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Sugita Method

The key elements of the technique are a zero-kerf saw and jigs with magnetic sheets attached to guide the saw. Cuts are often glue-ready right from the saw. The key benefits of the method are accuracy, quiet, safety, and low dust. Did I mention quiet?

The US website is The Woodworking Minimalist and it is well worth multiple visits. Can’t say enough good things about the proprietor.

This YouTube Channel is mostly overlap, but has a few extras, and Mirai-Sugita has some oldies but goodies.

I am working through the Stages outlined in the book while experimenting and learning from mistakes. Here are some pictures of current status:

This is the first joint I made with the system. First Joint
Applied to a picture frame:First Frame


This is a prototype wood hinge box (see: Rob Cosman and many others.)



This next piece was a rush job with known weaknesses/challenges (the grain direction for one.) We were headed out on a road trip and needed some protection for our Chemex coffee carafe. I did not have time to joint the stock to make the sides tall enough so I went with vertical grain direction. I managed the rabbet on the top of the box, but I couldn’t continue the grain pattern on the lid, so I went with horizontal. Looks funky, but call it a feature.
Coffee Problem


A frame with rabbetted half-lap miter. I do not like working with red oak.


The final Sugita method piece for this post is a wood hinge box where the lid sits between the sides and on top of the front and back. Normally I would do box or dovetail joints to easily make the sides taller than the front and back, but I decided to try mitered corners. In this case, decided does not imply planning. Easy enough to get the sides proud, but the top corners needed to be squared off. My first inclination was to level all four sides and then add strips to the left and right sides, but again, wanting to see what I could do with the new tools I cut little returns and glued them on. So far, so good, but we’ll see.


For gratuitous comparison, here is an incense box I made with western tools and traditional methods (yes, hand resawn and thicknessed.)

February 18, 2025 Woodworking