True Japanese Dovetail 2 new rip-tooth dozuki saws are efficient dovetailers.

utting dovetail pins and tails is primarily a ripping C operation. So it has always bewildered me that almost every Japanese sold for dovetailing had teeth designed for crosscut- ting or cutting . A few specialty importers do sell Japanese with a rip- tooth configuration, but these are made mostly by hand and cost between $140 and $1,500. Why, I wonder, isn’t there a machine-made dozuki that sells for about $35 – the cost of a de- cent crosscutting dozuki? Well, I don’t have the answer yet, but the two new rip-tooth dozukis on the market are considerably less expensive (between $70 and $80). To check the quality, I com- pared them to a premium rip- tooth dozuki that I’m quite fa- miliar with – the Kaneharu rip- ping dozuki, sold by Hiraide America for $182 (see the Sources box for more information).

Sure they look like standard dozukis, but these saws have rip teeth.We by Christopher Schwarz compare the Kaneharu (in use) with new saws from Harima-Daizo (left) Comments or questions? Contact Chris and Lee Valley (right). at 513-531-2690 ext. 1407 or

Photo by Al Parrish Photo by [email protected].

62 POPULAR February 2004 Fleam

The Kaneharu saw has graduated teeth. Near the handle (left) there are 15 teeth per The Lee Valley saw has 18 tpi and a The Harima-Daizo Deluxe saw has inch, while at the toe (right) there are 10 tpi.This combination of tpi makes the saw small fleam that it uses for crosscutting. 10 tpi.This makes the saw cut faster simultaneously easy to start and fast-cutting. It cuts slower but starts easy. but a bit harder to start.

To understand how the less- Lee Valley: Easy to Use has deeper gullets and fewer teeth Another important difference expensive saws are different, let The rip dozuki offered by Lee (10 tpi) than the Lee Valley saw is that all three of these saws can me introduce you to the Kaneharu. Valley shares some of its and a longer than the be resharpened – they are not re- 5 DNA with crosscut dozukis. Kaneharu (also 9 ⁄8" long). placeable-blade saws. This can Kaneharu: Small and Perfect The handle and blade are The downside of the Harima- be a good thing or a bad thing de- For anyone familiar with tradi- longer, like the traditional cross- Daizo is that it was harder to start pending on your point of view. 3 5 tional dozukis, the Kaneharu ap- cut saw (23 ⁄4" total length; 9 ⁄8" the cut than the other two saws. If those differences aren’t 7 pears small. At about 18 ⁄8" long of teeth). The teeth are finer than While I personally never had any enough to convince you, re- 3 with 6 ⁄4" of the blade devoted to those on the Kaneharu – 18 tpi, problems, beginners and those member that these three rip saws teeth, the Kaneharu is about 4"- and they have a small secondary unfamiliar with Japanese rip saws also track better in a . Plus 5" shorter than many dozukis. filed on them. This sec- reported difficulties when start- they leave an excellent finish. The teeth are different, too. ondary bevel – called the “fleam” ing the cut, particularly in softer They are, in short, the right Crosscut dozukis traditionally in saw parlance – is what allows such as cherry. for dovetailing. PW have teeth that are all the same crosscut saws to sever the Like the other two saws, the size. The teeth on the Kaneharu fibers like a knife. Harima-Daizo tracked perfectly start small near the handle (15 The fleam on the Lee Valley straight in the cut, left an excel- teeth per inch) and get larger to- saw is small enough not to inter- lent finish and had durable teeth. SOURCES ward the toe of the blade (10 tpi). fere with a rip cut (which is me- Hiraide America This is similar to the configura- chanically similar to levering out Which Saw is for You? 877-692-3624 or tion of rip teeth on a ryoba saw. the with a ). But If your budget allows it, the japanesetools.com The graduated teeth make it’s large enough to allow the saw Kaneharu is hard to beat. (The • Kaneharu Ripping Dozuki, your cuts easy to start: You make to be used for some crosscutting. Japan Woodworker catalog offers $182 your initial kerf with the small- Also, the rip teeth are more a similar saw with graduated teeth, The Japan Woodworker er teeth, and once you get going durable than crosscut teeth. In a the Izeamon dozuki , for 800-537-7820 or you use the full blade and the saw month of testing, I didn’t have $140. While I haven’t tested this japanwoodworker.com dives through the wood. (All three any problems with snapping teeth saw, I have heard a number of 1 • Izeamon 8 ⁄2"-blade of the backed saws discussed here – even in notorious ring-porous good things about it.) Dozuki Rip Saw have a maximum cutting depth woods such as white . For the beginning dovetail #05.114.21, $140 of 2", which is ideal for cutting Because the teeth are small, saw user, the Lee Valley (at $69) (also available in two dovetails and most tenons.) the saw is easy to start. And while is probably best, and it also will longer sizes) For someone accustomed to it cuts a little slower than the pick up some crosscutting chores. Lee Valley Tools cutting dovetails with a crosscut Kaneharu, it’s decidedly faster For the advanced user who wants 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com saw, the difference is significant. than a crosscut dozuki and leaves to save some money, the Harima- A dovetail that takes 14 strokes a very clean cut surface. Daizo ($79.95) is my pick. • Rip-tooth Dozuki #60T04.04, $69 to cut with a crosscut dozuki takes But more important is how only 10 with the Kaneharu. Plus, Harima-Daizo: For the Expert well these three saws compare to Tools for Working Wood it’s my opinion that the rip saws The Harima-Daizo from Tools for the crosscutting and combina- 800-426-4613 or track better than the crosscut saws Working Wood is a ripping mon- tion-teeth Japanese saws. The rip toolsforworkingwood.com during a ripping operation. The ster. It seemed to consistently out- teeth are far more robust than the • Harima-Daizo Deluxe quality of the cut surface is as good pace the other two saws when crosscut teeth – say goodbye to Rip Dozuki as any dozuki I’ve tried – no mat- it came down to pure speed. I that “tink-tink” sound you hear #MS-JS340, $79.95 ter what the tooth configuration. chalk that up to the fact that it when your saw teeth snap. Prices as of publication date.

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