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Good friend and long time woodworking instructor at Palomar College, Chris Feddersohn, just got back from Japan. Before he left I mentioned if he had time to find me 3 specific paring chisels. Chris takes these trips yearly as part of the education program and has become familiar with the finest blacksmiths, plane and saw makers in Japan. Well he went a bit overboard... In the small town of Sanjo City lives Chutaro Imai, one of the finest blacksmiths in Japan. In his small studio he only makes chisels, period! In the photos, you can see his picture and the slow process of how these are hand made..., step by step. Mr. Imai is holding my set which he kindly signed...
Chris did not follow instructions and he brought back a set of 10....unbelievable chisels! I am very upset he did not follow my strict instructions. Second mistake - saws! Chris then went to another town and found a Certified , third generation sawmaker, named Juntaro Mitsukawa... I could be wrong ...my Japanese is non existent.
The blue roll labeled: Juntaro Mitsukawa contains 5 handmade saws of unbelievable quality...
It frightens me to actually use them... 1 crosscut... 1 rip... 1 miter... one flush cut... one keyhole...
Third mistake: Chisel hammers... 2 of different weights... beautiful... embossed.
Forth Mistake ( oh I am getting mad...) Two every day douzukis... you know the cheaper variety so I don't use the other ones every day one rip... one cross cut.
Fifth Mistake... Mortise square... This is a very fine Starrette quality square that squares of the edge of a member and locks to hold the measurement... A fine steel scribe is included. I have not seen one like this. To top it off...our friend in common, Stan has already paid Chris for all of this stuff and refuses to take money from me... we will see about that! So I called Stan a little while ago and I insisted I pay for the stuff... no dice! He is the most stubborn friend in the world! He said I did him many favors and he could never repay me... the truth is Stan has done so much for me and other family members we will never get even with him! I am truly hurt because I feel I should pay for the wonderful tools. Dilemma... I played around this morning a bit and found even the everyday saws are better than anything I have. A quick Internet search showed each saw to be in the $200 to $300 range! Based on Tools for Woodworking who caries them... another site said "they are the world's finest saws". The chisels look very much like the Hida Tool set made by Chutaro Imai... again very expensive! I told Stan when I cut myself and I am in the emergency room from using one of these saws, I will be thinking about him... it still didn't help... he won't let me pay for the tools. Here is the link to the saws sold individually... hand made and pricey! I am afraid to use them ! Mitsukawa Japanese Woodworking Tools Mark Singer January 2007
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