Japanese Handsaws: The Maebiki Ooga
covingtonandsons.com
covingtonandsons.com
For example, the article talks about the bimetal construction of this saw, using expensive and rare high-quality steel only for the teeth (this efficient use of rare metal is also the driving force behind the design of the katana). This is harder to make than a full-steel tool.
Japanese saws are typically very thin, again requiring much less metal. This means that the saws cut on a pull stroke, rather than a push stroke like European saws. Since the saw is much more flexible this requires more skill. But you end up with a very thin kerf and minimal waste.
Much traditional Japanese carpentry involves complex joints made of hardwood, not typically fastened with metal (e.g., nails, screws). The amount of slop you’d see in an 18th-century metal-fastened European joint would have been unthinkable to a contemporaneous Japanese carpenter.
I tried my hand at a few for years and never produced anything worth using in a project around my home. I’m nothing like good at wood working, but it was humbling anyway. They did so much more than I can with a lot less than I’ve got.
I guess they had time, mentors, and a culture valuing skilled craftsmanship on their side.
I also found it quite humbling. But I take a little comfort in, that was their job, man. It's our hobby. I tell myself if I spent 10 years at that instead of poking at computers, I'd do a lot better. (That may not be true, but it's what I tell myself)
Absolutely. I'm not going to pretend programming is a superhuman capability (it's increasingly unremarkable), but building large interactive and automated systems which run entire businesses must be similarly impressive on some level. I know my work is a bit like lego at times, but I also build bespoke, interesting, even challenging systems.
Maybe some day when developers almost exclusively use AI to do what I do now, they'll look back at my work and think "Man, that's impressive. I tried writing [some application] for a couple years using nothing but Rust, but it turned out awful. It's insane what these people did with a keyboard and a programming language".
Durability is the other thing. Much Japanese architecture was very open to the elements, and the joints had to hold solid with seasonable movement. A simple metal fastener like a screw will not do that. Even in a climate-controlled environment most metal-assisted joints are ephemeral compared with simple old tech like wood-to-wood joints and hide glue.
There’s also a lot to be said for craft for the sake of it. Once you have every other problem solved — efficiency, cost, durability — why not make it beautiful? I don’t think this extends to every human endeavor. Ornament is often a hazard to maintainability (e.g., an old Bugatti, a new Ferrari, most software), but not always. This type of joinery is complex so that it is maintainable, which is fascinating to me.
If you don’t have adhesives, you use more complex joinery to achieve results.
But I believe it was also a desire to have beautifully crafted strong joints.
However, rice glue is surprisingly strong when used correctly.
WOOD JOINTS IN CLASSICAL JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
By Torashichi Sumiyoshi And Gengo Matsui
Is a great resource.
“We can only marvel at the solutions adopted. They took into account time dependent process, such as shrinkage or slippage caused by dynamic loading. The intricacy of hte internal structure of the joint si hidden yb the apparent simplicity of its appearance. Various shapes connect into each other with ease. This wisdom si the result of years of patient work; we have much to learn from ing worldwide. is mentioned ni the authors' comments. The purpose of this book Nowadays, joints are made using metal parts. The splices and connecting joints have become much simpler. It si now possible to construct large wooden structures using standard processes. However, the uncertain properties of wood have brought forward the problem of weakening of the joints. This work goes back to the fundamental of joining. It is recommended to all technicians and also to architects and engineers. Yukihiro Kamiyama Professor, Waseda University it.”
Japanese non-disposible saws seem quite beefy and more comparable to western saws in thickness. The super thin disposibles are a modern innovation (impulse hardening not being available in the Edo period...). Also, western joinery saws are very thin.
The fact that it is flexible does not affect its use because it doesn't flex when you pull it, so that's not something you have to worry about. In fact they are ideal beginner saws because they are higher quality (than, say, whatever you can get at home depot for $40) and don't need to be sharpened (because these days they are all replaceable).
> Much traditional Japanese carpentry involves complex joints made of hardwood,
Actually most Japanese woods are quite soft. Most japanese planes wouldn't be able to handle Maple or Hickory, to say nothing of the harder exotics.
> not typically fastened with metal (e.g., nails, screws).
Timberframing is a uncommon but definitely still a thing in the US and Europe. And 2x4 stick framing with metal fasteners is also a thing in Japan, having gained popularity b/c of its simplicity in recent decades.
> The amount of slop you’d see in an 18th-century metal-fastened European joint would have been unthinkable to a contemporaneous Japanese carpenter.
I'd put 18th century european fine furniture against japanese fine furniture any day. It's not until the 20th century that you saw a decline in western skills. The secret to the japanese is that they kept the tradition and skills alive, whereas in the west it's had to be revived.
I’ve got a handful of forged 240mm ryoba annd dozuki in my shop that are notably thinner than disposables according to my digital calipers
> And 2x4 stick framing with metal fasteners is also a thing in Japan, having gained popularity b/c of its simplicity in recent decades.
Agreed. I’ve heard nearly all new construction is stud construction these days.
> Most japanese planes wouldn't be able to handle Maple or Hickory, to say nothing of the harder exotics.
I often see this repeated in online woodworking forums but my experience here has been different albeit limited to kanna blades from two makers.
> I'd put 18th century european fine furniture against japanese fine furniture any day. It's not until the 20th century that you saw a decline in western skills.
Agreed here too. Furniture studies from that time period make this evident. Western tools from that time period don’t differ as much either.
They are bedded at roughly 40 degrees (nothing to do with the metal, admittedly). Unless there's another factor at play, I don't see how that'd work for a smoother on 1500+ janka woods.
Sounds like Ruby (which comes from Japan). The metaprogramming can be really efficient, but it requires skill to know when and when not to use it.
Ironically, I prefer pre-World War II Stanley hand planes over Japanese hand planes, but likely because I learned all the meticulous methods of restoring and truing them to get those addictive gossamer shavings.
I follow Shoyan Japanese Carpenter on youtube. Worth a watch or three. https://m.youtube.com/@ShoyanJapaneseCarpenter/videos
I respect carpentry, woodworking and the skill required to rip a piece of wood with such a saw, but I bet most of medieval Japanese craftsmen would ditch their hands saws for a Harbor Freight table saw in a heartbeat. In modern times to spend 7 hours ripping one piece of wood has little to do with woodworking.
Speed isn't more important than having respect for your craft. If you have to go slower to produce a better result, you go slower. If you have to work harder to perfect an incredibly tight joint, you do that. You don't have to use traditional joinery to build in Japan today. But if you build something in a shitty way, it reflects poorly on you.
Efficiency is not the goal.
The article is specifically talking about a large saw. A modern mill is gonna do a much better job ripping large pieces of wood, then 3 dudes sawing for hours and constantly resharpening their tools. A good joint is the one that holds the load well. A non-masochistic way of building things is not shitty, it simply means you are did get trapped in a cult thinking.
> Efficiency is not the goal. If you are into wood cutting, then sure. Go for it. Cut it in any way you want, with any imaginable tool. But then it's wood cutting, not building things.
Made between 1933-1941, $69 plus shipping, and probably ready to start hogging away at some rough lumber.
An interesting alternative (and high-tech) approach is the Jointmaker Pro from Bridge City Tool Works:
https://bridgecitytools.com/collections/jointmaker-pro
which turns the saw upside down, and instead has one moving the stock past it. I find it quite handy for cutting apart boxes made on my CNC machines:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/cutting-boxes-and-a-new-to...
Originally founded by John Economaki:
https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/john-economaki-designer-o...
the company has since been acquired by a Chinese company and production has shifted to China --- daily sales have become a central aspect of the company's business model --- they seem to use them for ensuring cash flow (often a given item has a limited number available, so FOMO drives purchasing) and adjusting inventory (though that latter is just a reasonable surmise).
Information about using and maintaining woodworking tools, especially Japanese chisels, planes and handsaws
Find me an Instagram account this spellbinding and I will eat my hat.
Brought an Ooga for a friend via plane from Japan to Germany, to be used for building Clavichords [1] in Venice of all things. Barely fit into our travel bag and looked ridiculous at check-in. Fun times.
It's funny but I look at that picture and think they could be a happy couple talking to each other. It's a pity that the website owner chose to insert a stereotyped assumption.
Harbor Freight sells a cheap Japanese hand saw and am always happy to use it. It seems with a taller blade though, deep cuts are difficult due to friction/binding forces on the blade. Curious how the tall blade shown works out - am sure it does fine but curious on feel
Makes me wonder how we ended up sitting at a desk.
May be subjective, but nobody involved appears to be having a good time.
I liked the video though, thanks.