Artful From Japan Saws

Japanese woodworking saws (Nokogiri) make quite an impression when you first see them. Their elegant wooden handles wrapped with cane and their superfine blades hold the promise of something quite special. They work differently to traditional Western saws, the teeth are set in the opposite direction angling back rather than forward. The cut begins at the back of the blade and the saw is pulled towards the user. The blade is in tension during the cut, meaning the metal can be much thinner than normal, leaving a very fine kerf (width of cut). This makes them perfect for doing fine, accurate work.

Japanese joinery is renowned for its precision and simple beauty. There is a distinctive philosophy behind the way the craftspeople approach their work and the tools are a reflection of this. Traditionally woodworkers in Japan work on tatami mats on the floor using a small flat multi-functional bench called a planing board. The pull action of the saws is well-suited to this working position.

Nokogiri have an aura about them, aesthetically they are very pleasing. Whenever I have visitors to my workshop, they are drawn to these saws and are keen to try them. People who aren’t familiar with woodworking tools find them approachable and relatively easy to use, experienced woodworkers love them and wouldn’t give them up for the world.

In addition to fine joinery saws, there are some folding varieties of Japanese saws designed for tree pruning.

The action of cutting towards you on the pullstroke is particularly useful in this situation.

There is a wide variety of styles, designed for particular purposes and choosing a Japanese saw will depend on what you want to do with it and your skill level. It’s worth getting some advice from your retailer, there are plenty of options for general purpose work and you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started.

To see a wide range of Japanese saws contact Carba-Tec® at one of their stores or through their website. www.carbatec.com.au