Japanese Joinery

Born in Los Angeles in 1986, Dorian Bract spent his early years in California and Hong Kong. After finishing school, he embarked on an apprenticeship in Leipzig Germany to learn how to build Japanese shoji and fusuma sliding doors, as well as solid wood furniture. Throughout this time, Dorian learnt both traditional German and Japanese woodworking techniques. Having a huge passion for joinery and woodcraft, Dorian has been working as a talented woodworker since 2012. Japanese Joinery is his first book and is an amalgamation of his knowledge and talent in joinery. He is based in Berlin.

Japanese Joinery provides a comprehensive guide to the world of traditional Japanese joinery and its influence throughout the world on woodworking and joinery today. The book begins with an overview of Japanese tools and furniture-making techniques, giving a useful grounding if you’re unfamiliar with these traditions. The main part of the book is made up of over 50 joints, including both traditional and more modern innovations. Each is described in detail and supported with clear diagrams and photographs of the finished joint. Many of the joints are primarily used in architecture but perfecting the skills involved in making them will benefit furniture makers too. Dorian’s enthusiasm for joint making is infectious and will surely inspire readers to pick up their tools!

• Introduction 6A Brief History of Japanese Carpentry 8Measuring and Marking Tools and Techniques 10Carpentry Marking-Up Techniques 13Furniture-Making Marking-Up Techniques 14Saws 17Chisels 18Planes 21Sharpening Woodworking Tools 25 Chapter 1: Lengthening Joints 28Stub-Tenoned Scarf Joint 30Oblique Dadoed and Rebated Scarf Joint 32Rebated Oblique and Dadoed Scarf Joint 34Blind Dadoed and Rebated Scarf Joint 36Housed Rebated Oblique Scarf Splice Joint 38L-Shaped Dadoed and Rebated Scarf Joint 40Four-Faced Oblique Scarf Joint 42Double-Faced, Halved Rebated and Oblique Scarf Splice Joint 44Rebated, Halved Dadoed and Keyed Scarf Joint 46Triple-Faced Halved and Rebated Oblique Scarf Joint 48Four-Sided Dovetail Joint 50Four-Sided Gooseneck Splice Joint 52Diagonal Gooseneck Splice Joint 54Alternating Four-Sided Elongated Dovetail Splice Joint 56Otemon Gate Pillar Splice Joint 58Stub Mortise and Tenon Joint 60Half-Lapped Dadoed and Keyed Splice Joint 62Tongue and Grooved Butt Joint with a Keyed Sliding Dovetail 64Dovetailed Tenon Splice Joint 66Half-Lapped Dovetail Splice Joint 68Half-Lapped Stub-Tenoned Dovetail Splice Joint 70Half-Lap Gooseneck Splice Joint with Stub-Tenon 72Gooseneck Splice Joint with Mitred Face 74Stub-Tenoned Pole Tenon Joint with Locking Keys 76Butt Joint with Dovetail Insert 78Butt Joint with Hammerhead Insert 80X-Shaped Dadoed Ship End Joint 82Diagonal Keyed Splice Joint with Blind Stub Tenons 84 Chapter 2: Right-Angle Joints 86Half-Dovetailed and Wedged Mortise and Tenon Joint 88Drawbored Mortise and Tenon Joint 90Tusk Tenon Joint 92Pegged Diagonal Through Mortise and Tenon Joint 94Blind Wedged Mortise and Tenon Joint 96Double Tenon Joint 98Sword Tip Mitre Joint 100Sliding Dovetail Joint with Blind Stub Tenon 102Blind Housed Dovetail Joint 104Blind Housed and Mitred Dovetail Joint 106Keyed Blind Dovetail Joint 108Stub-Tenoned Right Angle Joint with a Keyed Floating Tenon 110Notched and Half-Lapped Dovetail Joint 112Twisted Compound Dovetail with Oblique Tenon Joint 114Cross-Lap Joint with Mitred Abutments 116Cross-Lap Joint with Mitred Notch 118Through Mortise and Tenon Joint with Mitred Faces 120Half-Blind Hammerhead Mortise and Tenon Joint 122Mitred Bridle Joint 124Haunched Through Mortise and Tenon Joint with a Mitred Face 126Blind Mitred Dovetailed Mortise and Tenon Joint 128Half-Blind Gooseneck Mortise and Tenon Joint 130Blind Mitred and Keyed Box Joint 132Mitred and Haunched Mortise and Tenon Joint with Tongue and Groove Shoulder 134Keyed Haunched and Stub-Tenoned Pole Tenon Joint 136Dadoed and Rebated Housed Splice Joint with Key 138Pegged and Wedged Housed Hammerhead Scarf Joint 140Tapered, Stacked and Pegged Mortise and Tenon Joint 142Keyed Three-Way Joint 144Stacked Mortise and Tenon Joint 146Keyed Four-Way Pole Tenon Joint 148Keyed Four-Way Floating Tenon Joint 150Keyed Sliding Dovetail Joint 152Triped Orientated Connection 154 Chapter 3: Case Joints 156Oblique Box Joint 158Twisted Dovetail Joint 160Double Sunrise Dovetail Joint 162Reverse Dovetail Joint 164Mitred Blind Dovetail Joint 166Through Tenon Joint with a Mitred Face 168 Conclusion 170Bibliography 171Glossary 172Index 174About the Author 175