Japanese Woodcraft Wisdom: How to Cut a Mortise with Clean Edges 

Hi guys. Thank you very much for watching my video and also for your valuable feedback! Please check out my other videos.

If you have a very sharp, stropped chisel it is possible to flatten the base of the mortise. This is done by holding the chisel vertically and using both hands, drag it back the length of the mortise, then from the other end. To flatten out any ridges, drag from side to side. It is possible also to ‘walk’ the chisel back and forth to pick off any little bumps. Also, though it’s a bit of a cheat, if you really need the adhesion at the end of the tennon and are a bit low on the mortise, it’s possible to fill the gap with dust and/or shavings which when wet with glue will compress and adhere and for a really solid bond on the end of the tennon.

I love your calm, concise way of teaching; not to mention the amazing skills you display and share. Thank you so much for doing this work.

Excellent video with very good explanations on how deal with the grain direction when paring the last half millimeter of the mortise’s long sides! Thank you so much for sharing all these details! Very educative!

I appreciate your explanations throughout the video. Thank you for recording many parts of this in real time and including sound as you progress.These really help a novice like me get an idea of how this should work.

Thank you! The advice about the edges and the grain line with respect to chisel cut direction was a big lesson for me.

Thank you for posting these videos! I have to say I was shocked by some of the comments overall - do not be concerned by these and please keep up this good work. I have learned a lot, so you are reaching those who are open to learning.

I just took a course in Japanese joinery and this was a very good addition to my understanding of joinery.

So glad I found you! I am studying Japanese joinery, techniques and so forth. I very much appreciate being able to watch as well. Thank you, for taking the time to bring this tradition to so many of us here in the west.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This has been invaluable advice on technique that I have been seeking for some time now.

I'd like to see a video on planing, grain flow, wood knots, and dealing with other problems in planing. Thanks for another great tutorial.

You need to spread more information about the Japanese masters. They are the best in the world !!! I really want to learn how to work the same way ... Thanks for the video.

Really glad to see you putting out more vidios. I use Japanese tools and I value your knowledge a lot. Thank you. Please continue to post more

Very nice videos! Your explanation is very well done and your english is impeccable :)

Great use of editing to emphasise important information

Thank you. Cut my very first mortise using this technique, extremely happy with the results and the clean edges 🙂. Again, thank you.

It seems you just started posting content again. Please continue because it is excellent.

This was a good demonstration of chiseling a mortise. Much more simplified and easier. I have tried once or twice and butchered it badly.

That was beautiful. I love the care you took for a hole that will never be seen once the joint is finished.

You are indeed a master craftsman! love watching your videos!

Very instructive....please produce more videos. Please show the marking of the wood also in quick time. Thanks for giving your knowledge to others less knowledgable.

Wow. Great detail on the subtleties of cutting precise crisp mortises. Just what I was looking for as I embark upon some double through mortises that will be ruined by any sloppiness.

Excellent work, and I enjoy learning some of the finer details that you provide. I've cut a number of mortises by hand, but have always had trouble with keep straight lines. Watching this and seeing how you work with the direction of grain made it clear as to what I had missed in the past. Domo arrigatto.

Finally an in depth video on these i can stand a "how to video" that isn't actually to she you how to but you really nailed that man this is very in depth by comparison

I enjoy watching your work. I'm a 70 year old disabled veteran with Peripheral Neuropathy and Stenosis with drastically reduced motor use in the hands. I can do precise work, but much slower than you work. Still satisfying, to work with wood. Keep up the good work and good videos. Regards.

Just get a smaller square and you can check all sides for square. Starret has a mini square and so does Lee Valley. Excelent video!

The most useful woodworking I have watched in quite a while. Oustanding!

HISA, you are a very good woodworker and great teacher. Thank you for your lessons at RMIT in melbourne it's Raphael here :)

The detailed explanation of the techniques you use are very useful to me. Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge.

Thank you for the concise tutorial and simple explanations. I will try this technique on the project I'm starting today. I particularly like your treatment of the corners. That's completely new to me and an area I've had problems with. 👍

This is the best tutorial on the subject I have seen. Excellent job!

Thank you very much for your videos, I'm very inspired by your videos. I learn a great amount from you. I have been a welder and woodworker all of my life 43 years I'm actually 53. but I continue to less. very valuable information and techniques. Thank you

And now I understand what I was doing wrong...making my job harder on that project practice piece. Thank you!

Thank you for taking your time to show us this beautiful method for wood working with us! You are an excellent teacher too👍👍🙏

Very nice video with some very good tips for cutting mortises with just a chisel. For someone like me who is just starting out doing woodworking, it's the perfect tutorial. ありがとう ございます.

Thank you, I'm learning so much from these videos!

Amazing. Great, clear, concise explanations. I will be adopting these techniques as I learn this new skill.

You videos are awesome. I am learning woodworking, but I would prefer to learn Japanese woodworking, it is so meticulous and perfect. I truly appreciate your videos. There are other Japanese woodworking video that I see on RU-vid, but they are in Japanese. Although I can see what is being done, it would be nice to understand what they are saying too. So I appreciate you talking in English, I would like to learn to speak Japanese too.

Young sir. iv watched a lot of videos on Japanese Masters at work You have the makings of being a master. Really liked the video your English is perfect and I will subscribe to your site . Many thanks.

Such valuable information. Thank you. Even though this is basic, it follows the law of nature, which is basic. Learn first the basics, and with them, all art is formed. Thank you! david

So good to see you are making videos again. Every video shows the simplicity and complexity of how you work with wood. Thank you again.

There is one way of checking the squareness of the long side, put the back of your chisel in the mortise against the face and then put your square against the back of the chisel.

Excellent display and instructions. I am not experienced but understood it.

Awesome!! Thank you for sharing!!! Nice video, never really understand how those great craftsman do such clean work but now I do understand a little bit.

Your videos are excellent in all aspects. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

I don't even know why I'm watching this. I don't even own a chisel.

Thank you so much for your videos. The V shape is very helpful.

Man keep posting videos please, I love the way you explain everything so well. Thank you!

wow, honest answer, get the bottom as flat as possible. appreciated

Wonderful teacher. It seems the chisel is so sharp that it cuts on barely touching. I think one option would be to put chisel in sideways then turn it when the blade is clear of the edges. Thanks for posting this.

I did this today using the instructions in this video. Thank you so much, it works!

Beautiful my friend love your style of hand wood working it’s amazing I only use Japanese style pull saws and Japanese style hand chisels as I find them much more comfortable to use and they seem to work much better for me keep up the great videos freind and thanks

This is so therapeutic and beautiful - well done

Fantastic! Nice guide and tips about mortices I learned a little bit today aswell - Also, I REALLY like your cam activated hold fast, didn't know that was a thing

Your woodwork and videos are top-notch. Thank you!

I am actually looking for how to instructions on this using chisels. Bingo! Thank you.

I was watching Paul sellers woodworking and found these wonderful videos next. nagoya kara arigatougozaimasu !

Thanks for the video, I’ve never seen this technique but I really like it...well done sir

So glad I came upon your video. I have not looked to see if you have other videos but I still subscribed. Thank you for a great video.

This is very interesting technique - effectively doing almost the complete opposite of what we western carpenters are taught to do. We're taught to use a chisels the same size as the mortice and not to pare the long sides of the mortice but to let the sides of the chisel do it. Those v cuts at the ends are different too. But I like what I'm seeing and will give it a go.

Thank you for the clear explanations and inserted still-pictures - a very informative video!

Love your music very peaceful thank you very educational

Great video. I like the pace you demonstrate at, gives me a chance to learn. liked and subscribed.

It is interesting that a few years back every schoolboy (and a number of schoolgirls) would have practiced 'chopping' a mortice in British schools as part of basic education (and quite a mess a lot of us made of it) now the efforts of this fine Japanese craftsman are treated with reverence, one of the problems is that our 'educationalists' in recent years have had a hatred of practical things which remind them of their own humble origins, together with a terror that any child should injure themself in any way (we were forever grazing our knees and acquiring splinters and thorns which needed attention!)

your work is beautiful and your work area is very tidy!!

Great video! Thank you for making this...very simple instruction and your English is great....I wish I could understand Japanese so I could learn more. Please make more videos....I subscribed and will look forward to learning more!

Wish you were my teacher. Big respect from Aotearoa

You make this look so easy

Thank you for such a well done tutorial video

greetings from germany. thank you very much for this excellent video and please keep them coming.

So therapeutic to watch

Thanks for the explanation.. while I am not there yet, I hope to be this good one day.

Thanks DJJ ... I'm starting at the beginning (I think) ... joinery with hand tools. I might need to learn sharpening to a higher degree before trying this though. It seems your tools carve through wood way easier than I can achieve. Otherwise you're secretly Popeye with forearms that could back-hand a bus. Great video. Real skills and tools.

Who in their right mind would consider this video should get a thumbs down. Answer: a know-all arm chair wood worker!

Your voice is so soothing 😄 Great videos on this channel - please keep it up!

Beautiful workmanship, really nice and relaxing...

Very nice workshop! Very well organized.

Excellent! Very instructive video.

Without music it’s much much better!

Hello there, another lovely video giving detailed technical instructions, thank you. Could you tell me what the delightfully relaxing acoustic guitar music that is played first is please?

You work at a height like a western woodworker and not on the floor as in the Japanese tradition. Is easier?

Lovely tutorial, skills, explanation, will watch more of your channel,ty

Great job. Your video is relaxing and informative.

Have recently found your channel and I'm hooked!

This is truly an incredible vid, thanks so much for uploading!

Thaks for this amazing vídeo. Very clear. Perfect.

excellent video, thank you for taking the time to make and share it

dorian, he is a dam fine carpenter, ive been watching your vids as well your great

This was awesome! Learned a lot. TY

excellent how to video! thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise!!

Outstanding 👍

Very informativ, thanks for sharing! Will try my first Andon lamp project soon, and this helped me alot. Very nice looking chisels btw!

Arigato! This is a great tutorial. I think it will help me a lot :)

Excellent. Very instructive. Thanks.

Thank you so much for the videos! I love them!! Keep them coming!!

A great video would be your sharpening method. great video and beautiful work.

nice work . subscribed , In Canada they call the sliding square a combination square. nice videos . i look forward to checking out your other videos . peace

oh wow. I've been doing this wrong! lol! Thanks for the demo!

Excellent tutorial, thanks for sharing.

Just saw Dorian’s comment.....Dorian, I am also subscribed to your channel as well!