News

Japanese woodworking tools have long been regarded as some of the most finely crafted in the world. Made using the best quality steels, Shokunin is a carefully selected collection of Japanese artisan hand tools.

So, why are Japanese saws so good? Unlike their western counterparts, these saws cut on the pull stroke. With the blade working under tension, this allows it to be both harder and thinner. As a result, they require less effort when in use and remain sharper for longer, giving a much cleaner cut.

The Shokunin Kataba crosscut saw is the equivalent of a western rip or panel saw. There is nothing to limit the depth of cut, allowing the saw to cut across wide boards or sheet material as well as trimming batten to length. The Kataba has a 240mm long blade.

The Ryoba double-edged saw is the ultimate tenon saw with one edge for ripping down the cheeks and the other to cleanly crosscut the shoulders. The teeth leave an incredibly clean finish, which has the added benefit of saving time. This saw comes in three lengths: 210mm, 240mm and 270mm.

The Dozuki tenon saw cuts smoothly and with ease. Special nickel plating on the blade protects it from corrosion and resin build-up. The plating is highly reflective; by observing the reflection of the timber on the side of the blade and keeping the reflection aligned and level with the timber, the cut will automatically be vertical. It is surprising how accurate this method can be.

The Tatebiki dovetail saw features an extremely thin blade and fine rip cutting teeth. It is the perfect saw for cutting dovetails and other fine joints. Performance is exceptional, requiring very little effort with the weight of the saw and the sharp teeth doing all the work.

The Atsuba crosscut saw has a curved tip with teeth which allows cutting to begin in the centre of the board or panel.  A gentle back and forth motion gradually deepens the cut until the saw breaks through and the full cutting edge is put to use.

The Jushi tenon saw has a stiff back spine supporting a blade only 0.3mm thick with fine rip cutting teeth. The ultra thin, fine toothed saw blade allows precise, tear-free cuts with maximum control when doing detail work.  The tooth profile and impulse hardening make this saw perfect for cutting a variety of plastics from hard acrylic to PVC pipes.

The Flushcut saw is for the flush trimming of protruding tenons or dowels without marring the surrounding surface.  The thin and incredibly flexible blade has two edges: a fine tooth pitch on one side for hardwoods and a slightly coarser pitch on the other for softwood.

Prices start at £17.75 inc vat.

Thanks to Axminster Tools and Machinery for the news.

For more details and pricing, see the
Axminster Tools Website