a cut into wood or other hard material. This kiridashi handles both functions perfectly.
I ordered the 3/4", double bevel model which is the measurement of the width, not the cutting edge. It arrived about a week later and was packaged in an outer plastic sleeve with an additional plastic cover for the sharp blade.
The edge came very sharp but I always like to hone my blades on a stone and strop to make sure they're as sharp as I need them to be. Once I did this it easily popped hairs.
You can see the lamination clearly
You can see the mei or identifying mark in the below pic
Kiridashi often come with no fitted handle or scales and can be a bit uncomfortable to grip so I wrapped cord around mine which made it much easier to hold. I was impressed with the knife overall and especially with the strength of the edge. I've used it to cut wood, soft and hard, leather, cord, and even raw samegawa which I did by hitting the back with a mallet to chop through the thick hard skin. It cut with ease and only required a quick touch up on the strop to split hairs again.
I like using this kiridashi and now that I'm used to it, I will wind up adding a few more to my toolbox. There are many kiridashi available both in Japan and here in the states and while some can be pretty expensive, the models forged by Mr. Ikeuchi from Japan Woodworker are a very good starting point. I would definitely recommend this kiridashi to anyone looking for a good strong utility knife.
The Kujiri
overall length - 98mm / 3 13/16"
blade/point length - 43mm
handle length - 55mm
handle diameter - 15mm
weight - 19gm
The kujiri or awl, is an awesome little multi-purpose tool that can be used for scratching, scribing, piercing, punching, and for for many tsukamaki-shi, it aids in tsukamaki. Before I attained this tool I was using a combination of a shaped and polished horn awl that I made myself and a straight point dental pick. I purchased this at the same time as the kiridashi from Japan Woodworker and chose the "mini" size.
The blade or tip is made from tool steel and came pretty sharp but it needed to be refined in order to not snag the delicate silk fibers of the tsukaito. After sanding it with high grit paper and stropping it, it was perfect and din't snag or fray the silk. I use this tool to help manipulate the tsukaito and position the washi paper while doing tsukamaki and since there is often samegawa underneath, I was worried about the tip being damaged. Not only did the tip hold up just fine against the same, it barely showed any scratches and only needed a quick strop to shine again. The handle which is made of white oak, is comfortable and smooth and I use the bottom to tap the tsukaito folds and further help shape the hishi as I go.
The kiridashi and kujiri are now two of my favorite tsukamaki tools and replaces the four separate tools I used before. I have seen the kujiri for less on other sites but often they are sold directly from Japan and the higher shipping makes it about the same price in the end. I also saw some kiridashi on ebay but went with a recommended vendor instead.
I would definitely recommend these two tools from Japan Woodworker if you're in the market for such things.
Next up is a Japanese saya nomi and a Japanese block plane, which I do plan to buy one of these days when I can afford them
Thanks for looking
Josh