Dozuki - Japanese Hand Saw

Shiny

This, in addition to looking really cool, is a Japanese hand saw known as a dozuki. Specifically, this a dozuki designed to crosscut, to cut across the grain.

This is the dozuki I went with: Crosscut Razorsaw, 240mm (9-7/16") (edited to add: looks like they dropped the red band on the handle on new models, it's the same saw though).

Japanese woodworking has an extraordinary tradition of complex joinery, known as sashimono woodworking. In order to execute sashimono construction (I cannot) the craftsman needs razor sharp tools, saws, chisels, and planes. Picture a hand saw; if you're picturing a western saw you're picturing one that cuts on the push stroke. Japanese hand saws cut on the pull stroke.

I'm pulling the saw toward my body in order to effect the cut, rather than pushing away from my body

The teeth are angled back towards the body instead of away from the body to make the pull-stroke cut work. This being a crosscut saw the teeth have an angled bevel that allows them to more efficiently and cleanly cut through wood grain. Rip cut dozuki saws have different tooth alignment to make a more efficient cut along the length of the board. It's also worth noting that the kerf, the thickness of the blade, is extremely thin. This means it is a very precise and efficient blade that turns less of the wood into sawdust when it works.

I used a rip cut dozuki, a saw with teeth designed to cut along the length of a board rather than across it, to crosscut, it works, but it cuts raggedly through the grain and requires a great deal of sanding to clean up. The cross cut dozuki cuts so cleanly that almost no sanding is needed.

Cut with a rip saw, not advised.

Much better.

And just a gratuitous picture of the saw because why not, right?.

Looking... sharp?