15 minutes project, === Chopsticks ===

Great idea, Junji. I may have to make some of these and see if I remember how to use them. Like you, said, it’ll at least be good hand plane exercise. They will make dinner last longer, too. Thanks for the post.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Tim,

Ha ha! you just need to get used to it. I was a basketball player, so when I was about 15-16, my couch told me to use the chopstick by the left hand, so I can dribble with left hand better. And I know it takes forever first. But when you get used to it, it will be just the same as the right hand.
But don’t eat bread with your chopsticks. That’s just weird. (!)

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Thanks for the information!

I noticed that one of the sticks has a sharper point that the other. Is this intentional?

Lew

We use long nosed pliers.

-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.

Junji: How about a little tutorial or blog on how to make a set of the proper shape and size? Looks like a fun little project. Do you make a jig to hold the sticks while planing? A groove in a board or something? Teach us how its done please. Great job on your set. Thanks for the post.

-- Dennis, WV, http://mysite.verizon.net/drbyte

detailing ,
it’s what’s for dinner .
the clouds ,
they bring the rain !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

Junji, do you check your L-shape fingers for square before measuring ;)

by the way – a good choice for chopsticks material is bamboo which is a bit more resilient to water/soap when washing it after dinner, and has straight face grains with little to no irregularities which could result in open pored on the sides of the sticks (= splinters/chipouts/etc)

Tbanks for the post – it IS a great idea to make.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Hi Junji….........very cool chop sticks!!

-- Robin Renee'

lew,
Oh it does look like one has a sharper point that the other, but actually not. They should be the same. Maybe that’s a trick of the photo…

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Splinterman,

Pliers for dinner?

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

drbyte,
I have heard that some people uses jigs like thsi one you can see. A groove in a board
http://ameblo.jp/sazan-start/theme-10007347746.html

But I use nothing. If you make a lot, it will be easier and faster with this jig. But if you are making a only a few, maybe you don’t need them.

I will write the blog when I have time to take some photos. Thank you for your “please”.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

patron,
Your comments are always like poets, sounds really nice, but hard to understand for me as English is not my mother language… Thanks anyway for your comment, though.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

PurpLev,

Yes, it got to be 90° flat!!!

Bamboo is really popular in Japan, but it is a cheap kind of wood in Japan, because most bamboo chopsticks are disposal. But still I think bamboo is a great wood, if you use it in proper way. I used to make Take-tombo, or mizu-deppou (water gun) with bamboo when I was a kid.

Check this.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Robin,

Thanks…

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

haiku ,
like you ,
it works ,
real good !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

Hey Junji
Thanks for the information looks like great chop sticks,

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Junji…I don’t know what is nicer, your chopsticks or your kanna….:)

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

Very cool stuff! I had one of those gliders when I was a kid too – but it was plastic – this one looks much nicer- now I have something new to make for my daughter – thanks!

as far as bamboo chopsticks being disposable in Japan – thats interesting, but makes sense since Bamboo is more readily available there, here in the states, most disposable chopsticks are made of some lightweight softwood. nice reminder of the differences in markets.

what wood specie is used for high quality chop sticks on Japan then?

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I’m more interested in the plane at the top of your picture . Straight knife or spoon ??

patron,
I didn’t think you knew haiku. But it’s a great Japanese culture.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Jim,
Thanks as always.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Moai and socialwood,
I just got the plane (Kanna) the day before, it was a bargain at a local home center, 1000 yen (about $10). Just straight one but cuts well. I wish I could get one of these for you guys, but shipping cost will be much higher than the cost of the item…

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

PurpLev,
Yes, Bamboo gliders are much more nice than plastic one. But make sure you teach how to play to your daughter, or it flies to your face. Kind of dangerous.

And about the disposal chopsticks, we do have softwood chopsticks and they are more used than bamboo ones. But in the nice Japanese restaurant, or for nice lunch pack, they use bamboo one. So we use both, but bamboo is better than softwood.
Ebony, rosewood are used for expensive chopsticks, but Bombay black wood is said to be the most popular wood for chopsticks.
magnolia, beech, ,cherry, chestnuts, Japanese persimmon, there are so many species used for chopsticks here.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Juni ,I pay 250$ plus shipping for the same plane !

socalwood,
You know it’s really interesting but almost all the woodworking tools are so expensive here in Japan, except for some traditional Japanese hand tools, like plane, chisel and handsaw. Of course good ones are expensive, but there are a variety of products you can choose from. Only that’s because there is a history here, and many people buys them. But others… oh they are so expensive, including all the power tools, clamps, jigs, anything western.
So I admire you guys to get these cheap there, and you admire me get the hand tools cheap here!

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

I made some a few years back. Using your formula my lenght was right on, but they were kind of thick. I can use them, but my wife has a hard time. What should the thickness be?

-- I'm not here for your amusement. You're here for mine - Johnny Rotten

tomakazi,
The thickness would be somewhere between 6 mm-8 mm at the top (0.236-0.315 inch) where you hold, and for the other end, should be like 2 mm (0.078 inch).
But to use the chopsticks right is one of the hardest thing in our daily life too.

By clicking here you see many images of chopsticks. Maybe that helps too see the idea of the right thickness.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

When I was a kid in Hawaii I would pratice by putting BBs on 1 plate and move them to the other with the chop sticks. I still use them often, mostly on raw fish.

-- I'm not here for your amusement. You're here for mine - Johnny Rotten

tomakazi,
Oh that’s is just the same here in Japan. We used to play the game when I was a child. It’s to move azuki beans (red beans) to another plate using slippery chopsticks, ones finished with URUSHI, the most popular way of the finish for dishes and chopsticks.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Very cool :-) I used to live in Japan and was thinking recently about making hashi – but I was thinking to turn them – do you know anything about how to do that? Thanks!

KBleda,
You mean using lathe to make chopsticks? Well, I think it’s possible, but I don’t have lathe, so I don’t know how.
Where did you live in Japan? And what did you do? Do you have plan to come back???

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Hi Junji,

Nice chop sticks! But, I am coveting the plane. LOL. You are right the east-west thing, we always value what we cant get.

If I were visiting Tokyo, where would I go to buy inexpensive traditional Japanese tools? Names of some tool dealers or home improvement store would be helpful.

Thanks,

-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker