Japanese saws

Unique precision and efficiency!

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Japanese saws. Whether for longitudinal or cross-cutting, fine work or rough cuts - discover the perfect saw for each of your projects!

Convince yourself of the quality and the wide selection of specialized Japanese saws for every application!

JAPANESE SAWS (Japanese: 鋸 NOKOGIRI) – in brief

The special feature of Japanese saws is that they work on tension. The pulling principle allows very thin saw blades with a thickness of only 0,3 - 0,6 mm and enables sawing with very little effort. The very thin saw blades produce a narrow, clean and tear-free cut and remove significantly less material than western saws.

Japanese saws are traditionally forged in one piece with a tang. Modern saws often have replaceable saw blades that are attached to the handle with a screw connection, a clamping mechanism or a push button.

In addition to woodworking, there are also special types of saws that are suitable for sawing other materials such as garden wood, plastic, plaster and metal.

Table of Contents

The saw types at a glance
Make the right selection
Saw correctly with a Japanese saw
Blade change
Care Tips
quality features
The manufacturers of Japanese saws

 
 

The SAW TYPES at a glance

The most common types of saws include the Kataba, Dozuki and Ryoba saws, the main features of which are briefly listed below.

Dozuki (胴付き(鋸): the “fine saws”
  • Single-sided toothed saw blade
  • Particularly thin saw blades with very fine teeth
  • Typically with a “reinforced” back – limited cutting depth
  • Allow precise cuts
  • For cross sections
  • Used for the finest sawing work (cutting and mitre work): for precisely fitting connections, such as picture frames, dovetail joints, etc.
kataba (片歯): the “all-rounders”, the “carpenters/carpenter saws”
  • Single-sided toothed saw blade
  • Without a back
  • Allow precise cuts
  • For cross sections
  • Occasionally with special hybrid toothing (M-toothing), which allows not only cross-sections but also longitudinal cuts
  • Used for general carpentry work, also allows large and deep cuts such as in carpentry, for parting and miter work
Ryoba (両歯): the hand saws most commonly used by woodworkers in Japan
  • Flexible saw blade with teeth on both sides:
    • One side with triangular teeth for longitudinal cuts
    • One side with trapezoidal teeth for cross and diagonal cuts in wood
  • Used by furniture manufacturers and interior designers as a fine carpenter's saw and as a workshop saw

 
 

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE

The decisive factors for choosing the right Japanese saw are:

  • The fineness of the gearing
  • The type of gearing – longitudinal or cross-sectional
  • The position of the teeth – crossed or not crossed
  • The length and thickness of the saw blade
  • The depth of cut
  • The material to be cut
  • Experience in handling Japanese saws
Fineness of the teeth

The degree of fineness of the saws is indicated by the tooth pitch in English "teeth per inch" or "TPI". The greater the number of teeth per inch, the finer the saw cut, as shown graphically in the picture:

Representation of the fineness of the gearing

Coarse gearing: 9 – max. 13 TPI

  • Allows you to saw through quickly: the coarser the teeth, the more aggressive the saw
  • Suitable for: soft types of wood, rough crafts, wet wood, garden wood
  • NOT suitable for: hard woods, fine saw cuts, detailed work

Tip: For garden work (tree pruning) we recommend choosing a special pruning saw! An extra coating protects it against rust and resin!

Medium-fine toothing: 14 – approx. 16 TPI

  • Efficiently removes wood, but is also fine enough to produce a precise saw cut
  • Suitable for: soft wood types, general woodworking
  • Not suitable for: hard woods, very fine saw cuts, garden wood

Fine toothing: from 17 TPI

  • For producing the finest connections and smooth cuts
  • Suitable for: hard woods, very fine saw cuts, smooth cutting surfaces, detailed work
  • Not suitable for: quickly removing wood, rough woodwork, garden wood

Principle:
For precise saw cuts, a fine toothing is recommended – for fast sawing, a slightly coarser toothing is recommended!

Types of gearing

There are three types of gearing:

triangular gearing:

  • Wedge-shaped, triangular tooth shape (like narrow chisels)
  • The tooth pitch varies along the length. This makes cutting easier and improves the effect: the smaller teeth near the handle with smaller tooth tip spacing make sawing the wood easier. Starting from the saw handle to the end of the blade, the tooth tip distance and tooth size increase.
  • Suitable for longitudinal cuts (parallel to the wood fiber)
  • The chips roll up and therefore require more space
  • Larger sections from tooth tip to tooth tip allow more volume to be absorbed - the sawdust is reliably removed from the saw joint in the space between the teeth and the saw does not jam
  • Cutting quality: less accurate

trapezoidal teeth:

  • Alternating grinding of the teeth
  • 3 razor-sharp cutting bevels each – “trapezoidal” teeth
  • Creates very clean cutting surfaces
  • Allows a narrower tooth pitch
  • Very precise - if used correctly, no further work is required!
  • Suitable for cross and diagonal cuts
  • The cutting bevels cut through the wood fibers like knives
  • Fine-grained sawdust is produced during sawing
  • A smaller tooth tip distance is sufficient to remove the sawdust
  • Cutting quality: very accurate

Hybrid (M) gearing:

  • Mixture of the above two types of gearing/tooth geometries
  • Suitable for cross, longitudinal and diagonal cuts
Entanglement

With non-interlocked teeth, the saw cut corresponds to the width of the saw blade, which is particularly necessary for very precise fine work and flush cuts.

With slightly crossed teeth, the saw cut is a touch thicker than the width of the blade, which prevents the saw blade from jamming

Length

The selection of the length of the saw blade depends on the workpiece - the following applies here: a little extra length allows efficient sawing movements.

We generally recommend using a saw blade whose length is approximately 2,5 times the diameter/width of the workpiece.

Since less experienced users tend to make short strokes, saws with a blade length of less than 180 mm are particularly suitable for beginners and do-it-yourselfers.

Thickness

For workpieces that require very precise work, it is recommended to use the thinnest possible saw blade (e.g. when connecting picture frames, making instruments, etc.)

cutting depth

The back reinforcement of the Dozuki saws only allows a limited cutting depth! With saws without back reinforcement, such as Kataba or Ryoba saws, there are no limits to the cutting depth.

Material

Depending on the material that is to be sawn, different saws are offered. In addition to the saws for wood, we offer our own saws for tree pruning and also those for other materials such as plaster, plastic and metal. Please pay attention to the detailed product descriptions!

Experience

For initial attempts at sawing across the grain, we recommend one Dozuki with back reinforcement and short saw blade – this one doesn’t bend so easily!

After getting used to the tension principle in the cross section is suitable a ryoba ideal for practicing longitudinal cuts.

 
 

SAWING CORRECTLY WITH A JAPANESE SAW – step by step instructions

  • The saw cut of a Japanese pull saw begins at the back, close to the handle. Hold the saw at the area you want to saw and use your thumb (carefully!!) to guide the blade a little bit until there is an incision in the wood.
  • Pull the saw towards you calmly - IMPORTANT: without pressure. Let the saw do its work! Complete the sawing movement smoothly and quickly, still without applying pressure and paying attention to the pulling movement.
  • Move the saw back to the starting position. Be careful not to press the saw into the wood as you move it forward. The saw blade must not be under tension while pushing.
  • When making a longitudinal cut, the wood is sawn in short strokes using the small triangular teeth near the handle. As soon as a secure saw joint has been created, saw in long strokes so that the larger teeth at the end of the saw blade are now used. ATTENTION: Steering Japanese saws in the created saw joint and thus making corrections is no longer possible!

RECOMMENDATION:

TIPS:

  • Take your time the first few times - make a steady, straight saw cut without sawing quickly or applying pressure.
    • If there is too much pressure, the saw teeth will get caught in the material
    • If the movements are too forceful, the saw blade can kink
  • Use a sample of wood – ideally softwood
  • Clamp the sample wood well so that you can fully concentrate on sawing
  • Just get used to the sawing motion of the Japanese pull saw! - This gives you a clean result and ensures a longer service life for the saw!
  • The long handle of traditional Japanese saws can also be held with two hands - but not too close to the saw blade!
  • Take your time to find the right angle! You have the most contact with the wood when you move almost horizontally. If necessary, the saw can also be held at a slight angle.

 
 

BLADE CHANGE

Blade change with a push button
push-button

Removing the saw blade: Hold the saw blade (with mouth guard) with a sturdy cloth or cut-resistant glove and press the button with the thumb of your free hand to release the blade. Pull the saw blade out of the holder.
Clamping the new saw blade: Now let the new saw blade snap into the holding device.

 

Clamping mechanism

Removing the saw blade: Hold the saw blade (with a tooth guard) with a sturdy cloth or cut-resistant glove and tap the handle on the workbench until the blade releases from the anchorage.
Attaching the new saw blade: Now hang the saw blade in the black holder on the handle. Make sure the hook on the blade is hooked into the clamp.
Fastening the saw blade: Gently tap the back of the clamping device on the workbench several times until the saw blade sits firmly in the handle.

Blade change via clamping mechanism Blade change via clamping mechanism Blade change via clamping mechanism

 

Screw connection
Blade change via screw mechanism

Removing the saw blade: Loosen the blade by turning the wheel on the bottom of the handle or by unscrewing a screw with the screwdriver.
Fastening the saw blade: Insert the new saw blade into the screw connection and retighten the wheel or screw before use.


DANGER!
Always use the enclosed mouthguard when changing saw blades!

 
 

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Good care ensures a long service life!

  • Protect your teeth when not in use – Slide the saw into a cardboard/plastic protector or wrap it with a cloth. This also prevents unnecessary accidents!
  • Store the saw in a clean and dry place
  • Never hold the saw blade with your fingers, but always with a cloth or glove. Clean the saw from time to time with a clean cloth and a little oil or universal spray.
  • With the Tree resin remover Yanipika keep your saw blade optimally clean!
  • When not in use for a long period of time, oil the saw blade to avoid rust film - We recommend Camellia oil. IMPORTANT: Be sure to clean before next use to avoid traces of oil on the workpiece!

 
 

QUALITY FEATURES

You can recognize good quality:

  • On the processing of the saw blade
    Is the saw blade smooth and even or does it feel a little rough and are there any unevenness visible?
  • At the hardening method
    The hardening of the teeth can be recognized by discoloration of the teeth. On good saws, only the tips are discolored - excessive discoloration is not a good sign.    
  • On the gearing
    The tooth setting of high-quality Japanese saws is difficult to see and very regular. There should also be no visible deformations on the top of the teeth.
  • On the handle
    With high-quality saws, the saw blade sits correctly in the handle. The handle is well made and there are no excess adhesive residues.

 
 

THE MANUFACTURERS OF JAPANESE SAWS

TAKAGI

The perfect combination of tradition and innovation - functionality and design!

Founded in 1866 by Gihei Takahashi, the eighth-generation family business has over 150 years of experience in the production of award-winning Japanese saws and other tools such as knives and chisels.

Takagi's company ideology is based on combining traditional technologies with innovation and functionality with design.

The company founder and master blacksmith Gihei Takahashi made a major contribution to the further development of traditional Japanese saws. His knowledge and experience are passed on from generation to generation.

A strict, sophisticated production line system and qualified employees in finishing and quality control guarantee the high and uncompromising quality of the TAKAGI brand.

Product features:

  • Saw blades made from high quality Japanese steel - SK-5 tool steel, known for its exceptional sharpness and durability
  • With induction hardened teeth:
    • Only the surface of the teeth is heat treated with this hardening technique - this means the teeth remain sharp for a longer period of time and are more robust
    • The remaining part of the tooth and the saw blade remain relatively soft and flexible
    • This technology increases the service life of the saw blade - it eliminates the need for frequent replacement or regrinding of the saw blade
    • Hardened to 68 – 71 HRC (Hardeness Rockwell Cone)
  • The lowest possible friction using three different surface treatment techniques
    • Minimizing contact friction through polishing
    • Minimizing surface contact by tapering the saw blade
    • Minimizing surface contact using a hollow ground blade
  • Interchangeable saw blades - A simple saw blade changing system allows you to quickly switch between saw blades with different tooth configurations for different applications in wood and other materials
  • handles:
    • Standard – traditional wooden handle wrapped in bamboo
    • Plastic handle with push button technology
    • 2-component “Softgrip” – plastic handle with push-button technology

TAKAGI Shark Saw series:

Sharp teeth like a shark are the trademark of the world-famous “Shark Saw” saws – popular with professionals and discerning home craftsmen.

The large selection of saw types in the Shark Saw series offers the perfect saw for every use in woodworking, from carpentry to model or instrument making, in tree care and when processing other materials such as plastic or metal.

About the special features of the TAGAGI Shark Saw Pro Count series:

  • the traditional saw blade
  • the ergonomic handle - gives the traditional saw blade a western touch/shape
  • a simple saw blade change using a handy push button

GYOKUCHO

GYOKUCHO – Originals from Japan

Gyokucho Japanese saws – smooth cuts, finest kerfs, long-lasting sharpness

The company GYOKUCHO/RAZORSAW, founded in 1969, is a well-known manufacturer of Japanese saws that produces interchangeable blade hand saws for precise wood connections in Miki City.

Product features:

  • The special surface treatment with a micro-thin nickel coating prevents rust and tarnishing of the blade
  • Laser marking of the blade – product name, blade thickness, blade length and item number are listed
  • Induction hardening – heating the surface of each tooth once: the inner core remains flexible, which increases the service life of the blades. It is not possible to regrind induction-hardened blades
  • handles:
    • Wooden handle wrapped in rattan
    • Plastic “soft grip” handle