Regular Meeting (2026/6/14)

Contents

A workbench with built-in storage ：Ms. Terauchi

Ms.Terauchi has long enjoyed leather crafting and is a master of her craft. This piece is a sturdy cabinet designed to hold her tools and double as a workbench. Since it’s not intended to be displayed, it doesn’t have a decorative finish. The drawers are constructed using the strongest dovetail joints, making them ideal for holding heavy items like anvils. Although she is still a beginner at woodworking, attending the dovetail joint workshop at Sugita’s Woodworking Method inspired her to build this five-drawer cabinet. It is clear from the finished piece that this was excellent practice for her. I am very happy that even one person like this has emerged, and it has reaffirmed the significance of the workshop.

Production Process of compound miter joints and the products ：Mr. Matsuo

Mr. Matsuo has been researching compound miter joints for quite some time. Once again, he created a box with a unique design. He cuts the components using only a simple angle guide and a saw guide set to that angle. While he uses a router table to machine the groove for the bottom panel and the recessed notch for the top panel, he uses only a single angle guide to determine the angles. What impressed and surprised me was that he uses only a single cloth belt as a clamp during gluing. Because it’s a four-sided box, it flares out like a morning glory. He simply wraps the cloth belt around the flared edges, and apparently, the tapered sides are also bonded in place. I felt I had glimpsed a glimpse of the results he’s achieved through years of research. Another highlight is the painting on the lid. He mentioned that he made a black-and-white copy of a Native Canadian painting and colored it in, but by applying gel color varnish that was significantly thinned with solvent, the white of the paper blends seamlessly with the underlying wood, creating a very natural finish.

Production Process of “Steamer Trunk” and the product ：Mr. Sugita

Mr. Sugita made a trunk. These are the kind of trunks that have now been replaced by plastic suitcases. They were used for travel during the heyday of steamships like the Titanic and steam locomotives, and are known as “steamer trunks.” He captures that atmosphere using a frame-and-panel construction and various trunk hardware. To enhance the retro feel, he used slotted-head wood screws. During a woodworking demonstration at a DIY show, he plans to open it vertically, unfold the table stored inside the lid, and use it as a side table to hold his tools, so it looks like the project will continue.