Saw Bench for Japanese (pull) Saws?

[Huffster]

So, somewhere along the line, I decided I liked using Japanes saws. The other day I saw a video where Matt Vanderlist was using an English style saw and holding the board down with his knee. It got me to thinking, is there a contraption that would work for Japanese saws?

[duckkisser]

just hook your bench hook on the other side of the work bench and have it stretch across the bench top

 

if its in a vise wont matter which way its cut

 

 

 

the tradition sawing bench is at knee level so you can put your body weight on it and move the saw up and down but with a japanese saw its the other direction.  most japanese craftsmen work at the floor and the work bench is done on a pair of saw horse type beams a few inches of the ground.  i think that cultural aspect is why they have pull saw rather the push.

[nikbrown]

Many Japanese woodworkers use sawhorses and a beam as a bench. This is a great article on working this way http://books.google.com/books?id=cvsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=Japanese+Sawhorse+jay+van&source=bl&ots=aDlPMnMZii&sig=I543Dx6ptq6QRQuXyWHc76aLZyM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TQAoT9b4PMG_gAegvvXxBA&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Japanese%20Sawhorse%20jay%20van&f=false

I built these sawhorses last year for getting started in woodworking week. http://digitalwoodworker.com/2012/02/08/getting-started-in-woodworking-building-a-japanese-workbench/

[Huffster]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did actually make a bench hook and mounted the fence closer to the middle, so I could use either type of saw. Nikbrown, I like those sawhorses. I was thinking that since I use my festool mft for much of my work, maybe a set of mini sawhorses that can be clamped to it? I would probably make something to support the cutoff side to keep it from falling and or causing tearout. Something else 2x4 scrap is good for. Thanks again

[nikbrown]

Actually mini sawhorses are used a lot in japanese woodworking. here is an article on how to make a quick set. http://blog.makezine.com/2011/03/15/skill-set-building-woodworking-low-horses/