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Thread: Saw handles?
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13th August 2022, 12:35 PM #1Novice
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Saw handles?
I'm getting some ryoba saws without handles.
Maybe this is the wrong place to ask, but what west coast US wood to make handles from- cedar, birch?
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13th August 2022, 01:18 PM #2Senior Member
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I'm on the US west coast but I've never made a handle for a Japanese saw. My first suggestion would be to ask Stan Covington at Covingtonandsons.com. He knows Japanese saws well and also knows US woods. He generally is very happy to answer questions like this.
My second suggestion is this blog post from Jon Billing, an American now living in Japan.
Making Handles for Japanese Handsaws - Big Sand Woodworking
He identified Japanese Cedar/sugi and Paulownia as the most common handles in Japan. Japan does have hardwoods but I don't know why they aren't typically used for saw handles. I don't know why harder and denser hardwoods that are used for Western saws wouldn't work, except that they might alter the balance of the saw. That might just be a preference rather than a requirement.That would be a good question for Stan.
My guess is that Port Orford cedar or Alaskan yellow cedar would be closest to the Japanese woods used for handles. Western red cedar might work but is a little splintery.
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13th August 2022, 04:14 PM #3
I once made a handle out of Camphor Laurel. I imagine this is readily available in the USA ...
Morticed both sides of a split section ...
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
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13th August 2022, 04:30 PM #4.
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14th August 2022, 12:08 AM #5
I've used AYP (American Yellow Poplar) which is actually related to Magnolia (Japanese Honoki) and not a Poplar. It should be easily sourced in the USA.
But really, any wood should be suitable (maybe not a softwood unless you use epoxy to hold the blade in).
Steve
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14th August 2022, 12:58 PM #6Senior Member
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I agree poplar might be a good substitute. Liquidambar sytraciflua. Not too hard or soft, not too dense or heavy, easy to work. Readily available in 1 inch/25mm thick stock at any big box store but maybe harder to find in thicker stock.
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20th August 2022, 05:49 AM #7Novice
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Thanks for the thoughts.
I ended up making two from poplar, & one from Luan mahogany. As a bonus, I made them a bit fatter for my larger hands.
IMG_3423.jpeg
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21st August 2022, 03:08 AM #8
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