Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

The other nice thing about Japanese saws is that the pull stroke is the cutting stroke, which is much more logical and efficient.

Add to the list of tools and materials I need to pick up this winter in Japan...

So they must be fairly fine saws, then. I have a think Western one that I do like, and it cuts on the draw... it makes a huge difference.

-E

Toffe wrote:

You guys are the best!!
I just can't wait to get more bamboo.
By the way is "hocchiku" like... non rootend shakuhachi with natural bore and no utaguchi inlay? Or what does it mean?

Eddie.. first of all. Thank you so much for all the time you've spent answering my threads. You're a great guy and your setting the best example for how a community is supposed to work!
I've learned so much from reading your posts and looking at your flute pictures.

It would be awsome if it was possible for you to help me ship some bamboo from your bamboo-shop.  Maybe it's possible to ship like 4-foot pieces. If you find the time to look into it and if it doesn't some out as expensive as shipping contraband diamonds it would be awsome! But don't go through too much trouble if it's hard to make it.

By the way... I got ny two books from Monty today

"The Japanese Shakuhachi Flute" by Monty and "Kinko Shakuhachi - One Maker's Approach". Hopefully I'll learn something from these books. They seem awsome!
Some good utaguchi instructions i Monty's book.

// Toffe

Actually Toffee

a hocchiku can be either rootend or non rootend. They're less refined  shakuhachi used for zen meditation, and dont tend to have any bore work done to them or an utaguchi inset. The word hocchiku means either religious bamboo or bamboo of the dharma. you can learn more about them by googling Watazumi or asking Perry Yung
aout them.

hope that helps

have a nice day

jynx

There is a much smaller saw with finer teeth and the blade is supported by a rail at the back--called a Piranha saw. Because of the blade spine you can only cut about 6cm deep, but it is absolutely perfect (and much more controllable) than Dozuki for fine work like the utaguchi. Those little Xacto saws are the same thing in miniature, and they also work well.

When I cut an utaguchi I cut way wide of the mark and use an utaguchi file from Meijiro. Very wide and sharp--cuts fast and flat. Meijiro also has a gauge like the thingie of Ed's but made of aluminum and with two angles: for the utaguchi, and for the top, which slopes somewhat towards the back where the chin rests. Just rest the flat part on the front of the bamboo and you immediately can see if the angle is correct (as per Ed's graphic). I just check as I file, and lstop when it is still a bit thick, for safety in cutting the insert.

The Xacto saw can also be used to cut the sides of a Kinko insert at the correct angle and straight (with a little practice). I find this much easier than using a knife, although you do need to finish the bottom with a knife or sharp miniature chisel.

Toby

Last edited by Toby (2010-06-13 22:58:26)