This will blow your mind!!!!!!

**goodwoody** · 30th June 2007, 04:09 PM

Hello beautiful people, Well today I had one of the most rewarding experiences living and working in Japan. It begins about three weeks ago when I was loitering at my favourite tool shop when the master (Takeshi) said to me that about 15mins from the shop their is a blacksmith who makes tradition Japanese saws. Takeshi wanted to know if I was interested in vsiting his workshop and meeting Itoh san. I do believe my heart stopped.

This morning we met Itoh san at his small earthen floored workshop. It was like stepping back in time. In the shop there was a power hammer and grinder all run off a large motor through flat canvas belts!!!!!! Everything was covered in soot from the forge that is basically a box with a pipe that blasts air into a ditch in the dirt. Very basic but obviously functional.

At this time Iton san was not forging but was scraping and refining the thickness of the blades before grinding and setting the teeth. Everything was completely hand made.

Tensioning was a truely cosmic experience as Itoh san described it as a combination of feeling, touch, experience and reflextion from sun light. Truely spiritual. More to come + Piccies. Damien.

**goodwoody** · 30th June 2007, 06:55 PM

As promised, some piccies.
1. Is Itoh san sitting at his 'workbench' scraping a new saw.
2. scraping a saw.

**goodwoody** · 30th June 2007, 06:58 PM

More pics.
1. more scraping. Note the scraper is less curved.
2. Forearms after years of mechanical work.

**MajorPanic** · 30th June 2007, 10:49 PM

What a bloody fantastic experience for you!!

Tinny bastard!!........ I'm not jealous........ REALLY

**BobL** · 1st July 2007, 01:15 AM

Thanks for sharing - what does one of his saws cost?? Or is that too rude a question to ask?

**Stu in Tokyo** · 1st July 2007, 02:37 AM

Damien, I just GOT TO make a run out there and meet up with you at the tool shop, are they open on Sundays?

Cheers!

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 03:21 AM

Open everyday except Monday.

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 03:27 AM

More piccies!
1.The raw steel from Hitachi. On the left Carbon steel for Ryoba and on the left carbon steel for dozuki.
2.The saw after forging to shape. Handle is forge welded mild steel.

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 03:29 AM

Bob, I think a dozuki cost about 3-4 hundred.

Are you still breathing?

**Stu in Tokyo** · 1st July 2007, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by goodwoody

Bob, I think a dozuki cost about 3-4 hundred.

Are you still breathing?

not cheap, but when you consider how well it would cut, and with proper care and attention, your grandkids could be using it, it is really that expensive?

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 04:09 PM

Tensioning with a pecking hammer on a simple anvil.

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 04:11 PM

The man himself! Itoh san.

**woodbe** · 1st July 2007, 04:40 PM

Holy Moly!

Thanks for this. It's awesome. How does he cut the teeth?

woodbe.

**AlexS** · 1st July 2007, 07:21 PM

Great set of pics Damien. Looks like I'll have to go back to Kawagoe!

**goodwoody** · 1st July 2007, 07:45 PM

Not sure about the teeth cutting. I will have to pay him another visit.

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