Japanese Pull Saws

Japanese pull saws cut on the pull stroke rather than the push, which lets them use a thin blade and a narrow kerf that leaves very little waste. They come as ryoba saws with rip teeth on one edge and crosscut teeth on the other, dozuki saws with a stiffening spine for fine joinery, and flush cut saws with a flexible blade for trimming dowels and plugs. The first decision is the cut you make most, because each pattern is made for a different job.

For general carpentry and garden work, a ryoba gives you two saws in one blade and handles both rip and crosscut. For dovetails, tenons and other fine joints, a dozuki with a spine cuts straight and accurate but its depth is limited by the spine. Flush cut saws have no set on the teeth, so they leave no marks on the surface beside the cut. Among the 7 products that list blade length, most fall between 6 and 9.7 inches, and 6 inches is typical.

Blade replacement and handle are the next questions. Many Japanese saws use replaceable blades because the fine, hardened teeth are hard to resharpen at home, so check whether spare blades are sold for your handle. Handles in wood or plastic, and in different shapes, differ mainly in comfort, and a long straight handle lets you hold the saw with two hands for long cuts.

Before buying, check the blade type, the teeth per inch for the material you cut, the blade thickness, and whether a spare blade or sheath is included. Use light pressure on the pull stroke and let the teeth do the work; pushing hard or twisting kinks the thin blade. Protect the teeth with the sheath when the saw is not in use.

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