~marking with Sumitsubo~
With Sumitsubo, you can draw a reference line straight on long timber such as beams and columns. Inside the jar is cotton soaked with ink. First, fix the pin (calco) of the thread tip to the wood and stretch the thread while soaking the ink. Please note that the thread does not come out directly above the pin. Do not stab a pin over the line you want to mark. You have to shift it to the left and right by one thread and stab it. This is very delicate.
Sumitsubo is called “three sacred treasures of carpentry tools” together with “chona” and “sashigane”. It is a beautiful looking and interesting tool to use.
When working with wood, we first need to make markings on it.
We use a special brush called sumi sashi (bamboo brush for marking)
and an inkpot to store the ink we dip the pen in, called a sumi tsubo.
We basically use this when we make markings on materials.
The reason we use ink is because, let’s say I mark the material.
Then somebody else works on it.
A certain step is worked on, and somebody else works on a different section.
During this time, the material goes this way and that way and moves around.
The material is rotated and moved around, the mark could get worn off or erased.
If the mark is made in pencil, the mark could get erased.
The material cannot be worked on if the marking, or reference, gets erased.
That is why ink is used, so it does not get erased.
For marking with ink, we use this inkpot and this ink pen called sumi sashi.
The inkpot has a needle and string attached
The needle and string are used to mark a straight line onto the material.
The length of materials we work on is often 3 meters, 4 meters, and 6 meters.
So, the string needs to basically be at least 6 meters long
and wrapped inside here.
We, Suikoushya, plan to establish a school building in Ile de France in 2022.
This is a project that we want to build with Suikoushya graduates and professional woodworkers. Through this real construction project, Takami would like to pass not only Japanese woodworking techniqs and craftsmanship but also the spirit of the Japanese people involved in making things.
If you are interested in this project, Please check it out ★
2022 One month course in Île de France
marking with Sumitsubo~woodworking master class in ile de france~
