GYOKUCHO JAPANESE HAND SAWS,

Whats happening everyone, in this void iI show you my Gyokucho Japenese hand saws, tkae you through the differences with western saws and give a quick demonstration.
Comments and questions below

Tools I use and recommend
UK Links

USA Links

[zenkenshokunin]

Cheers from California. You have, indeed, butchered the pronunciations, but you NAILED the four best choices of saws for woodworking. I've been woodworking since the 1970's and started using Japanese tools and techniques in the 1980's. Those four saws would be my exact list for anyone getting into woodworking - either Western or Japanese style. Whilst you can get high end Japanese saws that can be resharpened, you can expect to pay equivalent prices to high end Western hand saws.

These saws would be equivalent to the cheap, throw away Western hand saws that are found in every hardware store. Comparing the equivalent saws, Japanese style wins in price, quality and performance.

There's a few (VERY few) techniques to learn with Japanese saws that will vastly improve your performance and efficiency. Primarily, use a two hand grip and saw LIGHTLY. A light pull will make the teeth last much longer and a two handed pull naturally straightens out your cut and is roughly half the work of using only one hand.

For rips, a short, Japanese saw horse is ideal. place your work piece perpendicular on the saw horse - resembling a "ramp". The use of tabi (thick, split toed socks) on your feet make a great clamp - just step on the low end of the work piece. The work piece can be easily moved about for long cuts.

There's more techniques but these should be easy to learn for just about anyone and will make your woodworking easier, faster and more enjoyable.

[Nico-bubj]

A dozuki is not only for dovetails. They are marketed like that in the West but not in Japan. They are made for any situation when you need a fine, stable cut.

[codelicious]

The true craftsmanship shows when you can use a 12" bladed Ryoba to cut the dovetails into a snuffbox! Lol. Seriously though, before I saw this vid by some Irishman, I had no idea what the deal was with the names of all those Japanese saws! Thank you verymuch!

[boozoochavis]

I have been using Japanese style saws for decades - these are some of the nicest quality commercially made saws I have found so far. There are others that are more expensive, but these are a quality product that hold up well and a good saw for the money. Thanks for posting this video - you aren't the only one to struggle just keeping up with English only, I have that same problem myself!

[nickbuhaenko-smith]

Thanks John. This was such an informative video. After watching this my other half bought the same set for my birthday. I absolutely love them and have used to cut everything from 1.5mm balsa to large lumber. Keep up the great work. Regards, Nick (from SW France).

[scottcallan]

Thank you from an Irishman in the US. great presentation looking forward to more

[bobsnow]

I have one Japanese saw a Ryoba that I use for quick flush and smooth cuts... I know nothing of Japanese saws your Video was very informative.

[donschweitzer]

Nice presentation…..your pronunciation was really 👍

[corymiller]

Hello nice saws:] I am about to get the double sided version. It does seem like you can sharpen the rip side. I will give it a try once she gets old and dull.

[robertc]

I was watching somebody else's video (not quite as good as this one) and the fellow mentioned that being too aggressive - pulling the japanese saw out of the work accidentally and then replacing it haphazardly - can damage the lead teeth of the particular saw. I come from a machine shop background and we were always taught to "use the entire length of the blade" for economic reasons. Too bad! I'm stopping an inch or so from pulling the saw completely out of the wood. I can't wait to try one of these saws!

[AwesomeKazuaki]

Gyokucho is in Miki Japan. I love Miki carpenter tools. it's a blacksmith town since ancient times. My favorite sawsmiths are Jiro Bessho and Taizou Mitsukawa. but my saws are semihandmade ones from them, so these are not top quality one from them, around 6000-7000yen.

[dondicey]

I have had these saws for years (15+) and a couple of things to get used to. One is they will drift. I can cut a much straighter line with the back or basic western cross cut saw. (Ones I file myself per the Paul Sellers method also) and I see a lot of teeth snapping on hardwood. I used to make a lot of furniture (so hidden joints and dovetails, some sliding ones too) mostly maple (figured, birds-eye, spalted) some walnut and cherry and had a fair amount of breakage. All told, several $$100's of new "replacement" blades on the katana and ryoba ( the 2 main classes of Japanese saws) . Thus far, none of my "western saws" have bit the dust and/required replacement due to use/age. Granted, the more precise, surgical kerf, is way more intricate but at the price of delicate also. I still have to clean up to the lines on any joint or final dimension anyway. The specialty saws are really awesome and often very unique. I do like the feel and lightness of these saws and use them quite frequently. If I could only figure out how to sharpen! For your information, here is a list of common Japanese saws:
tategu-shi- means refers to craftsman or carpenter performing the work
anahiki-nokigiri- crosscut for logs and beams (up to 20" long blade)
kamochiki-nokogiri- making deep grooves (kamoe) for sliding doors etc
kataba-nohogiri- single edge
kugihiki-nokogiri- flush cutting bamboo "nails", blade is tapered and usually 20-26 teeth per inch! Hard, highly tempered.
osachiki-nokogiri- cuts grooves in making plane (kana) blocks, deep and no set at all
hosobiki-nokogiri- small dosuki with rip teeth
dosuki-nokogiri- cross cutting thin stock
ryoba-noko- double edge
azebiki-nokogiri- veneer work and inlays
maebiki-nokogiri- huge milling saws
and not often used a mawashibiki-nokogiri- like a western key-hole saw
Please keep up the good content on your videos. DD

[darkdraconis]

I fucking love the accent and pronunciation, so lovely
Great video

[emmycon]

I also have a full set of Veritas saws which i love super affordable. But I would always drift to my Gyokucho set . Two reasons they're super fun to use plus my daughter wants to do more and more woodworking and with the japanese saws if the piece is well clamped she can use both hands which is a lot safer. Nice video man!!!

[oddjobkia]

a quick note... if you are not sure if you want one before spending £35 on a Japanese saw.... Lidl and Aldi sell cheap ones which will get you use to them.... I have just purchased my first decent Japanese saw and I love it..

[ronlabass]

If you notice there are modified teeth at the top and bottom, the top one is for finish of ten on and such as it is aligned with only the first cutting tooth, leaving no perf Mark. The bottom on is for starting saw perf next to straight edge.

[kle]

I've seen lots of videos on Japanese saws as of late. I noticed sometimes you can purchase saws specifically listed as " for hardwood". Is this important if you are cutting into hardwoods, or is it ok to buy the "regular" listed Japanese saws? And can you use to cut into softwoods to with these "hardwood" saws. I don't see a lot of YouTube videos mention the specifically designed hardwood Japanese saws or if you have to go through the trouble of buying it specifically to cut into hardwoods. Your thoughts? thx

[graemedevine]

Thanks for the information, I've just bought a Japanese saw waiting on its delivery its a Gyokucho how durable are the blades I'll not be using it every day just occasionally for whatever I need to cut, I'm hoping I'm better with it than your normal European saw lol.

[RichardBuckman]

You can find really good quality Japanese saws that can be sharpened, but they generally require an expert to do it, so the cost of sending it to Japan ends up making sharpening more expensive than just buying a new one which is why outside of Japan it makes much more sense to get the saws with the replaceable blades. I don’t know how much expertise is required though...maybe it’s possible to learn to do it yourself which could make getting the other version worth it.

[tayyabsafdar]

All the craftsmen of the past whose prized furniture is in museums and people travel to see them and admire, didn't knew about these miraculous Japanese saws. Pity.