milkman
Established Member
Hi all, I've just spent an amazing two days watching and learning about the work of Mr Shoichi Nagatsu. He's a saw doctor based in Kyoto and has been sharpening and tuning saws since apprenticing at 15. He's now 78 so that’s a lot of experience!
One of the interesting things about the weekend was that he's developed a hybrid of european and japanese saw styles.
He says he thinks push saws are more efficient than pull saws and favours a gentler rake more in keeping with european rakes, at the same time using the cutting faces used on traditional japanese saws styles.
He demonstrated some push versions of double sided japanese saws as well as re-cutting someone's 16 point Veritas to 8 points. It made a very fast and very smooth cut. Brilliant.
Another highlight was the anvil work where he re-tensioned some of the attendees saws. I know little about the theory of saw tensioning but to watch him do this, all by feel and eye was amazing. Tiny taps too.
All in all an excellent weekend and a privilege to watch someone who makes his skill look not effortless, but almost careless.
I can’t say I’m likely to become any better at sharpening in a japanese style than I am at sharpening european style but you've gotta give it a go haven't you? : )
IMG_0025.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
IMG_0016.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0013.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0008.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0009.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
One of the interesting things about the weekend was that he's developed a hybrid of european and japanese saw styles.
He says he thinks push saws are more efficient than pull saws and favours a gentler rake more in keeping with european rakes, at the same time using the cutting faces used on traditional japanese saws styles.
He demonstrated some push versions of double sided japanese saws as well as re-cutting someone's 16 point Veritas to 8 points. It made a very fast and very smooth cut. Brilliant.
Another highlight was the anvil work where he re-tensioned some of the attendees saws. I know little about the theory of saw tensioning but to watch him do this, all by feel and eye was amazing. Tiny taps too.
All in all an excellent weekend and a privilege to watch someone who makes his skill look not effortless, but almost careless.
I can’t say I’m likely to become any better at sharpening in a japanese style than I am at sharpening european style but you've gotta give it a go haven't you? : )
IMG_0025.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
IMG_0016.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0013.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0008.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
CRW_0009.jpg by markuspalarkus, on Flickr
which will be at the end of the month - Rob
