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14 Cottage St
Blackburn, VIC, 3130
Australia

0413 537 490

The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking was founded by Alastair Boell in 2007. After graduating from the world renowned North Bennet Street School, Boston (USA) Alastair felt that there was a great need in Australia for an educational facility that focuses on traditional skills. 

The Guild is committed to preserving and advancing craft traditions in furniture making. We are also committed to promoting a greater awareness and appreciation of
craftsmanship. In our classes we emphasize the skillful use of hand tools and power equipment and an informed use of appropriate materials. We are passionate about what we do and want to share information, ideas and skills with all our students young and old, from beginner to advanced.

Kumiko Box - Beginner's Course

Classes

Kumiko Box - Beginner's Course

Jacqueline Boell

$790.00 AUD

Presented by Alastair Boell

The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking is excited to present this unique course dedicated to beginners – the Kumiko Box! In this 3 full day beginner’s course, you will make this stunningly elegant hexagonal box made from Walnut and Maple or Celery Top Pine (depending on availability).

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The class will be divided into two main sections. The first section being devoted to the 6-sided box in Walnut and the second section being dedicated to a Kumiko panel to be installed into the lid.

In the first component of the course, you will learn how to safely mill a box blank using our bandsaw, planer, thicknesser, wide belt sander and panel saw. After this, you will learn how to piece together the hexagonal box perfectly with hand tools.

In the second component, we will focus on two Kumiko methods to produce this attractive ‘kasane rindou’ pattern. The first method will be used to prepare the Kumiko frame utilizing a table saw jig (especially prepared for the class). The approach for the second method is more traditional and uses just hand tools to create the more intricate pattern inside the Kumiko triangular segments.

After the Kumiko lid is completed, we will line the hexagonal box with Maple or Celery Top Pine and time permitting, we will learn how to apply a basic shellac finish to the completed Kumiko Box.

Although it is one of the smallest projects we teach at The Guild, most of us agree that it is one of the prettiest pieces on offer and certainly packs a punch in terms of skills learnt in a short period of time.

Alastair Boell - Director: Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking

Instructor
Alastair Boell.jpg
Alastair Boell

Alastair Boell was awarded a Bachelor of Education (Arts and Crafts) at Melbourne University, majoring in ‘Furniture Making’ in 1990. A month after graduating, he moved to Japan, where he taught English and made furniture for his own pleasure for eight years. While living there, he became heavily influenced by the Japanese design aesthetic.

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When

Fri 19th to Sun 21st June 2026
From 9am to 5pm each day
 (3 consecutive days)

Location
Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking.
14 Cottage St, Blackburn

 
categories Intensive