There are many types of Japanese chisels, nomi, and a number of different ways this section might be organized. I've decided to proceed mostly from the common to the unusual.
First off, a drawing giving the terms for the various parts of a chisel:
(coming soon)
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追い入れ鑿 oi-ire nomi, lit. 'drive in chisel'. A variant pronunciation is ou-iri-nomi. Also known as 大入れ鑿, ō-ire-nomi, meaning 'big entry chisel'. Also known as zō-saku nomi, 造作鑿, zō-saku meaning 'house fixtures'
This is the most common form of Japanese chisel. A general purpose mid-size bench chisel for woodworkers. Can be used by carpenters and carvers alike. Typical length is 22~23 cm. Blade widths range from 5輪 (5 rin, about 1.5mm) up to 3寸 (3 sun, about 90mm). Often sold as a 10-set, in which the standard sizes are as follows:
3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm, 24mm, 30mm, 36mm, 42mm.
A typical example:
The head of the chisel has chamfered upper arrises, a form termed kaku-men-tori, (角面取り), often abbreviated men-tori. That's the most common form of chisel head:
There are other head shapes.
If the chisel head form does not have beveled arrises, but a form with a non-chamfered upper section called kaku-uchi oi-ire, 角打ち追入れ. It was the common chisel head shape before WWII.
Here's an example:
総角打ち, sōkaku uchi. Where an entire set of chisels has the kaku-uchi head shape, as in the above picture. Sometimes, the larger chisels in a set will have the men-tori shape of head to reduce the heft a little, which does end up looking a bit like a mis-matched set..
If the head of the chisel has a triangular cross section, then it is termed a shinogi oi-ire nomi, 鎬追入れ鑿. Here's an example:
Shinogi-oi-ire-nimi are also called umeki-oi-ire nomi, 埋木追入れ鑿, the term umeki referring to inlaid plugs or patches fitted to conceal defects and such.
鑿 Nomi Wiki
- Chris Hall
- Site Admin
- Contact:
- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
- Chris Hall
- Site Admin
- Contact:
- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
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Re: 鑿 Nomi Wiki
向待鑿 Mukōmachi Nomi. A chisel intended for deep mortising work. Has a beefed-up (taller) cross section at both the blade and neck, with the tall blade sides having only slight taper from the ura to the upper face. The neck of the chisel is in the same square section form as the head. The head is straight-sided along the length. Generally used by cabinetmakers (sashimono-shi) and people specializing in interior carpentry fitting work (tateguya-shi).
For cleaning out the side of a plane's blade-fixing groove, or osae-mizo, a 3mm mukōmachi nomi is a standard choice:
二本向待鑿 Ni-hon-mukōmachi Nomi. A type of mukōmachi nomi with two heads:
Nowadays an uncommon tool.
For cleaning out the side of a plane's blade-fixing groove, or osae-mizo, a 3mm mukōmachi nomi is a standard choice:
二本向待鑿 Ni-hon-mukōmachi Nomi. A type of mukōmachi nomi with two heads:
Nowadays an uncommon tool.
- Chris Hall
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- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
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平待追入鑿 Hira-machi Oi-ire Nomi. A chisel with the shank flattened so as to be no thicker than the head of the chisel. If you think of mukōmachi nomi as chisels with an increased vertical section, meant especially for chopping the narrow end grain portions of long deep mortises, then the hira-machi form of striking chisel is used for working the cheeks of those same mortises. The neck flattening means that, unlike a round-necked chisel, the chisel neck will not bruise the mortise opening when the chisel is pushed deeply down.
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叩鑿 Tataki Nomi, 'striking chisel'. Also called atsu nomi, 厚鑿, meaning 'thick chisel'.
These are longer and heavier chisels as compared to oi-ire nomi, and would be a more typical choice of tool for a carpenter doing heavy timber work. Total length is on the order of 30cm, which would comprise a head length of 9cm, neck of 6cm, and handle of 15cm. Blade widths typically run from 6-bu (18mm) to 1-sun 4-bu (42mm).
Chisel heads are usually in the men-tori or kaku-uchi styles.
中叩鑿 Chū Tataki Nomi, 'mid-size striking chisel'.
These are slightly slimmer and lighter than the tataki nomi, but still heavier than oi-ire nomi. Also called han-tataki-nomi, 半叩鑿, han meaning 'half'. Total length is 26.5cm, with a head length of 7.5cm (2.5-sun), neck of 4.5cm (1.5-sun), and handle of 13.5cm (4.5-sun). Probably the ideal carpenter chisel if you don't work really large timbers, or prefer something slightly heavier and longer than the standard bench chisel.
Here's a 5-set by the blacksmith Takahashi:
Takahashi's chisels take the brand mark of the character '武' in a reversed '厂' enclosure, which is read ’Kane-take’, as seen in the picture below which also gives a good idea as to the size of these tools:
(Photos from Mandara-ya)
These are longer and heavier chisels as compared to oi-ire nomi, and would be a more typical choice of tool for a carpenter doing heavy timber work. Total length is on the order of 30cm, which would comprise a head length of 9cm, neck of 6cm, and handle of 15cm. Blade widths typically run from 6-bu (18mm) to 1-sun 4-bu (42mm).
Chisel heads are usually in the men-tori or kaku-uchi styles.
中叩鑿 Chū Tataki Nomi, 'mid-size striking chisel'.
These are slightly slimmer and lighter than the tataki nomi, but still heavier than oi-ire nomi. Also called han-tataki-nomi, 半叩鑿, han meaning 'half'. Total length is 26.5cm, with a head length of 7.5cm (2.5-sun), neck of 4.5cm (1.5-sun), and handle of 13.5cm (4.5-sun). Probably the ideal carpenter chisel if you don't work really large timbers, or prefer something slightly heavier and longer than the standard bench chisel.
Here's a 5-set by the blacksmith Takahashi:
Takahashi's chisels take the brand mark of the character '武' in a reversed '厂' enclosure, which is read ’Kane-take’, as seen in the picture below which also gives a good idea as to the size of these tools:
(Photos from Mandara-ya)
- Chris Hall
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- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
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丸鑿 Maru nomi, gouges. Can be for cutting on the outside, where they would be termed soto-maru-nomi, 外丸鑿, or used on the inside, where they are termed uchi-maru-nomi, 内丸鑿. Note that the word uchi, 内, in this context, is a different character with a different meaning that the one seen in the term kaku-uchi-nomi.
Gouges are sized by the radius and depth you wish to cut, sized in ~bu increments, however if the radius/depth you have to work is unusual, then the tool can be custom made to suit.
A soto maru nomi, Kanetake brand (the smith is named Takahashi):
Note that with gouges, you have the same options as seen with standard striking chisels - you can have versions made with longer necks and handles, version which are thin or thick, etc.. Any version of a striking chisel can be made as a gouge.
A set of uchi maru nomi:
(All photos from Mandara-ya)
The sheets in the background indicate how gouge sizes and shapes are specified.
Gouges are sized by the radius and depth you wish to cut, sized in ~bu increments, however if the radius/depth you have to work is unusual, then the tool can be custom made to suit.
A soto maru nomi, Kanetake brand (the smith is named Takahashi):
Note that with gouges, you have the same options as seen with standard striking chisels - you can have versions made with longer necks and handles, version which are thin or thick, etc.. Any version of a striking chisel can be made as a gouge.
A set of uchi maru nomi:
(All photos from Mandara-ya)
The sheets in the background indicate how gouge sizes and shapes are specified.
- Chris Hall
- Site Admin
- Contact:
- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
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穴屋鑿 Ana-ya Nomi: extra long timber chisels for working deep mortises. Typical overall length is 1-shaku, 6-sun (49 cm), with the head comprising a length of 4-sun (12.1cm) the shank 6-sun (18.2cm), and the handle 6-sun.
Some examples made by Tasai:
Some examples made by Tasai:
- Chris Hall
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Moving now to the second major grouping of Japanese chisels.
Tsuki Nomi 突鑿: push chisels. Also known as hon-tsuki nomi 本突鑿 and sashi nomi 差し鑿.
Dimensions on these can vary quite a bit, but typically we might find that the chisel head length is 4-sun (12.1cm), the shank length is 5-sun (15.1cm), and the handle length is 1-shaku, 3-sun (39.4cm).
Often these are sold as a boxed set of two, one 54mm and the other 24mm, say, though they are available in many sizes. Used for large joinery clean up and finish chisel work.
Here are some examples by Kunikei, with white oak and ebony handle options, and a standard oi-ire chisel for comparison:
Tsuki Nomi 突鑿: push chisels. Also known as hon-tsuki nomi 本突鑿 and sashi nomi 差し鑿.
Dimensions on these can vary quite a bit, but typically we might find that the chisel head length is 4-sun (12.1cm), the shank length is 5-sun (15.1cm), and the handle length is 1-shaku, 3-sun (39.4cm).
Often these are sold as a boxed set of two, one 54mm and the other 24mm, say, though they are available in many sizes. Used for large joinery clean up and finish chisel work.
Here are some examples by Kunikei, with white oak and ebony handle options, and a standard oi-ire chisel for comparison:
- Chris Hall
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- Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts
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薄鑿 Usu-nomi, or thin chisel. Also referred to as kinari nomi, 木成鑿, kinari perhaps best translated as 'finishing'.
Both shank and head of these chisels are thinner, and the bevel angle lower, so as to facilitate easy slicing. Handles are typically left bare of finish to enhance grip. While they are meant to be pushed instead of struck, they will tolerate a light amount of wooden mallet use. Generally though, these chisels are used for cleaning up and finishing off of surfaces, not heavier stock removal.
Examples with white oak handles, by Takahashi (Kanetake brand):
Both shank and head of these chisels are thinner, and the bevel angle lower, so as to facilitate easy slicing. Handles are typically left bare of finish to enhance grip. While they are meant to be pushed instead of struck, they will tolerate a light amount of wooden mallet use. Generally though, these chisels are used for cleaning up and finishing off of surfaces, not heavier stock removal.
Examples with white oak handles, by Takahashi (Kanetake brand):
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鏝鑿 Kote-nomi: Trowel chisel. Used primarily for cleaning up the bottom surfaces of dadoes.
Examples by Takahashi:
Another by Kiyohisa:
As you can see, there are different approaches/styles in regards to forming the cranked neck and the attachment of the shank to the head of the tool.
Here's an example by Funahiro:
Examples by Takahashi:
Another by Kiyohisa:
As you can see, there are different approaches/styles in regards to forming the cranked neck and the attachment of the shank to the head of the tool.
Here's an example by Funahiro:
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口切鑿 Kuchi-kiri Nomi, or mouth cutting plane. A type of thin paring chisel with flattened shank intended for cleaning up the plane mouth, koppa-gaeshi surface and edge of tsutsumi.
By Kanetake.
These chisels are even thinner than hiramachi chisels so they can slide into a tight plane mouth opening.
By Kanetake.
These chisels are even thinner than hiramachi chisels so they can slide into a tight plane mouth opening.
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