Hinoki Kumiko Strips

Kumiko can mostly be a hand-tooled process, however, it depends on accurately dimensioned stock and can require a large amount of it. For those with small spaces and limited access to accurate machinery, milling enough stock even for a small kumiko project can be a significant undertaking.

For that reason, we have begun to process our Japanese hinoki into kumiko kits.

All lengths are 400mm long and 12mm wide. They are available in either 4mm or 3mm thicknesses. We enjoy making our jigumi (frames) out of 4mm stock, and using 3mm stock as the kumiko infill patterns. This gives a nice feeling of lightness to the design, however, either section can be adapted to either job.

One pack contains 12 kumiko strips.

Hinoki (Japanese cypress) is an excellent choice for kumiko work as it is available in long lengths with straight grain, works beautifully with hand tools and appears visually light when used in kumiko and shoji. We have sourced our hinoki in Japan and milled it to dimension in our Kogarah workshop.

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Of the traditional Japanese woodworking crafts, the beautiful trade of kumiko making is arguably the one that has captured the most attention in the Western world.

To those familiar with it, this makes complete sense. Kumiko is meditative and process-driven. It's geometric patterns are regimented, but are employed creatively and with few rules. It offers the opportunity to create tight joinery, yet it's overall effect once completed is greater than the sum of it's parts. Kumiko is a beautiful woodworking practice.