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Japanese Saws
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=24379		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  FrankC [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Japanese Saws
So I sold my bandsaw a while back and looking to get back into building...just a hobby. so rather than invest in a lot of power tools, i am looking and some nice hand tool options. I have all the handplanes I need but looking for something to cut the top, back and sides to shape. What saws do you recommend for this (and where do you recommend I get them)? I know i can count on the experts here
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
ctting radial shapes with a hand saw is tough work.
Author:  FrankC [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Thats what I figured..ugh Any recommendations to make it a bit easier? And dont say band saw! :)
Author:  Darrin D Oilar [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
A good coping saw can do a pretty good job. I have a small little Japanese saw that I bought at Harbor Freight (actually made in Japan, not China), that has been handy as can be for the $9 or $10 it cost. This is just for cutting the guitar parts to size and or shape, not resawing correct?

Darrin
Author:  sanaka [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
FrankC wrote:
...And dont say band saw! :)


Jigsaw? A right useful tool for many household fixit type things as well...

Peace,
Sanaka
Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
I'd be lost without my Japanese saws :) The one I use the most is the small Kataba (hard spined) made by Z-saw. When new the blades are scary fast and precise and they can easily last you about 2 guitars. A replacement blade is about 12$ so I think it is reasonable. The teeth are impulse hardedned so it is impossible to resharpen. This one also works well as a fret saw although it is a hair tighter than the LMI fret saw. Compared to that one, I think the Japanese one cuts some 5 times faster.

I also have a flexible flushcut saw and a large Ryoba (no spine, two rows of teeth one crosscut one rupcut) for hacking large stuff. A large Ryoba saw can be used for resawing, with the appropiate guide jig (or a human helper pressing the blade against depth stops). I managed to slice 0.04" veneers from a figured FB board no sweat. A bit slow but it works.
Author:  bluescreek [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
training termites
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
FrankC wrote:
Thats what I figured..ugh Any recommendations to make it a bit easier? And dont say band saw! :)


LOL So you knew what I was thinking? HUMMMMMMMM laughing6-hehe The coping saw was mentioned. I also use a radial bladed veneer saw to rough-in some curved shapes and for cutting profiles in to sides before but really a deep throat coping saw is a very good choice
Author:  Michael.N. [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Coping saw but use the fine or extra fine (32 TPI) blades. The general purpose blades usually shipped with a coping saw are too rough and will lead to splintering. especially when cutting across grain.
Author:  Frei [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
You can get some good deals on large mouth coping saws on ebay, there is also the 'old fashioned' bandsaw, a bow saw. Ok, googled and this came up on a guitar site, go figure!!!! You can get a japonese blade for a bow saw??? Wow.

http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/la ... tools3.htm
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Highland Hardware carries Japanese blades for their bow saws.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/narrowturbo-cutbladeforclassic400framesaw.aspx
Author:  Carey [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
For cutting out the top and back a coping saw works just fine, assuming a bit of patience. As
mentioned above a fine-tooth blade is important with these thin materials, although you can
stack the plates and do both at once, lessening the need for a finer blade. The German coping
saws and blades available from Lee Valley and others work well. A little paraffin on the blade
(repeat as necessary), round the back of the blade a bit with a stone et c to help with the
tighter curves, and you're set.

As for Japanese saws (I love 'em) that's a minefield, making recommendations, but the Gyokucho
machine-made saws are very consistent and available in a nice variety of types: Dozuki, Ryoba, Kataba. Very good bang for the buck. Takumi (available from Amazon, of all places) are a nice step up in feel, though anything the latter can do, the former can as well. btw the
rip teeth on any of these saws *can* be resharpened with a file; only the crosscut side is
impulse hardened. My favorite value in J-saws is the 180mm Mitsukawa Ryoba, available from Hida Tool. Very narrow kerf on both cross (.016"?) and rip, and a lot stiffer plate than the brands
mentioned above, lending more feel to the cut. Excellent saw for $80, especially if the fine-
handsawing fetish strikes you (it can happen!).
For resawing the Gyokucho 270-300mm Ryobas work ok, though I wish someone made
a decent Tatebiki in this size- the 'Z' 300mm, the only machine J-ripsaw, is a poor tool, imo.
Author:  MRS [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Crank operated band saw. You can have the kids or wife crank it while you cut. This way you can feel good about doing it all by hand :)
Image
Author:  Daniel Minard [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
If you want to go electric, a cheap "scroll saw" (they were called jig saws when I was a kid) will do a lot of work for a small price. I've seen 'em on sale for well under a hundred bucks.
They are great for all kinds of hobby work & are a lot quicker & more versatile than a coping saw. (You'll still need a coping or jeweller's saw though.)
Author:  Daniel Minard [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Oops. Hit it twice.
Author:  FrankC [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
MRS wrote:
Crank operated band saw. You can have the kids or wife crank it while you cut. This way you can feel good about doing it all by hand :)
Image


How great is that! Call me old school but if i could find one of them, it would be mine!
Author:  MRS [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
I have also seen a treadle operated bandsaw where the guy treadles while cutting. Now i don't know if i would have the ability to work the treadle with one leg while balancing on the other and cutting at the same time. I give the old timers a lot of credit for what they did with limited means.
Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
Yep, talk about mouth watering TAS!!!
That bandsaw is a beauty, just the thing to keep the wifey in shape. laughing6-hehe

Joe

ps--it's probably clear to you, she never reads these posts! :D
Author:  Mark Groza [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Japanese Saws
I use a scroll saw for most my cutting even though i have a 14" bandsaw which i mostly use for resawing.I do put a fine blade on it first which is alot easier than changing the bandsaw blade, so i use the scroll saw. Now, if i could only find a 4tpi hook blade for my scroll saw, i could sell my band saw too. ;) :)
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