Nomi - Japanese chisel setting, sharpening and chisel skills

This is a 1-day course

$385+ Japanese chisel of your pick

20 June Saturday 2026

Skill focus class, about proper chisel setting practise. Best for beginers who wants to start with proper sharpening knowledge. Also best for intermiddiate level to learn Japanese way of sharpening with ceramic waterstone.

Content

Japanese chisel setting, include hoop setting, lapping the back, sharpening.

Importance of the chisel comes from the back. We will show you how to gain the absolute flattness!

Tools from Inoue Hamono Ten

Inoue Tokio, 77 years old, owns a traditional style hand tool shop in Koto-ward in Tokyo, a small but very nice wooden old merchant house. The business has been running for more than 100 years. Inoue had background of working as metal supplier in young days, which made him specialized in steel quality control when it comes to exchange with black smith he dealt with. He saw and encountered numbers of legendary black smith and good carpenters just after the war. It is fascinating to hear his story when you visit the shop. He also runs "Shuko-kai" study group and teaches young people to pass his knowledge to the next generation.

Chisels - limited order

We will have chisels sent to us from Inoue. Shirogami (White) Steel, close to pure form of carbon steel, his quality of the chisel is significant. Yet, he keeps the price reasonable. They don't have a fancy name on or made by special black smith, but it is made for professional usage with quality.

Handle is made of Japanese Oak called Shira-Kashi.

You can have one choice of your chisel or simply bring your own Japanese tools with you.

We don't usually take tool orders, so this will be a limited opportunity.

* Kind of Chisels you can order will be limited 3 weeks before the workshop due to shipping time.

Oire nomi (Bench chisels)

Available sizes

3mm: $138
6mm: $138
9mm: $140
12mm: $151
15mm: $155
18mm: $163
24mm: $181 - most recommended if this is your first chisel)

Price includes GST and shared shipping fee from Tokyo.

Shinogi nomi (Dovetail chisels)

6mm $164
9mm $166

Price includes GST and shared shipping fee from Tokyo.

Sharpening Stones you can try

Atoma Diamond with glass plate
Besta 1000
Shapton "Kuromaku" 2000, 5000
King 1000
Arashiyama 8000
Kitayama 8000
Suehiro 1000/6000
Naniwa Jyunpaku 8000
Suita - Natural Stone
more to come!

You will gain the following from signing up

1. Quality Japanese chisel of your choice.
2. Professional knowledge about chisel setting, including hoop setting and sharpening

Date

20 June, Saturday, 2026

Time

9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00

* Please be flexible for your schedule after the class. Sometimes your project requires extra time to finish.

Schedule

Day 1

AM: Overview of Project, setting the hoop, lapping the back
PM: Bevel sharpening, chisel skills

Lecturer

Main: Clare Solomon (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)

Koitoya full time furniture maker.

Graduated from ANU School of Art, Furniture. Clare has been an active artist exhibiting their own work.

Clare has been working full-time with Hiroshi since 2016.

Clare has returned from Japan trip in 2023, where they stayed at Japanese woodworkers for further training.

Fee

$385.00 + material fee

Class size

Maximum 12

Location

Koitoya Design/Make/Teach (Fyshwick, ACT)

New address

4/18 Maryborough Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609

Parking

Please park your car in the public parking area along Maryborough Street (Free), opposite J Racing.
We have two parking spots officially. Please contact me for the spot if you need to walk less for your health condition.

Way to the workshop

18 Maryborough Street is a battle-axe block, located inside of the block, so you will be walking along the driveway that leads to the block from Maryborough Street.

The driveway has 2 accesses, one next to Ja Racing, and one next to Tania Maras Bridal.

Unit 4 is a blue painted building on the right-hand side of the block.

Things to bring

Please wear working shoes.

Bring your own water bottle and lunch.

Things to be supplied

Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water

Refund Policy

Personal cancelation

Refunds up to 14 days before the event.

Tool purchase will not be refundable, but will be handed to the purchaser.

Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

for more information, please contact Hiroshi

koitoya@gmail.com / 0412340619

Contact the host of Nomi - Japanese Chisel setting & sharpening - Koitoya Woodworking Class 2026