Pull Saw vs. Push Saw

Tom Caspar

Duration: 3 mins

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Transcript

Description

If you’ve looked closely at handsaws you’ve probalby noticed a difference in teeth. Some point toward the handle, some point away. This means that some cut on the pull stroke, some on the push stroke. We’re talking about Japanese saws versus Western saws. They both cut wood, but they each do it very differently. One requires a little more muscle than the other, and there are dramatic differences between the two when it comes to sharpening. Which one is best for your woodworking projects? Before making your buying decision, get some cutting edge advice from Tom.

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5 Responses to “Pull Saw vs. Push Saw”

Daniel Carlton January 1st, 2020

I prefer the pullstroke because I feel I have better control for very precise cuts. I also like the flexibility of the Japanese saws to cut off dowels and anywhere else I need a flush cut.
christopher May 17th, 2018

I think its personal preference. I am a bit above a diy'r and have a couple of pull saws and I like them for specific tasks, then western style ones for other tasks. Thank for the video.
Daniel September 21st, 2017

With my limited use of pull saws I have found that I have better control, especially when trying to hit a line exactly. I just feel more under control pulling towards me.
Michael Kratky February 20th, 2017

Perhaps so some time ago, but no longer; Lie-Nielsen, Lee Valley and especially Rob Cosman "western" saws are now like fine tuned Swiss watches and an absolute pleasure to use.
Timothy August 30th, 2016

Have to disagree, western saw generally cuts faster with a cleaner cut (your tear out in the video is hidden on the pull stroke saw) and is not a "throw away." The fact that it can be sharpened means that the 4 minutes it takes with a good set of files equals a more ready to use saw since the Japanese saw will ultimately dull. The western style is also more comfortable to hold and use, which translates to control. I generally begin my kerf with an initial "pull stroke" which makes for less effort on the initial cutting stroke. A good quality western saw is a great pleasure to use. Also, incidentally I think a micrometer would show little blade thickness difference between that Lee Valley Veritas saw you were using and the Japanese saw.

I love using handsaws, they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes but basically, these days, for all of us there are two different types. There's a Japanese-style that cuts when you pull the saw and there's an old fashioned western style that cuts when you push the saw. Back in the Paleozoic day when I was just starting out as a cabinet maker, this is all I knew, a push saw like this. But since then, when I got to try out Japanese saws many, many years ago, I just basically parked my western saws because these work, for me, so much better. I'm gonna show you their advantages and some disadvantages. This is a pair of rip saws, a western-style carpenter's rip saw you're all familiar with, I'm sure. Big teeth facing forward used to cut down the length of the board. This is a Japanese-style two-sided saw. One side has cross-cut teeth the other side has rip teeth. You can see the teeth lean towards the handle, towards the operator on the Japanese-style saw. On the western saw, they're facing away from you. Completely different feel to the two saws. How much effort is involved is also a different matter, as well. Let me demonstrate that with the two cross-cut saws on this simple piece of pine over here. Using a western saw, of course, just a single grip. You would start the cut on the nearside of the board and hold your thumb next to the saw to guide it. Your initial stroke has to begin with some oomph in order to get going otherwise the saw will just kind of skid around the board but if you just give a nice, stiff cut like this to the first one, then you're off and running. The Japanese saw is totally different. I was gonna say backward. It's not backward, it's just different. You begin the cut on the far side of the board again, using your thumb as a guide if you need to. Then I'm just gonna grip it with one hand but once you get going, cutting with two hands requires very low effort. In fact, you don't really have to even push down at all. Just let the saw do its work. The result is that this requires less effort because it's got a thinner blade, makes a thinner kerf than a western-style saw which takes more effort. Beyond that, a Japanese saw doesn't need any sharpening. It already comes sharp. The teeth are hardened at the factory. You can't sharpen it yourself. If it gets dull, you replace just the blade, keep the handle. No problem there at all. It's ready to go right out of the package. On the other hand, a western saw like this, some of them come pretty sharp, some don't. The ones that don't are difficult as heck to sharpen because, well, the teeth are so small. You need a very fine file, good eyesight, good hand-eye coordination, and when the saw gets dull, which will happen faster than with this saw because these teeth are not hardened, then you have to sharpen it yourself. You probably won't find anybody in your town to sharpen this saw for you 'cause unlike a carpenter saw, which you can find someone to do that for you, you'll never find anybody who has the equipment, the knowledge, or the training to sharpen a saw like this. So, love these saws, they work very well. There's been a big renaissance in their manufacture. Lots of interest in using them but by and large, give me the choice between the two, I'll go for the Japanese pull saw every day.

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