Popular Woodworking 2003-10 № 136, страница 72
Japanese Saws The difference is more than just pushing or pulling. VS. It might shock you to hear this, but in the last decade or so more than three centuries of a Western tool-making tradition has been undone. "You cannot push a chain in a straight line. But you can pull a chain in a straight line. Pushing a saw makes no sense. I can saw upside down and over the back of my head with a Japanese saw with no problem." — Harrelson Stanley of JapaneseTools.com The Western handsaw, a tool that cuts on the push stroke and was the pride of the English-speaking world, isn't the tool most woodworkers now reach for when they need a handsaw. It has been replaced by the Japanese saw, which cuts on the pull stroke and once was mocked by Westerners as "backwards." The numbers tell the story best: • Sixty percent of the saws sold by Lee Valley Tools are Japanese-style, says Rob Lee, president of Lee Valley, one of the world's largest hand-tool catalogs. • Woodcraft Supply Corp. sells 100 Japanese saws for every Western saw, says Peter Collins, a product manager for the large catalog and retail company. • And Japan Woodworker, which sold many Western saws 30 years ago, now sells 1,000 Japanese saws for every Western saw, says Fred Damsen, the owner. What caused this shift to Japanese saws? While some say it's because sawing on the pull stroke is superior to sawing on the push stroke, the issue actually is more complex. And which saw is best? The prevailing wisdom says Japanese saws are superior and easier for beginners to learn. But if you've ever worked with a sharp, well-tuned Western saw, you know this can't be entirely true. To answer these questions, we decided to scrutinize the two types of saws to learn their true differences, beyond the information in catalogs. Armed with this knowledge, you can choose a saw that's right for your woodwork ing and your budget. Our journey begins in ancient Egypt. The First Handsaws Modern woodworkers would almost immediately recognize the first known metal saws, which were excavated in Egypt. by Christopher Schwarz Comments or questions? Contact Chris at 513-531-2690 ext. 1407 or chris.schwarz@fwpubs.com Egyptian handsaw 72 Popular Woodworking October 2003 |
