Originally from Orange County, California, Jack began his journey with Japanese hand tools early in his career as a finish carpenter. He was instantly drawn to the versatility, depth and accuracy they offer.

Jack says these tools are his best friend and worst enemy, but ultimately his greatest teacher. It's a beautiful journey he looks forward to sharing with students.

Kirk Svensson installs fine cabinets for Joinery Structures and relies on Japanese hand tools daily. He teams up with Jack to lead the beginner sessions, keeping sharpening and plane work central to their teaching.

I'm originally from Ramona, California, in San Diego County. I first got into woodworking in 8th grade wood shop. Then discovered furniture design at San Diego State. It was there that I found a Japan Woodworker catalog. Wasn't long before I bought some nomi. Then a kanna. I was hooked.

When I moved to Oakland I visited Hida for the first time. Met Welly and through him found out about Joinery Structures, where I continued my path. I like seeing students light up when they make their hand tools work well.

I was born in industrial New Britain, Connecticut, home of Stanley Tools, a community full of machine operators like my mother and skilled craftsmen like my dad, the best of whom were highly respected. It was a tool making city during the nadir of the loss of skills and standards. A Stanley plane made when I was young was a joke compared to those made before the Great Depression, as were the buildings. So I caught from Dad a sense of a lost civilization watching us with dismay.

The sixties brought wide disillusionment with corporate goals and a quest to measure up to higher standards. I went the Eric Sloane route of re-evolution, from the most basic hand tools. I really wanted to start with stone tools but they weren't at garage sales or flea markets, so I started from the Iron Age. Kip Mesirow's article in the Whole Earth Catalog on Japanese tools caught my attention, but when I went to see Makoto Imai give a demonstration of laying out and cutting a scarf joint, his focus and exactitude stunned me.

At the final clean up he adjusted a kanna, made a pass, made a slight correction, pulled a whistling sweep and a perfect shaving flew up, paused, drifted to the floor, and tears came to my eyes. This was the lost craftsman my father had revered. I'm not that. My work has made peace with worm drives, chop saws, sanders and plywood as well as tsuki nomi. I like being around people with beginner's mind. They put up with my stories if I bribe them with tips that help them do better work or expand their vision.

Hi, I’m Wellington originally from the East Coast but have lived mostly in California. My background in craft started from metalsmith to carpentry. Unknown to me I started working with my hands in my twenties and handwork and craft continues to fascinate me to this day. Japanese tools continue to help me refine my skills and delight me with their simplicity and refinement.