Popular Woodworking 2004-02 № 139, страница 65
The Kaneharu saw has graduated teeth. Near the handle (left) there are 15 teeth per inch, while at the toe (right) there are 10 tpi. This combination of tpi makes the saw simultaneously easy to start and fast-cutting. To understand how the less-expensive saws are different, let me introduce you to the Kaneharu. Kaneharu: Small and Perfect For anyone familiar with traditional dozukis, the Kaneharu appears small. At about 187/s" long with 63/4" of the blade devoted to teeth, the Kaneharu is about 4"-5" shorter than many dozukis. The teeth are different, too. Crosscut dozukis traditionally have teeth that are all the same size. The teeth on the Kaneharu start small near the handle (15 teeth per inch) and get larger toward the toe of the blade (10 tpi). This is similar to the configuration of rip teeth on a ryoba saw. The graduated teeth make your cuts easy to start: You make your initial kerf with the smaller teeth, and once you get going you use the full blade and the saw dives through the wood. (All three of the backed saws discussed here have a maximum cutting depth of 2", which is ideal for cutting dovetails and most tenons.) For someone accustomed to cutting dovetails with a crosscut saw, the difference is significant. A dovetail that takes 14 strokes to cut with a crosscut dozuki takes only 10 with the Kaneharu. Plus, it's my opinion that the rip saws track better than the crosscut saws during a ripping operation. The quality of the cut surface is as good as any dozuki I've tried - no matter what the tooth configuration. Lee Valley: Easy to Use The rip dozuki offered by Lee Valley Tools shares some of its DNA with crosscut dozukis. The handle and blade are longer, like the traditional crosscut saw (233/4" total length; 95/8" of teeth). The teeth are finer than those on the Kaneharu - 18 tpi, and they have a small secondary bevel filed on them. This secondary bevel - called the "fleam" in saw parlance - is what allows crosscut saws to sever the wood fibers like a knife. The fleam on the Lee Valley saw is small enough not to interfere with a rip cut (which is mechanically similar to levering out the sawdust with a chisel). But it's large enough to allow the saw to be used for some crosscutting. Also, the rip teeth are more durable than crosscut teeth. In a month of testing, I didn't have any problems with snapping teeth - even in notorious ring-porous woods such as white oak. Because the teeth are small, the saw is easy to start. And while it cuts a little slower than the Kaneharu, it's decidedly faster than a crosscut dozuki and leaves a very clean cut surface. Harima-Daizo: For the Expert The Harima-Daizo from Tools for Working Wood is a ripping monster. It seemed to consistently outpace the other two saws when it came down to pure speed. I chalk that up to the fact that it The Lee Valley saw has 18 tpi and a small fleam that it uses for crosscutting. It cuts slower but starts easy. has deeper gullets and fewer teeth (10 tpi) than the Lee Valley saw and a longer blade than the Kaneharu (also 95/8" long). The downside of the Harima-Daizo is that it was harder to start the cut than the other two saws. While I personally never had any problems, beginners and those unfamiliar with Japanese rip saws reported difficulties when starting the cut, particularly in softer woods such as cherry. Like the other two saws, the Harima-Daizo tracked perfectly straight in the cut, left an excellent finish and had durable teeth. Which Saw is for You? If your budget allows it, the Kaneharu is hard to beat. (The Japan Woodworker catalog offers a similar saw with graduated teeth, the Izeamon dozuki rip saw, for $140. While I haven't tested this saw, I have heard a number of good things about it.) For the beginning dovetail saw user, the Lee Valley (at $69) is probably best, and it also will pick up some crosscutting chores. For the advanced user who wants to save some money, the Harima-Daizo ($79.95) is my pick. But more important is how well these three saws compare to the crosscutting and combination-teeth Japanese saws. The rip teeth are far more robust than the crosscut teeth - say goodbye to that "tink-tink" sound you hear when your saw teeth snap. The Harima-Daizo Deluxe saw has 10 tpi.This makes the saw cut faster but a bit harder to start. Another important difference is that all three of these saws can be resharpened - they are not replaceable-blade saws. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. If those differences aren't enough to convince you, remember that these three rip saws also track better in a rip cut. Plus they leave an excellent finish. They are, in short, the right tool for dovetailing. PW SOURCES Hiraide America 877-692-3624 or japanesetools.com • Kaneharu Ripping Dozuki, $182 The Japan Woodworker 800-537-7820 or japanwoodworker.com • Izeamon 8V2"-blade Dozuki Rip Saw #05.114.21, $140 (also available in two longer sizes) Lee Valley Tools 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com • Rip-tooth Dozuki #60T04.04, $69 Tools for Working Wood 800-426-4613 or toolsforworkingwood.com • Harima-Daizo Deluxe Rip Dozuki #MS-JS340, $79.95 Prices as of publication date. popwood.com I 63 |
