Japanese saw facts for kids

A dozuki saw, which is a type of Japanese saw.

A Japanese saw is a special tool used for cutting wood. In Japanese, it's called nokogiri. What makes it unique is how it cuts. Most saws you might know, like those from Western countries, cut when you push them forward. But a Japanese saw cuts when you pull it towards you. This "pull stroke" makes the saw very accurate and easy to control. It also means the blades can be thinner, which helps make very clean cuts in wood.

Different Kinds of Japanese Saws

There are several types of Japanese saws, each designed for a specific job in woodworking.

Dōzuki Saw

The Dōzuki is a type of backsaw. This means it has a strong, stiff strip along the top edge of the blade. This strip keeps the blade from bending, allowing for very precise and straight cuts. Dōzuki saws are often used for making fine joints in wood, like those used in furniture or cabinets.

Ryōba Saw

The Ryōba is a very useful saw because it has two different cutting edges on one blade. One side is for cutting along the grain of the wood (called a "rip cut"). The other side is for cutting across the grain of the wood (called a "crosscut"). This makes the Ryōba a great all-around saw for many carpentry projects.

Azebiki Saw

The Azebiki is a smaller version of the Ryōba saw. Its special design allows it to cut into the flat surface of a wooden board. This is different from most saws that start cutting from the edge of a board. The Azebiki is perfect for making grooves or slots in the middle of a piece of wood.

Mawashibiki Saw

The Mawashibiki is a thin saw with a narrow blade. It's designed for cutting curves and circles in wood. Its flexible blade makes it easy to follow curved lines, which is useful for decorative work or shaping wood.

Kaeba Saw

The Kaeba is a modern type of Japanese saw that has a blade you can replace. When the blade gets dull, you don't need to sharpen it. You can simply take off the old blade and put on a new, sharp one. This makes it very convenient and easy to keep your saw ready for work.

Images for kids

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  A close-up of the crosscut teeth on a dozuki saw.

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  A Ryoba saw with its two different cutting edges.

See also

In Spanish: Sierra japonesa para niños