We are excited to be offering a intense four day workshop focusing on complex Japanese joinery Immediately following the 2025 Maine Japanese Woodworking Festival. Dorian Bracht, who many may know from his Joint Venture Youtube Series will lead you through the layout and cutting of two advanced joints that have applications both in furniture making and timber frame carpentry. As a class we’ll also work together on joinery for the traditional hafu or gable end barge board, to be installed on the roof of the Timber Frame Blacksmith Shop.
Guest Instructor: Dorian Bracht
Dorian Bracht @dorianbracht
Dorian Bracht trained in furniture making in Germany, apprenticing in Leipzig, before founding his Berlin workshop in 2012. A passionate craftsman, he specializes in creating custom, handcrafted furniture. Dorian is also the author of the book Japanese Joinery and shares his expertise through the YouTube series, Joint Venture, showcasing intricate joint-cutting techniques.
About the Workshop
While subject to change and the preferences of the students, for this workshop the students will first be cutting the blind sliding dovetail and then building on these skills by crafting the yatoi hozo or draw pinned spline tenon. As time allows, students can experiment and receive coaching and feedback on any one of the many possible Japanese Joints.
Building off of the use of keys or draw pins, the class will help cut the Daimochi schachi sen ogami or keyed gable facia joint for the hafu boards on our blacksmith shop. Though carful layout and execution, as the key is driven into the joints hidden slot, the two sides of the board are drawn together for an extremely strong and tight fit.
Topics Covered
Japanese joinery types and use cases.
Layout approach and using layout tools
Cutting and fitting two complex Japanese joints.
Group work on the hafu or barge boards for the gable and of an on site timber frame project.
Included with Tuition
Meals Included - This workshop includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on each day with the exception of the last day, where only breakfast and lunch are served. Meals are typically brought in or cooked family style.
Project Materials - Each student will be provided with high quality lumber stock for their practice joints.
Prerequisites
To gain the maximum value from this workshop, it is recommend you have some woodworking experience. Please inquire if you are a beginner so we can plan accordingly. Consider taking our Summer Japanese Woodworking Bootcamp prior to this course.
See our Prerequisites information for qualifying prior training.
Required Tools
The following tools are required to get the most out of your experience. A loner may be available but not guaranteed. During checkout you’ll have the option to purchase tools for this workshop, additionally, your confirmation will have a link to purchase them before the workshop, subject to a cutoff date.
Rip and Cross cut Japanese hand saws, dozuki preferred
Bladed marking gauge (kebiki) double blade or single blade
6mm, 15mm Chisels
36mm or similarly large chisel or slick
Machinists square or quality combination square
Bevel gauge
Pens, pencils
Optional Tools
Marking gauge (Kebiki)
Japanese hand plane (kanna)
Side cutter plane (kiwaganna)
Chamfer plane
Marking knife
Register Below
Begin your registration process below. You’ll have the option to purchase required and optional tools for pickup at the workshop. Your confirmation email will also provide a link to purchase these tools before the workshop.
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Please kindly review our class and workshop policies at the link below:
For events lasting more than day we offer limited guest rooms and rustic camping:
For recommended tools for this class and your woodworking career: