Material selection and prep.

Lesson 2 starts with orienting and marking parts for the best look. Layout for the mortises comes next, then on to cutting the mortises at the drill press using a 1/4” end mill. Tenons are cut at the table saw with a dado stack. A 45 degree miter is cut on the end of each […]

Lesson 3 gets going with surface preparation of the inside faces of each part. A smoothing plane is used where possible. Adhesive backed sandpaper stuck down to the bench is used for the spots with challenging grain. Next the frame is glued and clamped. A light amount of glue is used to reduce squeeze out. […]

Lesson 4 focuses on the grid work for the Kumiko panels. Strips are cut and mitered for the outer frame. From there the center strips are cut to thickness and then to length. Next, half laps are cut using a flat top rip blade. Careful attention is payed to both layout and orientation of each […]

Lesson 5 covers the jigs needed to accurately cut the infill pieces to complete the Asa No Ha kumiko pattern. Three jigs are built, which have angles of 22.5, 45, and 67.5 degrees cut on their ends. Stop blocks, which are adjusted and set using screws, allow for making parts to a consistent length. Finally, […]

Lesson 6 covers the meditative process of cutting the infill pieces. There are 3 unique infill pieces needed for each square (7 total pieces). These pieces are cut with the correct angles and to precise length using the jigs made in lesson 5. The key takeaway from this lesson is to rough cut parts over […]

Lesson 7 goes over how to clean up the Kumiko panels after they have been glued together. A block plane set for a fine shaving reduces discrepancies between parts, some sandpaper finishes the task. Each panel is then fitted to its opening within the lantern. A shooting board is used to steady the panel while […]

Lesson 8 covers construction and fitting of the top. Leftover kumiko strips are installed in the groove cut into the top rails creating a shelf. Then a frame with mitered corners is glued together and fitted into the top opening. A looser fit is desired for this part so light bulb changes are easy.

Lesson 9 starts with adding some blocking that will hold the light socket and cord in place. These parts are fit and installed with glue and screws. With the blocking in place it’s time for final sanding and cleanup. Finally, some finish is applied to the lamp frame. This is when the project really comes […]

Lesson 10 is all about shoji paper. 3 different types of paper are shown, as is the rice glue. The paper is glued to the back of each kumiko panel as well as the bottom of the lid. Once the glue has dried, it is trimmed and then misted with water to tighten and smooth […]

Lesson 11 brings this project to the finish line. The cord and switch are customized for the application. The socket and lightbulb are assembled, and the kumiko panels, with newly applied shoji paper are installed for the final time. The switch is flipped on and it’s time for a happy dance.