Japanese Saw and File

I've been watching mostly YouTube on TV lately - tool comparisons and building tips.

Any opinions on the Shinto saw rasp and Japanese pullsaw?

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MU9X...olid=1K6S0U4KGY5NH&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I don’t do instrument building, but I have those saws in various sizes. They are handy for larger work, but I find for small and fine work that I use a dozuki much more often. https://smile.amazon.com/SUIZAN-Jap...ords=Japanese+saw&qid=1609167328&s=hi&sr=1-10

I generally use that instead of the American/English style cross cut and joinery saws that I also have. Much more controllable and a finer cut.

pohaku said:

I don’t do instrument building, but I have those saws in various sizes. They are handy for larger work, but I find for small and fine work that I use a dozuki much more often. https://smile.amazon.com/SUIZAN-Jap...ords=Japanese+saw&qid=1609167328&s=hi&sr=1-10

I generally use that instead of the American/English style cross cut and joinery saws that I also have. Much more controllable and a finer cut.

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Thanks for that.

The Japanese saw has much better control and just feels like an easier stroke.

A shinto rasp is a great neck carving tool, although it borders on too big and too clumsy for uke sized necks, and it can't do fine curves since it's flat and really broad. It can remove material quickly but it can also leave a fairly fine surface, you just need to get used to the technique - how to manage your stroke vs the grain of the wood, knowing how much to slip vs push across the grain.

A step up from a shinto rasp would be Iwasaki carving files. They cut quick like a rasp but leave a very fine surface. They're available in a variety of shapes. The half round shapes are great for carving around headstock transitions and heel blocks. My ultimate favorite hand tool for any sort of carving or adjusting of joinery or other similar tasks.

Pull saws are nice too. I will second what everyone above has said about them. But the best news is that even the cheapest pull saws are pretty good. My favorite pull saw is an $8 saw from Harbor Freight. I use that saw more than any other hand saw in my shop. probably by a factor of ten to one.

If I were in your shoes and considering the tools you've mentioned, I would skip the shinto and spend more on Iwasaki files. And get a cheaper pull saw instead of the $30 one you linked, to balance the budget. If you can only afford one Iwasaki, get the 6 inch half round fine cut. If you can afford two, get that one and the matching 6 inch flat fine cut. The half round is great on heel blocks and headstock transitions. The flat is great to adjust joinery. Either can be used to carve the length of a uke neck but the flat is a little faster and more steady for long straight carving like that.

Here's the iwasaki files:

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/iwasaki-carving-files.aspx

The naming conventions are confusing, if you cross-shop, make sure you're comparing like for like. Sometimes the names include lengths in inches, sometimes in cm, and sometimes those lengths are overall lengths but other times it's just the cutting length. There's only a handful of distinct sizes and shapes but they get called all kinds of different things at different vendors.

Here's the harbor freight saw I'm in love with:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-flush-cut-saw-62118.html

dwizum said:

A shinto rasp is a great neck carving tool, although it borders on too big and too clumsy for uke sized necks, and it can't do fine curves since it's flat and really broad. It can remove material quickly but it can also leave a fairly fine surface, you just need to get used to the technique - how to manage your stroke vs the grain of the wood, knowing how much to slip vs push across the grain.

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Thanks. That's how I saw it being used - a ukulele build in a guy's kitchen.

So spending more money won't let me make better ukes?

Thanks for the links.

All I know is that they're the best-known pull saws and it's used in woodworking Haven't tried one yet though. I will try it sooner because it seems fit for my work. I heard some opinions about it and they were all praising this saw, haha. I'm pretty old-fashioned so I have a saw that dates back to the '90, lol. An upgrade is needed definitely. I read here https://thetoolscout.com/table-saw-vs-miter-saw/ about saws and miter, table saw but I still don't know which one to buy... I'm open to any suggestions because I'm too attached to my old tools which now can't be used like they were before

I think you meant to post this in Luthier's Lounge. But I know that Beau Hannam uses the rasp because it's in his videos.

RickOlson said:

I think you meant to post this in Luthier's Lounge. But I know that Beau Hannam uses the rasp because it's in his videos.

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Wow! Yes, definitely!

dwizum said:

Here's the harbor freight saw I'm in love with:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-flush-cut-saw-62118.html

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Funny - the shipping costs almost as much as the saw.

And "ACCESSORIES YOU NEED" -

Air Tool Oil, Compartment Organizer, Brush. Remember when buying a saw was a simple operation? Now you need all these accessories.