Ari Stool Making Koitoya Woodworking Class 2026
Event description
Ari Stool Making
This is a 4-days course
$1290
1. 23-26 January 2026 (Fri-Mon, long weekend).
2. 4-5 July & 15-16 August (Sat-Sun, 2x weekends).
Very popular original and unique design item.
Beginers welcome. Having fun & work completion focused class.
Rich in special skill experience for intermediate woodworkers.
Sliding dovetail, router shaping, Japanese plane & chisel works
Content
Making Ari Stool
This program includes lots of technical aspects of joinery and router jig work. Well supported even for beginners.
This program also requires physical skills for hand curving.
Well suited for beginners, with a help of using jigs.
Well suited for intermediate to advanced level to learn about Sliding Dovetail joinery, router jig works.
Ari Stool
Ari stool was originally designed by Hiroshi for the educational project. The basic design includes a few interesting skills, traditional Sliding dovetail joinery and shaping by curved plane.
"Ari" is a Japanese word for dovetail joinery, which refers to the shape of ant's antenna. Do you prefer Dovetail or ant's antenna?!
Hiroshi has designed a few versions, and so have his students! Come and make your version of Ari stool!
This program suits beginners to advanced woodworker.
This course is designed for beginners. But the secretive elements of making Sliding Dovetail joinery, and use of Japanese small planes will inspire advanced makers.
This course uses the router very heavily. Your safety will be assured with lectures and jigs we use. Also, there will be lots of handworks, plane shaping and chiseling.
You will gain the following from signing up
Ari stool, all made by yourself by hand and power tools
Hands-on experience on sliding dovetail joinery.
Hands-on experience on a curved Japanese plane.
Advanced routing knowledge with jig work.
Design Brief
Low stool
Size about W500 x D250 x H420~450mm
Leg angle will be 75 degrees
Free to design details
Profiles - round, curved, or angled
Rails - you can add or not to add a middle rail.
Dates (2 occasion)
1. 23-26 January 2026 (Fri~Mon)
2. 4-5 July & 15-16 August 2026 (Sat & Sun).
*Please note this is a 4 day course. The second offering is split over 2 weekends. by selecting July dates, you are purchasing attendance to full course.
Time
4 days, 24 hours in total
9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00
* Please be flexible with the scheduled finish of the class. Sometimes your project requires extra time to finish.
Schedule
Day 1
AM: Design the details, Lectures
PM: Sliding dovetail 1
Day 2
AM: Sliding dovetail 2
PM: Shaping the seating tops
Day 3
AM: Glue up
PM: Middle rails & pins
Day 4
AM: Middle rails & pins
PM: Finishing
Lecturer
Hiroshi Yamaguchi (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)
28 years of experience. Learned in Takayama, Japan.
Supporting Staff
Clare Solomon (assistant, Koitoya)
Rose Keightley (assistant, Koitoya)
Fee
$1290
Class size
Maximum 10
Location
Koitoya Design/Make/Teach (Fyshwick, ACT)
Address
4/18 Maryborough Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609
Parking
Please park your car in the public parking area along Maryborough Street (Free), opposite from J Racing.
We have two parking spots officially. Please contact me for the spot if you need to walk less for a health condition.
Way to the workshop
18 Maryborough Street is a battle-axe block, located inside of the block, so you will be walking through the driveway that leads to the block from Maryborough Street.
The driveway has 2 accesses, one next to Aqua Safe Water Filters, and one next to J Racing.
Unit 4 is a blue painted building on the right-hand side of the block (SE end).
Album from past workshop
Things to bring
Please wear working shoes and dress for the season.
Bring your own water bottle and lunch.
Things to be supplied
Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water
Refund Policy
Personal cancelation
Refunds up to 30 days before event
$100 admin fee + Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.
for more information, please contact Hiroshi
koitoya@gmail.com / 0412340619
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
