How many of you guys switch between Western-style and Japanese-style saws when working on your projects? I've got a solid Disston rip saw and a decent crosscut saw that I'm currently tuning up. However, I'm missing a good dovetail saw. I'm interested in getting the Temple Tools dovetail saw, but I'm wondering if my inexperience will lead to any issues if I jump back and forth between the two styles. What do you think?
5 Answers
I struggled with Western saws for the longest time until I tried a Japanese saw. It felt like a game changer! The pull saw cuts so cleanly and feels more intuitive to me. I now comfortably tackle long rip cuts. It also might depend on your workbench setup, but I get better results with the pull saw, honestly.
I can't seem to get ripping right with pull saws. No matter how I position the wood or hold the saw, it always curves on me.
I switch between the two without any issues! I often prefer Western saws for hardwoods but use pull saws for softwoods like cedar. If you're going for dovetailing, having both means you can use the right tool for the job.
Also, after years of using both styles, I’ve noticed that each serves a purpose. Western saws are fantastic for strong cuts, while Japanese saws excel at finer, cleaner cuts. Just don’t limit yourself to one or the other; you might miss out!
I prefer Western saws for joinery because I feel like I can control them better, but I keep Japanese saws on hand for specific cuts. Honestly, I think it's all about finding a system and sticking with it long enough to get good. Plus, Japanese saws tend to be way cheaper!
I actually found that switching back and forth improved my skills with both types! It’s all about getting comfortable and figuring out what works best for you, but the transition hasn’t given me any grief at all.
I totally agree! The flexibility of the pull saw makes correcting deviations so much easier. I recently cut some legs for a project and went from using a Western saw, which was out of square, to a pull saw, and the difference was night and day!