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Are Japanese tools really that much better than western ones? What brands are you comparing here? Just to be sure it's an apples to apples comparison.
by cinntaile 4y ago
Are Japanese tools really that much better than western ones? What brands are you comparing here? Just to be sure it's an apples to apples comparison.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- m0llusk 4y agoJapanese carpentry tends to demand extremely precise cuts and so the tools are designed for that and revered for that unusual capability.
- sacnoradhq 4y agoMy grandfather had (I inherited it) a Japanese back kerf saw he used for trim molding and anywhere that needed a precision cut. I keep meaning to get a replacement blade, but it costs almost as much as a new one with a handle.
- fwlr 4y agoGood Western tools are the equal of Japanese tools. The perception in the West that Japanese tools are better stems mostly from cheap Western tools (which are bad) being widely available and imitating the appearance and function of good Western tools, while only the expensive (and thus good) Japanese tools are available. There is probably some cultural aspect that causes Japan to make fewer cheap tools as well which helps with this impression. Finally, another factor is the overbroad umbrella of “Western”; if you compare countries I would put Germany head to head with Japan for quality tools, but there are specific fields where Swiss or French tools are the best, and even some specialties where British or American tools excel. One other factor in the impression that Japanese tools are unusually good comes from the Japanese focus on excelling in woodworking tools. Woodworking is particularly easy to get into and pursue as a hobby, and hobbyists have the time and motivation to discuss their opinions of tools on the internet more often than other tool-users.
- sacnoradhq 4y agoIt depends. I opt for Japanese back kerf saws and micrometers. Some people prefer kanna (pulling planes).