This 4-day course uses a number of specialist Japanese woodworking tools. All of the tools listed below will be provided for you to use during the course, so you do not need to purchase or bring any of these with you.

We’ve included links to the tools Dorian recommends in case you would like to purchase your own after the course.

Tools used on this course:

• Japanese bench chisels: 24mm, 12mm and 6mm
  Temple Tool Co Japanese Bench Chisels

• Japanese Ryoba saw: 240mm
  Gyokucho Blue Hard Ryoba 240mm
  Replacement blade

• Japanese hammer: Genno/Daruma, 375g
  Genno Daruma Japanese Club Hammer

• Japanese waterstones: 1000, 3000 and 8000 grit
  Japanese Waterstones

• Water basin/container for keeping the sharpening stones submerged

All of these specialist tools will be provided for you to use during the course.

This is an intensive 4-day course and Megan recommends bringing your own tools if you can. Some of the tools will be shared, but she has marked with an * the ones that each person will ideally have at their own bench.

Cutting and marking

• Cutting/marking gauge. Megan prefers a wheel marking gauge, such as the Tite-Mark

• Dividers, two pairs if you have them

• Marking knife*, ideally one with one flat side, but any will do

• Dovetail template/marking gauge or bevel gauge

• 6" adjustable square, optional

• Double square, also known as a diemaker’s or machinist’s square, optional

• 0.5mm mechanical pencils, optional

Saws and chisels

• Dovetail saw*

• Coping saw

• Crosscut-filed sash saw, other large-ish crosscut backsaw or panel saw

• Bevel-edge chisels*, ideally 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4", but bring whatever you have

Planes

• Large router plane

• Jack plane*

• Block plane*

• Smooth plane*

Drilling and assembly

• Mallet*

• Hammer*

• Set of drill bits*

• Drill*, battery or hand-powered

• Countersink

• Slotted screwdriver*

Other

• Ear plugs/ear protection

• Waterstones and honing guide, optional

• And, as Megan puts it, “any other tools you just can’t bear to be without.”

* Megan recommends bringing your own for the items marked with an asterisk where possible.

If you don’t have everything, don’t worry. We’ll have a shared box of all of these essential tools available for use during the course.

Frank has provided the following guide to the tools you’ll be using during the 2-day course. If you have your own, you are welcome to bring them with you, but you do not need to buy anything specifically for the course.

Tools used on this course

• 12" deep-throat fret saw. Frank recommends the Bahco BAH302
  Bahco 302 Fretsaw

• Card scraper

• Head-worn magnifiers, particularly useful for detailed work

• Pencils

• Notebook

• 19mm blue tape

• Glue brush

• Bench hook

• Small clamp

• Knife for cutting patterns

• Donkey’s ear/support for sawing

• 250mm × 200mm × 12mm workboard, approximately

• Pfeil No. 4 carving knife

• Router plane

• Chisels: 6mm, 12mm and 19mm

• Mallet

• Gent’s saw

One thing to prepare before the course

If possible, bring a printed name that you would like to create in marquetry. Frank recommends letters around 39mm high, although this can vary depending on your design. The print should be no more than 280mm long and approximately 50mm high.

If you don’t have access to a printer or don’t have a particular design in mind, don’t worry. Frank will have a selection of printed names available for you to use.

Frank will provide

• Spiral pin drill for very small drill bits

• No. 71 drill bits

• Pegas 2/0 skip-tooth blades

• No. 11 scalpel

• Historic patterns for cutting patera

• Hot hide glue

• Mastic

• 1.5mm shop-sawn veneer in the light and dark timbers required for the projects

Sand-shading equipment and hide-glue pots will also be provided.

Frank will have a set containing the spiral pin drill, No. 71 drill bits, Pegas blades and No. 11 scalpel available to purchase for £30 if you would like to take your own set home.

If you don’t have everything on the tool list, don’t worry. We’ll have a shared box of the essential tools available for use during the course.

Chris has provided the following guide to the tools you’ll be using over the 4-day course to build your chair. If you have your own tools, you are welcome to bring them with you. You do not need to buy anything specifically for the course.

Tools used on this course

• Block plane. Chris considers this one of the most essential tools for the course. He recommends a high-quality model with an adjustable mouth, such as the Lie-Nielsen 60-1/2. If you have smaller hands, a smaller block plane with a non-adjustable mouth is also suitable, although it will mean doing a little more scraping.

• Jack plane. Another essential tool. Chris recommends a lighter vintage metal jack, such as a pre-war Stanley No. 5. Ideally, the iron will have a pronounced curve of around an 8" or 10" radius, but a sharp, straight-edged iron will also work.

• Flat-sole spokeshave

• Round-sole spokeshave. Chris prefers the Stanley No. 151 pattern with two blade-adjustment screws and recommends the Veritas versions. You’ll use both flat and round soles for working the outside and inside curves.

• 6" rule

• Small tape measure

• Combination square, 6" or 12"

• Card scraper. Chris recommends a curved scraper

• Mechanical pencils with 0.7mm or 0.9mm lead

• 10" or 12" cabinet rasp, medium coarseness, around 10 or 12 grain. Auriou is Chris’s preferred brand

• Crosscut backsaw, either Western or a simple dozuki

• Cork sanding block

• Flush-cutting saw

• Chisels, ideally 5/8" and 1"

• Mallet. A heavier mallet is useful for chairmaking, around 2½ lb

• Bubble level. Any practical size is fine, including a torpedo level

If you already own these, please bring them

These additional tools will help keep the course moving without having to wait for shared equipment:

• Cordless drill. Chris recommends a more powerful model if you have one

• 1" WoodOwl auger, ideally the Ultra Smooth version

• Veritas Power Tenon Cutters, 3/4" and 1"

• Star-M F-type bit, 19mm

If you don’t have everything on the list, don’t worry. We’ll have shared essential tools available for use during the course.