Japanese saw

One of the first tools I bought was a Japanese saw (Ryoba), and honestly, it was a game-changer. Unlike Western saws, which cut on the push stroke, Japanese saws cut on the pull stroke. That means you get way more control, cleaner cuts, and you don’t need to use as much force. Perfect for a beginner who doesn’t want to wrestle with wood.

The Ryoba is especially cool because it has two cutting edges:

• one side for ripping along the grain,
• the other side for crosscuts.

So basically, you get two saws in one. The thin, flexible blade also leaves a very narrow kerf (cut line), which makes it easier to work precisely when you’re shaping pieces for a guitar.

For me, this saw became the “trusty sidekick” of the build — whether I needed to rough out a body shape, trim the neck blank, or make smaller adjustments, the Japanese saw was always up for the job.