Zen-Wu TB-1 Timber Framing Chisel Set

This is the chisel of Project Sekito.

Kokichi (@chantarokichi) is a Japanese temple carpenter who works on the restoration of Japan's National Treasures, and he set out not to preserve the Japanese framing chisel but to rebuild it, from what years of using one had taught him. He named the set Tsukushi, after the horsetail shoot that comes up through the soil in early spring.

Widths: 9, 15, 30, 42 and 48mm.

The head is laminated. A ZW-C2 carbon steel edge sits on a soft iron body. ZW-C2 is our own carbon steel, compositionally similar to white-paper steel, precision heat treated to 64 HRC, with multiple cryo stages. It sharpens on ordinary stones.

The back is hollow ground to the ideal depths at different regions, which is next to impossible to achieve by hand.

Blades and hardware carry an industrial blackening. It slows rust rather than preventing rust, so dry the tools after use and sharpening. Oiling recommended for long-term storage.

Handles are red ring-cupped oak, with an iron ferrule at the neck and an iron hoop at the struck end.

The chisels ship flat and polished at a 30 degree bevel, ready to work. Five in a fitted wooden box, 30 x 25 x 5 cm, 2.05 kg for the set.

One of the DC-1 chisels carries a head shape from Master Kokichi, but it is not part of Project Sekito.

Care and use instructions