The line closer to you is the date of creation: Year of Showa 56 October 6th. Showa 56 is 1981. The line closer to the camera is the smith's name and his personal stamp. I lived in Japan and studied Japanese for 40 years now, I did check with my wife (shes Japanese) to be sure. His brushwork is ... 'artistic' ...
Thank you so much for translating that! I was hoping somebody could. So the saw is in fact 40+ years old, AND I actually share a birthday with this saw. That feels serendipitous somehow.
This is why I love Japanese craftsmen. The simplest little details like this just create a deeper connection to the tool or knife. Their dedication to their art is inspiring
Your beautiful Dozuki was made by the greatest sawmaker of the last 100 years, Miyano Tetsunosuke. His son, Miayon Dai Endo (also known as Yataiki), was my favorite teacher. It is 1worked together 100% certain that they made this saw together in their traditional reed and mud forge in Miki City. I have many Miyano saws (noko giri) but only one Dozuki, a 190mm which is much smaller than your 240mm (measured along the length of the edge). All Miyanop saws are special and all are superior to any others available to us today, so congratulations on your purchase and high praise to Mr. Giffrow for pinting you to the very best that there is. I know you will enjoy your wonderful saw for many many years. Please refrain from touching the teeth with our fingertips (unless you are lod like me and your fingers no longer leave corrosive deposits on steel). Excellent viseo, thank you so much for presenting it.
i used to be carpenter , framing, then some furniture and then one day i was using a router with sawdust spit in my face. i just stopped and thought i don't want to do this any more. then i bought hand tools and i make little boxes and im happy. i think that vids like this is what makes you channel great . its a movement . it is, its a thing. in our society. progress is not bigger better faster, progress is harmony
Hey mark I really appreciate this comment. I’m currently a carpenter (a framer for the most part). Trying to get into building furniture and woodworking and I feel like a total fish out of water and don’t know how to make this transition. Any advice?
well star off with douglas and pine. your used to that kinda wood from 2bys. select pine can make good furniture dont feel you gota spend a bunch of money on hard wood that is a very different material then what your used to. the thing that got me was storage i sold a lot but also a lot of it sat in storage and that cost money. a lot of wood workers end up makin more on commotions because they know its going some where. @@robr601
Endo Tomomitsu (later “Yataiki”) was also an accomplished calligrapher, so ‘artistic’ calligraphy is appropriate :) He made several trips to the US over the years to demonstrate and teach blacksmithing, sawmaking and metate (saw maintenance and repair). He inspired many people in the US to learn new skills and to refine the skills we had. He invited many of us to visit him in Japan and a few of us to study with him. He left a lasting impression on all who knew him. Take good care of the saw, he would be happy to know it is being used.
@djburnard; Thank you for telling more of the story. The maker/teacher/"artist" sounds like someone who has had positive effects on many, many people, which, indeed, makes the appreciation of his work, in this video, a delight.
7:00 It’s written 昭和五十九年十月吉日 on the first line. It means “on a good day in October, year of Showa 59 (1984).” So, your guess is correct. The second line is 宮野智光作. It’s the same as the box surface, but it’s written in more cursive style. It means “Made by Tomomitsu Miyano.” By the way, Miyano is pronounced like “Me-Yeah-No.” it’s more close to Japanese pronunciation.
So the box is likely made of paulownia… a very soft wood that they use for boxes like that. Great stuff. I’m really glad you like it my dude. Hopefully when I come to Philly I can show you some differences in how I cut stuff using Japanese saws.
If the tool inspires you, it’s worth the money (if you can afford it). I just joined a new band which gave me the excuse to buy a new bass….and I finally bought a US made Fender. Do I need it? No. Do I feel better playing it than the Mexican bass it replaced, YES. Am I playing better because of the US made quality? NO. Am I playing better because I love the bass and am playing more? YES. But, does the new bass keep me out of the workshop? Maybe😂
Re “cheap” Gyokucho-style replaceable bladed saws, assuming I’m not the 15th person to say this: 1. They give an excellent result in practiced hands, see Dylan Iwakuni and Shoyan, & 2. Hand made Japanese saws need sharpening. Which isn’t so easy outside of Japan…
That look of happiness on your face justifies the cost. With that said I do think it makes you a better woodworker. Your increased happiness to do a task you want to be good at will contribute to making you better. Love your content. Love the conversation!
This is a special video: To me this is the moment a hand crafted saw gets its first use and starts it's life! A great craftsman using a tool a great craftsman made, is an experience. This is why I started woodworking and using old well made tools. I feel I am making heirloom pieces using heirloom tools. Chis is great!
I’m at a place where beautiful, handmade tools are definitely worth it. I was surprised that you hadn’t been able to straighten the saw with the bow, though. I have the same saw, and it too was bowed, but a few taps straightened it out.
Last summer I went to the incredible Sagami Tool Store an hour out of Tokyo. They carry a lot of hand crafted tools by artisans for exceptionally reasonable prices. So something on par to this would likely be found for half if not cheaper. Especially with the current exchange rate. Next time go to Japan, I need to return and look for a saw. Last time I got fantastic chisels, sharpening stones, and a plane.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to go there the next time I'm anywhere near Tokyo. Do you happen to know of any similar stores in the Osaka or Kyoto area? (I live in the Kyoto area.)
Actually really enjoyed this. Sometimes things just feel better than other things. Like the feel of certain pens.. They glide “different” and feel better in your hands and make you enjoy writing and trying to write your best. I’m sure this translates well to a tool that is made by a master whose goal is to give you that experience. If you know how to wield the tool well enough you’ll feel the difference and it’ll totally impact the experience, therefore will have an impact on the results too. Enjoy your saw!
I bought a Japanese pull saw some years ago and loved it so much I used it all the time and even turned the blades round in my hacksaws to cut on the pull, finding they worked much better. I recently had to replace it and got a rip toothed one as well. The quality of the cut is so much better than push cut saws and the length of the handle makes for easier fast, or fine cutting.
Extolling the existential pleasures of the woodworking craft is where you shine. Watching your joy as you unpacked, setup and brought an exquisite tool to life was priceless.
RE: how to store/hang the thing - how about looking at some display racks for katanas and: 1) adapt to wall mount, and 2) make it with a slot for the blade end that eep teeth straight up, and 3) pad the handle end with felt
The word you were looking for is ‘gestalt’… the entirety of the thing is more than just the sum of it’s individual parts. Enjoyed the video, got a Japanese handsaw for Christmas so you’ve inspired me to get out and practice some dovetails - thanks
A very refreshing video! Too many woodworkers get wrapped up in the acquisition of tools and the false thinking that it will make you a better woodworker. I know that I'm guilty of that as well. I love that you teach in context that you can build wonderful items with basic tools with the emphasis on learning the skills first. My grandfather never owned a premium high end tool but created some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture I've ever seen. Thank you for being a wonderful teacher and mentor!
WOW! I mean WOW! Just looking at that saw was just a treat in itself. Your friend really hooked you up. What workmanship in that saw. Now I must have one.
What a lovely saw. Their craftsmanship in swords, knives, chisels, planes and apparently saws too is so different, finesse over force, flow instead of brutishness. On another note, I was surprised to see you haven’t measured an inch on the saw and counted the teeth. Great video and informative as always.
The saw is beautiful, but I have to disagree about the craftsmanship part, and especially the brute force. Well made western tools are precice and pleasing to use, and western swords are often lighter and/better balanced than Japanese ones.
Very, very cool. I would be so torn between using it, and hanging it on my wall in a glass case to preserve it. It feels like it borders on something that would one day be a historical artifact; but, as you said, the maker forged the saw to be used, not to be kept in a glass display case, and using it is what should be done.
Erik, you can pack more information into a video than just about any other maker I’ve watched. Well done, and thensome! I always pour myself a cup of coffee before I sit down to watch your latest offering. Great way for a retired furniture maker to start the day! You touched on something that is very important to understand, and I have no doubt you understand it implicitly. We work with our hands, but it is our brain that is in control of how we do that. A well made tool accentuates that process by increasing the brains ability to command the primary controls, and removes or limits the ways our hands and muscles can stray from that control. You touched on why that type of saw feels and or works better. The long handle against your forearm makes it much easier to hold your line. The extended tang where you place your index finger does that also and gives you instant feedback on how your saw is performing. Pull saws require less control to keep them straight than push saws thus allowing your brain to focus more on the work and less on what your hands, arms, and body are trying to do to screw things up. The man that made that saw built it with an understanding of how you actually optimize the use of it. The sound of that saw cutting through the wood jumps out at you in a way that screams perfection! It sounds smoother than most dovetail saws. That is a product of thin blade, high TPI, tooth angle and rake, sharpness, and ergonomics. It was like music as you pulled that saw through the kerf. You have a real tool makers masterpiece in that saw. Thank you for sharing it with us! Oh, and by the way, it is worth every cent you paid for it. 😊
Thanks for this. I think the factor of helping to support superior craftspeople and tool makers is not to be minimized. I think it is worth a lot. I am always glad to pay for excellence.
I continue to enjoy your style of video, all of the internal dialog made public. Just a delight, and also you inspire me to get into the shop! ...just need it to be warmer than 20degrees🥶
Great answer on if it is worth buying... I don't think anybody could have put that in better words... If you have the money it is worth it because of the feeling it gives you... If you don't, your money is better spent somewhere else. Outstanding answer. I really was curious if the saw was worth it... Thank you!!
Another great video, thanks for the content. Seems fitting to somehow display the saw similarly to a wall mounted katana holder and possibly incorporate the box within the design to showcase all the facets of the saws craftsmanship.
I love those "cheap" Japanese dovetail saws! Prefer pull saws. I bought a beautiful Lie Nielsen dovetail saw and I HATE it🙁 I also bought one of those Crown Gent saws and it sucked, came dull and bent! The perfect dovetail saw is the one you'll use and enjoy! Congratulations on your beautiful new NOS saw, ENjoy!!
I think maybe the step in the blade at the tang end gives you a less obstructed line of sight to the cutting edge. You're sighting around the top edge of the blade instead of the top edge of the handle.
Man oh man Erik, sometimes you get really deep into things, makes it hard for this old jarhead to get into. But your enthusiasm is great to see. You have a passion for your work that is outstanding. Tools are a way that makes most men happy. Carry on and go for it. Semper Fi.
This is a comment for the machine, and so for the man. (Does that make sense?) I enjoyed this video very much, Erik. You ventured into a personal space that is hard to explain. And, yet, we all have that space and our experience may resonate with yours. If it doesn't, then there is still something to explore. It's not scientific (objective measurement is not possible) but it's real as in something one can experience and recognize.
Fun and agree! Great tools are just that, great. I can tell you were a shop teacher by the way you remove the chip breaker from the plane iron,. I was a shop teacher (5-12) but I did not last, not good at relating to the ages
Value is a state of mind. While you can certainly use less expensive hand tools and get the same result, it isn't everyday that you can use a piece of art. A Beetle will get me where I want to go, but my Boxster is so much more of a pleasure to drive.
The "heel" of the saw that you noticed is for starting the cut. Some have a shallow set of teeth, allowing to make a super shallow but accurate cut to start. A feature that I love.
Delightful video featuring a great tool! I've been eyeballing a set of Japanese chisels from the same era. There's something special about a tool that you'll use for the rest of your career, so you might as well get something that sparks your sense of wonder!!! BTW, I've been working my way through your back catalog. Your channel has great stuff brother.
It looks like the straight handle on a saw gives the ergonomics of a chef knife, super good for precise cuts, which is probably why you preferred your old straight handle one over time. I noticed that I pinch my blade with index and thumb for short saws or chisels the same way I do with knives in the kitchen (I’m just a hobbyist in both domains). When I see Curtis’ index on the side of the blade that’s exactly the feeling it gives
Beautiful saw. I'm hoping to start getting more handmade tools. I've spent a lot of time saving money for some very specific kitchen knives for the exact reason you made this video; because they feel special to use when you find the right one
I haven't started woodworking yet; that's waiting for my retirement in a year. I have sewn garments for decades, though, and I see a lot of big-picture parallels between the two crafts. One is with quality equipment. Two years after starting to sew I replaced my mediocre first sewing machine with a very expensive high-end machine, and unsurprisingly I did not immediately become more skilled. However, the speed at which my skills increased was dramatic because my machine was no longer getting in my way. The same thing, in a much less expensive way, was also true of cutting and measuring equipment. I'm forty years older and wiser now and I don't need *all* the nice things *right now.* I won't start woodworking with cheap tools but I won't rush out to buy the most expensive ones I can find, either. People tell me there is a thriving second-hand market that I should investigate, and I'll take that advice.
I think that's a brilliant point. It's not that your skills increased immediately. It's that the speed at which your skills did increase was faster due to the machine not getting in the way 👏
I have a Japanese fret slot cutting saw for guitar making. I use it for a ton of other things because of how nice it works for fine detail work. I’d be curious how it compares.
Asian/Japanese saws are typically designed to be used 2 handed. That will tend to counteract subconscious twisting by the user. My experience with pull saws dramatically improved. I thank Toshio Odate for that bit of advice every time I use one.
How can you make fine motor movements with two hands? I know they use two for timber framing and such. But it seems highly counterintuitive for dovetails. Was it hard to learn?
That was effing honest. If you can afford it, why not? I’ve restored classic cars, have an art/sculpture background and now am dabbling in furniture. I have a love for hand tools. I can understand your respect and “feeling” for the saw. It’s like Excalibur.
Two things: Best video yet - the angst over moving up to handmade Japanese master tools is SOOO real =>, and ... Yes, nice tools are really nice to use. I couldn't agree more with this video. Well done - good advise!
The red stamp is called Inkan which is the master signature. Is hand made in an ivory, wood or plastic and is unique and official. Even more, is so unique and official that you can or should use it to sign official government documents.
As much as I can appreciate the time and effort that went into the making and no doubt the history behind it, Master Smith or not, somewhat of an antique since he has retired. No saw that's $500 "makes" you a better woodworker. But do enjoy your purchase as its worth entirely what you feel comfortable paying for it!
It was great fun to watch this "spoiled woodworker video"! I wish you many, many years to enjoy this excellent piece and thanks for sharing your thoughts about over the top expensive, but oh so well designed and created tools for woodworking.
The thing that jumped out at me the moment you put the saw to wood, was how silent it was and how it let the cut sing. With most cheaper Eastern style pull saws, when you use them, you can hear the saw as much as you can the cut, but that saw was seemed to be dead silent. It was wonderful. Though i never have that sort of money to spend on a tool, i would totally buy it in a heart beat if i had the money in my pocket, even if it meant eating potatoes or rice for a week.
This high quality tool is perfect for this particular high quality woodworker. The value of an object is in the eye of the beholder. Dovetail drawers are really more for looks and preference. One of the best cabinet makers in my area does not do dovetails and my drawers are rock solid. Having said that, my deep desire is to have dovetail drawers when I start building cabinets in my new home.
I think I enjoyed you purchase and joy of this new tool as much as you did. Additionally I like what you say about practice, if you practice anything incorrectly long enough you’ll become proficient at doing it incorrectly ! One of your finest videos !!
Back in my days of building science consulting I had the pleasure of doing several projects with a terrific architect. A couple of office buildings, a museum, a school. Functional buildings. He told me that the one thing he wanted to put into every building was delight. He wanted to have some feature that people would see every day and smile or go "AHH!" A little thing that would improve the every day experience of someone using the building. That's the experience the saw maker was going for. And I'm sure that's your goal with your pieces as well. But I'm not going to be looking for a $500.00 saw. I have never gotten along with inline handles, push or pull. I am glad that it delights you.
Fun fact, that was something Walt Disney wanted in his home. There is an apartment inside of Disneyland that was designed for him and his wife, and each room has something "magic."" In one of the children's rooms, a train comes in and goes around. In the master bath, when you're in the bathtub, the ceiling turns into a dark sky filled with stars. Since getting a tour of that place, that's something I've taken with me into my own homes and things I build. Can I give myself or others a little magic or delight. Life can be delightful, and we're allowed to have fun. Even adults deserve a little magic. I didn't expect to be reminded of that on a woodworker's video about a saw, but to my delight, here we are 😂
Great video, congratulations on your new saw, it’s beautiful! On the value of things, how they make you feel is also value. I just got two new hand planes, a 51/2 Clifton and a 7 Juuma. The Juuma was half the price of the Clifton. Does the Juuma work as well? Yes. Is it a quality tool? Yes. Does the Jumna make me smile? No. Does the Clifton? O my god yes!! It’s a work of art and my favourite plane now!
I too recently got myself a clifton 5 1/2. I completely agree with your statement. Was close to just buying a woodriver/luban but with living Newcastle (few hours north of Sheffield) and my dad always telling me of Sheffield steel growing up, i thought the extra price on a Clifton over some Chinese factory cast was worth it. Amazing hand plane and so pleased with paying that little more for something made with care.
I bought myself a Bad Axe dovetail saw when they first came out. A couple years later Lee Valley had their trio of small back saws on sale, so I grabbed them. It didn't take long for my hand to drift towards the Lee Valley saws rather than the expensive Bad Axe. It's beautiful and all but the others just seem to fit my hand and I tend to cut more accurately with them. I really wanted to like the Bad Axe but...I just didn't. Not the way I like the Lee Valley saws. So I like to look at the Bad Axe one but not enough to keep it. Not at triple the price. of my others. I guess in the end it's all personal. The review was great by the way. You made it both fun and informative. Thx, as always.
Thanks Erik. Another great video with lots of information, some artistic appreciation, some humanity, a bit of woodworking skill and, of course, entertainment thrown in for good measure. I love the mix.
Interesting take. I have fancy Veritas western saws that I love, and I’ve bought really cheap pull saws on amazon that aren’t the best. But I also have suizan mid priced saws that are awesome. Way cheaper than a good western saw but not crap in any way. I’m not at your level making wise though so maybe as I get more experienced I’ll notice the difference more
Beautiful saw! The way that thing seated perfectly on the handle was extremely satisfying. Although plebeian in comparison I really enjoy using my Gyocucho razor saws. A bit flimsy but they do cut wonderfully if you let them do the work. Do you know if that blade can be sharpened? Or does the tooth pattern/hardness level make it too difficult like the cheaper saws?
I was happy to see he seated it like an axe is seated on its handle, tapping from the heel. I too am curious as to the degree of temper; is it resharpenable or not?
Fantastic..as a 60 year old joiner/carpenter here in the UK who loves tools this is brilliant. I am just in this moment trying to decide if it is worth investing in a new tool myself, not a hand tool but a small cordless version of a tool many people are saying is way too expensive. However...I don't really care much for peoples opinions on if it is too expensive, I care more for peoples opinions on if it is worth the money if you have it to spend. And for this reason I have chosen to spend the money on it. It suits my needs, it's compact accurate and if Im honest it makes me want to cut wood with it. Imagine having tools that make you actually want to use them, that make you smile and actually say 'oh ye' out loud when you use them. Sometimes you can justify the cost quite easily by the sense of joy you get using it. .....you just made me spend £1500 guilty as charged lol.
If Japanese saw smithing utilizes the same techniques as sword smithing, the coloration at the end of the tang is indicitive that the tang was not hardened during heat treatment. Given the color difference between the tang and blade, I'd wager that this is the case. Lovely craftsmanship. I wonder if the steel it is constructed with was made in the traditional tatara process.
Look, I gotta ask... Can you do a tutorial on dovetails? I'm not a stranger to the joint, and I'm sure it's mostly experience, but you cut the TIGHTEST dovetails! Besides, I really like how you explain things as I'm sure most of us here do.
Being a lover of craftsmanship that saw is amazing and gorgeous but at this point in live I have more important things that I need to buy with $500 but if I could I would.
You should find a nice piece of wood and inlay magnets and use that to hold your saw. I have a fridge in my shop and currently I have all of my saws hanging on the side of the fridge with magnets, but one of my shop projects this year will be too properly hang them with the rest of my tools in this way. Watching you do something similar would help motivate me, so I have to admit, my motives in suggesting this project are completely self-serving.
Would be interesting to see you dive more into other cultures tools and woodworking, I'd especially like to see you try some complex Japanese joinery with their relevant tools.
Those Asian pull saws do cut very nice but I'll stick to my old disstons. The wooden box is probably paulownia. Light weight, bug/rot resistant and used quite a bit in asia.
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The line closer to you is the date of creation: Year of Showa 56 October 6th. Showa 56 is 1981. The line closer to the camera is the smith's name and his personal stamp.
I lived in Japan and studied Japanese for 40 years now, I did check with my wife (shes Japanese) to be sure. His brushwork is ... 'artistic' ...
Great info, wow that saw is one year my junior ! 😳😂
Thank you so much for translating that! I was hoping somebody could. So the saw is in fact 40+ years old, AND I actually share a birthday with this saw. That feels serendipitous somehow.
@@ENCurtisthat’s awesome
This is why I love Japanese craftsmen. The simplest little details like this just create a deeper connection to the tool or knife. Their dedication to their art is inspiring
@ENCurtis You own an autograph from the master saw smith. It looks like inked by the author.
Your beautiful Dozuki was made by the greatest sawmaker of the last 100 years, Miyano Tetsunosuke. His son, Miayon Dai Endo (also known as Yataiki), was my favorite teacher. It is 1worked together 100% certain that they made this saw together in their traditional reed and mud forge in Miki City. I have many Miyano saws (noko giri) but only one Dozuki, a 190mm which is much smaller than your 240mm (measured along the length of the edge). All Miyanop saws are special and all are superior to any others available to us today, so congratulations on your purchase and high praise to Mr. Giffrow for pinting you to the very best that there is. I know you will enjoy your wonderful saw for many many years. Please refrain from touching the teeth with our fingertips (unless you are lod like me and your fingers no longer leave corrosive deposits on steel). Excellent viseo, thank you so much for presenting it.
i used to be carpenter , framing, then some furniture and then one day i was using a router with sawdust spit in my face. i just stopped and thought i don't want to do this any more. then i bought hand tools and i make little boxes and im happy. i think that vids like this is what makes you channel great . its a movement . it is, its a thing. in our society. progress is not bigger better faster, progress is harmony
I agree. For some of us, it’s about the journey and the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. I call it “peace”.
Hey mark I really appreciate this comment. I’m currently a carpenter (a framer for the most part). Trying to get into building furniture and woodworking and I feel like a total fish out of water and don’t know how to make this transition. Any advice?
well star off with douglas and pine. your used to that kinda wood from 2bys. select pine can make good furniture dont feel you gota spend a bunch of money on hard wood that is a very different material then what your used to. the thing that got me was storage i sold a lot but also a lot of it sat in storage and that cost money. a lot of wood workers end up makin more on commotions because they know its going some where. @@robr601
Well said.
progress is harmony
Endo Tomomitsu (later “Yataiki”) was also an accomplished calligrapher, so ‘artistic’ calligraphy is appropriate :) He made several trips to the US over the years to demonstrate and teach blacksmithing, sawmaking and metate (saw maintenance and repair). He inspired many people in the US to learn new skills and to refine the skills we had.
He invited many of us to visit him in Japan and a few of us to study with him. He left a lasting impression on all who knew him. Take good care of the saw, he would be happy to know it is being used.
I will do my best to keep it well used and well loved 👊
@djburnard;
Thank you for telling more of the story. The maker/teacher/"artist" sounds like someone who has had positive effects on many, many people, which, indeed, makes the appreciation of his work, in this video, a delight.
7:00 It’s written 昭和五十九年十月吉日 on the first line. It means “on a good day in October, year of Showa 59 (1984).” So, your guess is correct.
The second line is 宮野智光作. It’s the same as the box surface, but it’s written in more cursive style. It means “Made by Tomomitsu Miyano.”
By the way, Miyano is pronounced like “Me-Yeah-No.” it’s more close to Japanese pronunciation.
Piano with an m.
So the box is likely made of paulownia… a very soft wood that they use for boxes like that. Great stuff. I’m really glad you like it my dude. Hopefully when I come to Philly I can show you some differences in how I cut stuff using Japanese saws.
On camera!
@@paracite lmao
Any suggestions for how I could source something similar (I’m UK based however)
Same wood the japanese use to create traditional drawers for storing kimonos.
@@thecarlob_007 oh that would totally make sense. Very breathable.
If the tool inspires you, it’s worth the money (if you can afford it). I just joined a new band which gave me the excuse to buy a new bass….and I finally bought a US made Fender. Do I need it? No. Do I feel better playing it than the Mexican bass it replaced, YES. Am I playing better because of the US made quality? NO. Am I playing better because I love the bass and am playing more? YES. But, does the new bass keep me out of the workshop? Maybe😂
Hey if it brings you joy then play away! Don't feel guilty about being out of the workshop 😂 You're still making something--that something is music!
The Mexican Fenders are great instruments. I wouldn’t be bothered playing either. Have fun!
Even using nice pens makes me want to write more.
"If you're bad at woodworking, you're going to be bad at woodworking with an expensive saw". This had me rolling! Another great video, Eric.
I go to my little old dovetail saw most often too and I'm glad to hear someone else loves theirs for the same unspecified reason
Re “cheap” Gyokucho-style replaceable bladed saws, assuming I’m not the 15th person to say this: 1. They give an excellent result in practiced hands, see Dylan Iwakuni and Shoyan, & 2. Hand made Japanese saws need sharpening. Which isn’t so easy outside of Japan…
That look of happiness on your face justifies the cost. With that said I do think it makes you a better woodworker. Your increased happiness to do a task you want to be good at will contribute to making you better.
Love your content. Love the conversation!
This is a special video: To me this is the moment a hand crafted saw gets its first use and starts it's life!
A great craftsman using a tool a great craftsman made, is an experience. This is why I started woodworking and using old well made tools. I feel I am making heirloom pieces using heirloom tools.
Chis is great!
Great practical advice. I'm 65 & learned something. Keep up the good work.
I’m at a place where beautiful, handmade tools are definitely worth it. I was surprised that you hadn’t been able to straighten the saw with the bow, though. I have the same saw, and it too was bowed, but a few taps straightened it out.
Last summer I went to the incredible Sagami Tool Store an hour out of Tokyo. They carry a lot of hand crafted tools by artisans for exceptionally reasonable prices. So something on par to this would likely be found for half if not cheaper. Especially with the current exchange rate. Next time go to Japan, I need to return and look for a saw. Last time I got fantastic chisels, sharpening stones, and a plane.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to go there the next time I'm anywhere near Tokyo. Do you happen to know of any similar stores in the Osaka or Kyoto area? (I live in the Kyoto area.)
@@craigjohnston5678 Not that I’m aware of. That shop is one-of-a-kind even by Japanese standards.
Thanks for the tip, I will have to visit
Actually really enjoyed this. Sometimes things just feel better than other things. Like the feel of certain pens.. They glide “different” and feel better in your hands and make you enjoy writing and trying to write your best. I’m sure this translates well to a tool that is made by a master whose goal is to give you that experience. If you know how to wield the tool well enough you’ll feel the difference and it’ll totally impact the experience, therefore will have an impact on the results too. Enjoy your saw!
I bought a Japanese pull saw some years ago and loved it so much I used it all the time and even turned the blades round in my hacksaws to cut on the pull, finding they worked much better. I recently had to replace it and got a rip toothed one as well. The quality of the cut is so much better than push cut saws and the length of the handle makes for easier fast, or fine cutting.
As someone that has never done any woodworking I found this to be a very interesting and well presented video. Thank you!
Such a beautiful saw. You definitely displayed maximum respect for the artisan who crafted it
Your enthusiastic joy and delight in an elegantly crafted tool... 10 out of 10!
Not only are your vids and subjects different and stimulating new thoughts, even your sponsors are in line with that.
Very Impressive!
Extolling the existential pleasures of the woodworking craft is where you shine. Watching your joy as you unpacked, setup and brought an exquisite tool to life was priceless.
RE: how to store/hang the thing - how about looking at some display racks for katanas and:
1) adapt to wall mount, and
2) make it with a slot for the blade end that eep teeth straight up, and
3) pad the handle end with felt
Damn Eric, it was interesting to see you excited as a child over the perfect gift 😂
I love what I love I can't help it 😂
The word you were looking for is ‘gestalt’… the entirety of the thing is more than just the sum of it’s individual parts. Enjoyed the video, got a Japanese handsaw for Christmas so you’ve inspired me to get out and practice some dovetails - thanks
A very refreshing video! Too many woodworkers get wrapped up in the acquisition of tools and the false thinking that it will make you a better woodworker. I know that I'm guilty of that as well. I love that you teach in context that you can build wonderful items with basic tools with the emphasis on learning the skills first. My grandfather never owned a premium high end tool but created some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture I've ever seen. Thank you for being a wonderful teacher and mentor!
WOW! I mean WOW! Just looking at that saw was just a treat in itself. Your friend really hooked you up. What workmanship in that saw. Now I must have one.
What a lovely saw. Their craftsmanship in swords, knives, chisels, planes and apparently saws too is so different, finesse over force, flow instead of brutishness. On another note, I was surprised to see you haven’t measured an inch on the saw and counted the teeth. Great video and informative as always.
The saw is beautiful, but I have to disagree about the craftsmanship part, and especially the brute force. Well made western tools are precice and pleasing to use, and western swords are often lighter and/better balanced than Japanese ones.
Nice video: thanks for the ride. Where did you get the Cyclops Coffee Mug? That's awesome!
Very, very cool. I would be so torn between using it, and hanging it on my wall in a glass case to preserve it. It feels like it borders on something that would one day be a historical artifact; but, as you said, the maker forged the saw to be used, not to be kept in a glass display case, and using it is what should be done.
I like your conclusion on if it makes you a better wood worker.
😎👊
Erik, you can pack more information into a video than just about any other maker I’ve watched. Well done, and thensome! I always pour myself a cup of coffee before I sit down to watch your latest offering. Great way for a retired furniture maker to start the day! You touched on something that is very important to understand, and I have no doubt you understand it implicitly. We work with our hands, but it is our brain that is in control of how we do that. A well made tool accentuates that process by increasing the brains ability to command the primary controls, and removes or limits the ways our hands and muscles can stray from that control. You touched on why that type of saw feels and or works better. The long handle against your forearm makes it much easier to hold your line. The extended tang where you place your index finger does that also and gives you instant feedback on how your saw is performing. Pull saws require less control to keep them straight than push saws thus allowing your brain to focus more on the work and less on what your hands, arms, and body are trying to do to screw things up. The man that made that saw built it with an understanding of how you actually optimize the use of it. The sound of that saw cutting through the wood jumps out at you in a way that screams perfection! It sounds smoother than most dovetail saws. That is a product of thin blade, high TPI, tooth angle and rake, sharpness, and ergonomics. It was like music as you pulled that saw through the kerf. You have a real tool makers masterpiece in that saw. Thank you for sharing it with us! Oh, and by the way, it is worth every cent you paid for it. 😊
Great saw, glad you love it. If it brings you joy and happiness, it is worth every cent. Blessing from Western Australia.
Much obliged my good man.
Thanks for this. I think the factor of helping to support superior craftspeople and tool makers is not to be minimized. I think it is worth a lot. I am always glad to pay for excellence.
I continue to enjoy your style of video, all of the internal dialog made public. Just a delight, and also you inspire me to get into the shop! ...just need it to be warmer than 20degrees🥶
One of the best things about buying nice and expensive tools even when I'm not a good woodworker, is that messing up is still kinda fun
Great video! I'm slowly amassing tools for projects, and Japanese tools are the main saws I have. Looking forward to seeing this saw in future builds
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Mr. Curtiss.
I have a $20 lowes special, and it's my favorite type of handsaw.
Thanks so much...totally my kind of video! and yes, the enjoyment of woodworking also encompasses the tools.
Cheers!
Great answer on if it is worth buying... I don't think anybody could have put that in better words... If you have the money it is worth it because of the feeling it gives you... If you don't, your money is better spent somewhere else. Outstanding answer. I really was curious if the saw was worth it... Thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
Another great video, thanks for the content. Seems fitting to somehow display the saw similarly to a wall mounted katana holder and possibly incorporate the box within the design to showcase all the facets of the saws craftsmanship.
I love those "cheap" Japanese dovetail saws! Prefer pull saws. I bought a beautiful Lie Nielsen dovetail saw and I HATE it🙁 I also bought one of those Crown Gent saws and it sucked, came dull and bent! The perfect dovetail saw is the one you'll use and enjoy! Congratulations on your beautiful new NOS saw, ENjoy!!
I think maybe the step in the blade at the tang end gives you a less obstructed line of sight to the cutting edge. You're sighting around the top edge of the blade instead of the top edge of the handle.
Now to compare that to the Rob Cosman dovetail saw ❤
Exactly what I thought. Polar opposite tools.
Man oh man Erik, sometimes you get really deep into things, makes it hard for this old jarhead to get into. But your enthusiasm is great to see. You have a passion for your work that is outstanding. Tools are a way that makes most men happy. Carry on and go for it. Semper Fi.
I hope it wasn't too far off the beaten path, my friend. But I appreciate it. Carry on brother.
This is a comment for the machine, and so for the man. (Does that make sense?) I enjoyed this video very much, Erik. You ventured into a personal space that is hard to explain. And, yet, we all have that space and our experience may resonate with yours. If it doesn't, then there is still something to explore. It's not scientific (objective measurement is not possible) but it's real as in something one can experience and recognize.
Fun and agree! Great tools are just that, great.
I can tell you were a shop teacher by the way you remove the chip breaker from the plane iron,. I was a shop teacher (5-12) but I did not last, not good at relating to the ages
I really enjoyed this. Disregard the trolls. You are funny and knowledgeable and just fun to watch and listen to. Thank you.
The gents saw is a favorite of Mr Sellers too. If it's good enough for Paul and Eric, it's more than good enough for me ☺️
Value is a state of mind. While you can certainly use less expensive hand tools and get the same result, it isn't everyday that you can use a piece of art. A Beetle will get me where I want to go, but my Boxster is so much more of a pleasure to drive.
The "heel" of the saw that you noticed is for starting the cut. Some have a shallow set of teeth, allowing to make a super shallow but accurate cut to start. A feature that I love.
Delightful video featuring a great tool! I've been eyeballing a set of Japanese chisels from the same era. There's something special about a tool that you'll use for the rest of your career, so you might as well get something that sparks your sense of wonder!!! BTW, I've been working my way through your back catalog. Your channel has great stuff brother.
It looks like the straight handle on a saw gives the ergonomics of a chef knife, super good for precise cuts, which is probably why you preferred your old straight handle one over time. I noticed that I pinch my blade with index and thumb for short saws or chisels the same way I do with knives in the kitchen (I’m just a hobbyist in both domains).
When I see Curtis’ index on the side of the blade that’s exactly the feeling it gives
I feel by better tools makes many of us feel more pride in our w or by the quality of tools we own exhibiting our pleasure
I think I was just as excited! And now I’d like to buy another tool.
You're not spending money on "IT" you're spending money on yourself. Totally agree with nice tools enticing you to work more.
Great video, and definitely great saw.
Just, how do you sharpen it ? Or do you send it for sharpening ?
Beautiful saw. I'm hoping to start getting more handmade tools. I've spent a lot of time saving money for some very specific kitchen knives for the exact reason you made this video; because they feel special to use when you find the right one
I haven't started woodworking yet; that's waiting for my retirement in a year. I have sewn garments for decades, though, and I see a lot of big-picture parallels between the two crafts. One is with quality equipment.
Two years after starting to sew I replaced my mediocre first sewing machine with a very expensive high-end machine, and unsurprisingly I did not immediately become more skilled. However, the speed at which my skills increased was dramatic because my machine was no longer getting in my way. The same thing, in a much less expensive way, was also true of cutting and measuring equipment.
I'm forty years older and wiser now and I don't need *all* the nice things *right now.* I won't start woodworking with cheap tools but I won't rush out to buy the most expensive ones I can find, either. People tell me there is a thriving second-hand market that I should investigate, and I'll take that advice.
@agcons Rex Krueger has some really good videos on how to pick up quality second hand tools for a lower cost.
@@mattgs1671 Thanks, that will help a lot.
I think that's a brilliant point. It's not that your skills increased immediately. It's that the speed at which your skills did increase was faster due to the machine not getting in the way 👏
I have a Japanese fret slot cutting saw for guitar making. I use it for a ton of other things because of how nice it works for fine detail work. I’d be curious how it compares.
Brother, I love the honesty. I look forward to your videos.
Asian/Japanese saws are typically designed to be used 2 handed. That will tend to counteract subconscious twisting by the user. My experience with pull saws dramatically improved. I thank Toshio Odate for that bit of advice every time I use one.
How can you make fine motor movements with two hands? I know they use two for timber framing and such. But it seems highly counterintuitive for dovetails. Was it hard to learn?
@@f.kieranfinney457 you pull straight back towards your gut. It takes a little practice, but not much.
Large saws for beams maybe 2 hands, but not saws for furniture sized joinery. But whatever works for your body.
THANK YOU, FOR ACKNOWLEGING THE "VALUE" OF "CRAFTSMANSHIP"... REGARDLESS OF THE "DOLLAR" COST!!!
I really really enjoyed this video. Thanks for doing what you do
I am Drooling over the saw!!!
That was effing honest. If you can afford it, why not? I’ve restored classic cars, have an art/sculpture background and now am dabbling in furniture. I have a love for hand tools. I can understand your respect and “feeling” for the saw. It’s like Excalibur.
Two things: Best video yet - the angst over moving up to handmade Japanese master tools is SOOO real =>, and ... Yes, nice tools are really nice to use. I couldn't agree more with this video. Well done - good advise!
The red stamp is called Inkan which is the master signature. Is hand made in an ivory, wood or plastic and is unique and official. Even more, is so unique and official that you can or should use it to sign official government documents.
Gorgeous saw. I think you should display it like they display samurai / Katana swords, on small stands. It deserves it.
As much as I can appreciate the time and effort that went into the making and no doubt the history behind it, Master Smith or not, somewhat of an antique since he has retired. No saw that's $500 "makes" you a better woodworker. But do enjoy your purchase as its worth entirely what you feel comfortable paying for it!
The blueing is left to prove that has the right hardening/tempering process and properties.
A great video.I enjoyed it, learned from it and can certainly identify with it.
It was great fun to watch this "spoiled woodworker video"! I wish you many, many years to enjoy this excellent piece and thanks for sharing your thoughts about over the top expensive, but oh so well designed and created tools for woodworking.
LOL. I always tell friends "There are two hobbies : woodworking and tool collecting. I'm a lot better at one than the other." 😊 Cheers!
The thing that jumped out at me the moment you put the saw to wood, was how silent it was and how it let the cut sing. With most cheaper Eastern style pull saws, when you use them, you can hear the saw as much as you can the cut, but that saw was seemed to be dead silent. It was wonderful. Though i never have that sort of money to spend on a tool, i would totally buy it in a heart beat if i had the money in my pocket, even if it meant eating potatoes or rice for a week.
awesome review, question where did you get that little mallet? keep up the good work
Stopping to smell the roses is always a good thing.
Display idea, some kind of hook for the handle and a magnet for the blade to make it look like it's balanced on the hook
This high quality tool is perfect for this particular high quality woodworker. The value of an object is in the eye of the beholder. Dovetail drawers are really more for looks and preference. One of the best cabinet makers in my area does not do dovetails and my drawers are rock solid. Having said that, my deep desire is to have dovetail drawers when I start building cabinets in my new home.
Thank you. I hope I do the tool well. And as you said, the value of the object is subjective--so dovetail away!
I think I enjoyed you purchase and joy of this new tool as much as you did. Additionally I like what you say about practice, if you practice anything incorrectly long enough you’ll become proficient at doing it incorrectly ! One of your finest videos !!
Back in my days of building science consulting I had the pleasure of doing several projects with a terrific architect. A couple of office buildings, a museum, a school. Functional buildings. He told me that the one thing he wanted to put into every building was delight. He wanted to have some feature that people would see every day and smile or go "AHH!" A little thing that would improve the every day experience of someone using the building. That's the experience the saw maker was going for. And I'm sure that's your goal with your pieces as well. But I'm not going to be looking for a $500.00 saw. I have never gotten along with inline handles, push or pull. I am glad that it delights you.
That is a wise architect. I hope one day I get to take part in a project on a scale of that nature and have the freedom to approach it the same way.
Fun fact, that was something Walt Disney wanted in his home. There is an apartment inside of Disneyland that was designed for him and his wife, and each room has something "magic."" In one of the children's rooms, a train comes in and goes around. In the master bath, when you're in the bathtub, the ceiling turns into a dark sky filled with stars.
Since getting a tour of that place, that's something I've taken with me into my own homes and things I build. Can I give myself or others a little magic or delight.
Life can be delightful, and we're allowed to have fun. Even adults deserve a little magic.
I didn't expect to be reminded of that on a woodworker's video about a saw, but to my delight, here we are 😂
Great video, congratulations on your new saw, it’s beautiful!
On the value of things, how they make you feel is also value.
I just got two new hand planes, a 51/2 Clifton and a 7 Juuma. The Juuma was half the price of the Clifton. Does the Juuma work as well? Yes. Is it a quality tool? Yes. Does the Jumna make me smile? No. Does the Clifton? O my god yes!! It’s a work of art and my favourite plane now!
Well said!
I too recently got myself a clifton 5 1/2. I completely agree with your statement. Was close to just buying a woodriver/luban but with living Newcastle (few hours north of Sheffield) and my dad always telling me of Sheffield steel growing up, i thought the extra price on a Clifton over some Chinese factory cast was worth it. Amazing hand plane and so pleased with paying that little more for something made with care.
I bought myself a Bad Axe dovetail saw when they first came out. A couple years later Lee Valley had their trio of small back saws on sale, so I grabbed them. It didn't take long for my hand to drift towards the Lee Valley saws rather than the expensive Bad Axe. It's beautiful and all but the others just seem to fit my hand and I tend to cut more accurately with them. I really wanted to like the Bad Axe but...I just didn't. Not the way I like the Lee Valley saws. So I like to look at the Bad Axe one but not enough to keep it. Not at triple the price. of my others. I guess in the end it's all personal. The review was great by the way. You made it both fun and informative. Thx, as always.
Thanks Erik. Another great video with lots of information, some artistic appreciation, some humanity, a bit of woodworking skill and, of course, entertainment thrown in for good measure. I love the mix.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your videos always have the main ingredients. But it is the spice and a seasoning that makes them delectable and worth seeking out. Thank you.
Interesting take. I have fancy Veritas western saws that I love, and I’ve bought really cheap pull saws on amazon that aren’t the best. But I also have suizan mid priced saws that are awesome. Way cheaper than a good western saw but not crap in any way. I’m not at your level making wise though so maybe as I get more experienced I’ll notice the difference more
That's a beautiful saw true work of art
Beautiful saw! The way that thing seated perfectly on the handle was extremely satisfying. Although plebeian in comparison I really enjoy using my Gyocucho razor saws. A bit flimsy but they do cut wonderfully if you let them do the work. Do you know if that blade can be sharpened? Or does the tooth pattern/hardness level make it too difficult like the cheaper saws?
I was happy to see he seated it like an axe is seated on its handle, tapping from the heel. I too am curious as to the degree of temper; is it resharpenable or not?
Fantastic..as a 60 year old joiner/carpenter here in the UK who loves tools this is brilliant. I am just in this moment trying to decide if it is worth investing in a new tool myself, not a hand tool but a small cordless version of a tool many people are saying is way too expensive. However...I don't really care much for peoples opinions on if it is too expensive, I care more for peoples opinions on if it is worth the money if you have it to spend. And for this reason I have chosen to spend the money on it. It suits my needs, it's compact accurate and if Im honest it makes me want to cut wood with it. Imagine having tools that make you actually want to use them, that make you smile and actually say 'oh ye' out loud when you use them. Sometimes you can justify the cost quite easily by the sense of joy you get using it. .....you just made me spend £1500 guilty as charged lol.
So beautiful and I don't even woodwork. 😮
If Japanese saw smithing utilizes the same techniques as sword smithing, the coloration at the end of the tang is indicitive that the tang was not hardened during heat treatment.
Given the color difference between the tang and blade, I'd wager that this is the case.
Lovely craftsmanship. I wonder if the steel it is constructed with was made in the traditional tatara process.
The saw is nice but the toothy mug is the winner for me! Where can we get them from?!
Whole bench shakes. “Solid as a rock!” 😆
Now we know how to create earthquakes.
Look, I gotta ask... Can you do a tutorial on dovetails? I'm not a stranger to the joint, and I'm sure it's mostly experience, but you cut the TIGHTEST dovetails! Besides, I really like how you explain things as I'm sure most of us here do.
Being a lover of craftsmanship that saw is amazing and gorgeous but at this point in live I have more important things that I need to buy with $500 but if I could I would.
You should find a nice piece of wood and inlay magnets and use that to hold your saw. I have a fridge in my shop and currently I have all of my saws hanging on the side of the fridge with magnets, but one of my shop projects this year will be too properly hang them with the rest of my tools in this way.
Watching you do something similar would help motivate me, so I have to admit, my motives in suggesting this project are completely self-serving.
Another entertaining and inspirational video Eric. Thank you
Would be interesting to see you dive more into other cultures tools and woodworking, I'd especially like to see you try some complex Japanese joinery with their relevant tools.
Beautiful nokogiri!
Those Asian pull saws do cut very nice but I'll stick to my old disstons. The wooden box is probably paulownia. Light weight, bug/rot resistant and used quite a bit in asia.
Aint nothing wrong with a disston my friend!