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Andrew Hunter
Intructor

Andrew Hunter

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Upcoming Classes

Japanese Hand Planes 1 & 2 - Image 1

Japanese Hand Planes 1 & 2

Instructor: Andrew Hunter
4-day course: April 24 – 27, 2026
Price: $650

In this 4-day class Andrew covers everything you need to know about Japanese hand planes. What seems like a simple tool, a blade and a block of wood, the Japanese plane (Kanna) is actually complex instrument with many subtle qualities. The first challenge most woodworkers face when learning to use a Kanna is that they don’t come ready to use out of the box. You are only supplied with great ingredients, and it is up to the user to get the fit between the blade and the block just right.


In the past, Andrew has separated teaching Japanese planes into two distinct classes. Class 1 involves setting up a plane with a single cutting blade and Class 2 covers setting up the chip breaker. Andrew is now teaching the complete setup and use of Japanese planes in a single 4-day class. Each student will receive a new plane (or bring your own if you have one already). If this is your first Japanese plane, Andrew recommends starting with this 45mm Yamamoto plane. If you have already taken Andrew’s plane Class 1 or if you have experience setting up a new plane, he recommends this 65mm Yamamoto plane


Andrew will work with each student to get their new plane into working order. He will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block, fitting and adjusting the chip breaker and profiling the sole for optimal performance. Of course, you will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. By the conclusion of this class, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know how to keep it working correctly.


Students will pay Andrew directly for their new plane. The current cost of the 45mm plane is $200 and the 65mm plane is $250. The cost of the plane is not included in this course cost.


Class fee: $650

Class size limited to 10

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Register Now
Japanese Joinery - Image 1

Japanese Joinery

Instructor: Andrew Hunter
Weekend course: September 12 – 13, 2026
Price: $375

Japan boasts some of the oldest wooden buildings on earth. Their longevity relies on intricate joinery that not only can withstand the years of elements, but are also reversible for inevitable repairs. In this weekend class Andrew will introduce students to the secrets behind these sophisticated joints. Student will learn principles that are applicable to both furniture makers and timber framers alike.

Each participant will cut their own Kanawa scarf joint entirely by hand. This intricate joint is a perfect exercise for getting started with Japanese joinery. Students will learn how to use centerlines and story sticks to make simple work of complex layouts and how to most efficiently use their hand tools to work to these lines. Andrew will demonstrate methods for getting tight fitting joinery every time.

Students are encouraged to bring their own Japanese tools to class. Andrew will offer feedback and assistance on getting them tuned and set up to work more efficiently. If you don’t have your own collection of Japanese tools (yet), no worries, bring what you have. Andrew will have a selection tools for students to try out as well as the well stocked collection of western tools provided by the school.

Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $25

Class size limited to 10

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Register Now

Past Classes

Japanese Hand Planes 2 - Chip Breaker - Image 1

Japanese Hand Planes 2 – Chip Breaker

Instructor: Andrew Hunter
Weekend course: November 8 – 9, 2025
Price: $385

Take a deeper dive into Japanese hand planes!  Many of you have taken Andrew’s Japanese Hand Planes class in which we each took a new Japanese smoothing plane (Kana), tuned it up, fitted and sharpened the iron, and went from nothing to making beautiful shavings. Well, this is the next course to take your plane to a new level! You don’t have to have taken Andrew’s previous classes to take this one, but you do need to have a Japanese hand plane of your own that has already been taken through the original steps of setup.  (If you have any doubt then please contact Andrew directly at Andrew@andrewhunterart.com.)

 In this two-day class Andrew will first work with students individually to assess their planes and offer suggestions on how to get them working better.  He will then guide students through the process of setting up the chip breaker.  Getting a chip breaker to work properly can be a bit tricky, but when it’s working just right it makes all the difference!  Students will learn to effectively put their planes to use by pulling shavings with the whole body and not just with their arms. We will each spend some time learning to dimension lumber entirely by hand. Remember: the Japanese Kana, like a Western hand plane, is not just limited to surfacing but also excels at precisely fitting parts; two thousandth of an inch at a time!


Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Register Now
Japanese Hand Planes - Image 1

Japanese Hand Planes

Instructor: Andrew Hunter
Weekend course: June 28 – 29, 2025
Price: $620

In this weekend course furniture maker and educator, Andrew Hunter, will guide students through the process of setting up a new Japanese plane. What seems like a simple tool, a blade and a block of wood, the Japanese plane (Kanna) is actually a very complex instrument with many subtle qualities. The first challenge most woodworkers face when learning to use a Kanna is that they don’t come ready to use out of the box. You are only supplied with great ingredients, and it is up to the user to get the fit between the blade and the block just right.


Andrew will work with each student to get their new plane into working order. We will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block and profiling its sole for optimal performance. Of course, we will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. The weekend will wrap up by putting our new planes to use with a friendly planing contest (kezurou-kai). By the conclusion of this class, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know how to keep it working correctly.


Student Tool List: 

Students should bring sharpening stones.


Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Register Now
Japanese Hand Planes - Image 1

Japanese Hand Planes

Instructor: Andrew Hunter
Weekend course: July 20 – 21, 2024
Price: $620

In this weekend course furniture maker and educator, Andrew Hunter, will guide students through the process of setting up a new Japanese plane. What seems like a simple tool, a blade and a block of wood, the Japanese plane (Kanna) is actually a very complex instrument with many subtle qualities. The first challenge most woodworkers face when learning to use a Kanna is that they don’t come ready to use out of the box. You are only supplied with great ingredients, and it is up to the user to get the fit between the blade and the block just right.


Andrew will work with each student to get their new plane into working order. We will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block and profiling its sole for optimal performance. Of course, we will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. The weekend will wrap up by putting our new planes to use with a friendly planing contest (kezurou-kai). By the conclusion of this class, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know how to keep it working correctly.


Student Tool List: 

Students should bring sharpening stones.


Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture.

https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Register Now