Anyone ever made a miter box for Japanese pull saws?

[Jared Walters]

I was thinking it might be useful. I can probably work something out myself, but I was wondering if anyone had any good designs.

[Steve Voigt]

If you look on Raney Nelson's (daed toolworks) blog, under the "japanese" category, you'll find a post called "tooling for shoji." He has a fixed angle miter box, really more of a jig. Not fancy, but might be a start.

[David Weaver]

fixed is the way to go. If you have to, build a guide that will allow you to lay out larger angles to ultimately cut small pieces.

That way, if you have a small error over a large area, it becomes unnoticeable when cut on small pieces.

[Bob Strawn]

There is a Z saw guide that is sold. Actually two of them. One will do 90 and 45 degree and the other can be adjusted to a range of angles on two axis.

With a straight flush cut saw, I have taken a stable block of 3/4" wood and carefully drawn out and then cut an angle in it. With that clamped to a board with the groove projecting above the target board, it is easy enough to quickly reproduce a precise angle. Simplest miter guide or dovetail guide that you could ask for.

Bob

[Jim Matthews]

I believe Lee Valley has a long bar with magnets inside.
The running surface is covered with UHMW plastic.

So long as the blade sticks to the magnets, it should work
on either the push or pull stroke.

FWIW - I just use a bench hook and knife line.
When I keep the pressure applied to the teeth in the direction of cut,
most of my saws track the knife line. When I try to press the teeth
into the cut, that's when things go wrong.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,42884,67754&p=67717

[Brian Ashton]

I believe Lee Valley has a long bar with magnets inside.
The running surface is covered with UHMW plastic.

So long as the blade sticks to the magnets, it should work
on either the push or pull stroke.

FWIW - I just use a bench hook and knife line.
When I keep the pressure applied to the teeth in the direction of cut,
most of my saws track the knife line. When I try to press the teeth
into the cut, that's when things go wrong.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,42884,67754&p=67717

Interestingly enough that link doesn't show up if you're browsing and it's not in any of the list in the saw page. Wonder why

[Jim Ritter]

I think Shop Notes did an article about one. I'll have to look and see if I can find it.
Jim

OK, found it, it is in ShopNotes number 115 page 36. It's well thought out, I wanted to build one when I first saw it but it's low on the list at the moment.

[Jim Matthews]

Search Lee Valley magnetic saw guides.

I can't imagine why the link is invalid.

[Derek Cohen]

I was thinking it might be useful. I can probably work something out myself, but I was wondering if anyone had any good designs.

As long as you clamp the workpiece down, you could use a Japanese saw on this ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/SteamPunkMitrebox_html_m554c29b2.jpg

It uses rare earth magnets to hold the saw blade.

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/SteamPunkMitrebox_html_m5483f7c.jpg

Ideally, the fence would be reversed for a pull saw.

Link: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/SteamPunkMitrebox.html

What is probably a lot more realistic is a Japanese blade for a Nobex-type mitrebox. They are available here (http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=32926&cat=1,42884).

"B. Nobex® Pro Miter Box with Japanese Blade
Configured with a fine, fast-cutting 16 tpi Japanese Ikeda tooth blade suitable for all wood types. The teeth are impulse hardened for long life."

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mike Holbrook]

There are quite a few people who use a Stanley #150 miter box, available at auction sites, for small work. The saw holding mechanism on a Stanley #150 can be lowered until it almost touches the saw table or raised quite high. This miter box can be used with everything from hand saws to folding saws:

301175

I am still working on mine. I am still not satisfied with the saw holder.

[Maurice Ungaro]

Mike, nice saw you got from Ron!