I'm interested in making Kumiko, but I'm wondering if it's feasible to do it without a band saw. I have two main concerns: First, I think it will take a lot of effort to hand-cut all the strips. Second, I worry about making veering rip cuts—one mistake could waste a lot of wood. Has anyone tried hand ripping stock for Kumiko, and what do you think? Is it doable?
2 Answers
Definitely sounds challenging! If you choose a wood like basswood, it tends to cut straighter due to its grain. Even so, you'll need to practice to get those rip cuts right if you're doing it by hand. But imagine the satisfaction of completing it yourself without power tools!
You can absolutely do Kumiko without a band saw! Traditional pieces were made without power tools, so it's definitely possible, but it'll take a lot of time and patience. The key is to master your technique, and it's really rewarding in the end!
Yeah, pine works well too! I’ve got some straight-grained Alaskan Yellow Cedar that I might use.