About The Sunday Carpenter

The Sunday Carpenter is currently a one man shop owned by Tim O'Brien.

So really, it's about me. I've been learning about Japanese tools and carpentry techniques since 2012 and opened The Sunday Carpenter in 2024.

Why "The Sunday Carpenter"?

I wanted to pick a name for my shop that is accessible in English and paid some homage to Japan without claiming words like daiku (master carpenter) or shokunin (craftsman) that, frankly, don't reflect my level of skill.

During my research, I learned that the Japanese word for DIYer is Nichiyoubi-daiku - literally a "Sunday Carpenter". This fits me better. I have not been an apprentice overseas, but I have spent plenty of Sundays (and class days, and weeknights) practicing and learning.

In the US, "DIY" can be pejorative and connote hacking things together or slipshod results. I prefer to think of Sunday carpentry as something that deserves respect because a) even pros practice on Sundays, especially the good ones, and b) dedicating your free time to learning something new and achieving something difficult is commendable and deserves respect.

Stuff I Believe

There is nothing mystical about skill, whether in the context of Japanese carpentry or anything else. Skill is not inborn, it's the accumulated result of a desire to do something well, careful attention, and practical knowledge gained through observation and experience. That includes both teaching and experimentation.

Tools are not a replacement for practice. Yes, I sell tools and I like them all quite a bit, but they cannot make you good at using them. It's better to buy the thing that'll serve your purposes and you're happy to practice on than something that's a stretch for your budget and you may outgrow (or regret damaging down the road).

I try to reduce, not increase, the amount of bullshit. There is a tremendous amount of it out there. It's very difficult to navigate the world of hand tools or Japanese tools as a beginner. It's also difficult to get reliable information about craft online. To the best of my ability, I try to avoid overblown claims and explain in plain English what I understand and what makes the things I sell unique and worth buying. That said, I'm definitely fallible. I do my best to maintain accuracy, but trust me when I say that information about this craft is thin on the internet, even in Japanese. If I make a claim that's incorrect, let me know and I'll update it.