A completed project in situ in the garden. There will be a shed on the rest of the hard standing that you can see. Although not exactly as per the plan, this bench has turned out ok with a few bodges and disappointments - in other words just like all my other projects. Several of the back slats have turned out rather short, the worst being that I jigged those cuts and am therefore not quite sure how it's happened. The oak is a great material; so strong. If you haven't used it and intend to, make sure that you like sharpening your tools and often. After bodging my way through this, I'm sure that I could now make a better bench in half the time, but at the price of the timber this one will have to do for us. One design point, the arms have been left over-wide deliberately to make a good rest for one's G&T (eh what!).

My peg board where I hang my saws (and other stuff). The dozuki - It's a pull saw so the blade doesn't have to be as thick (or have a strengthening member at the top like the America saws. Since the blade is thinner, the amount of wood that has to be removed is less so the amount of force is less. Many people think this gives more control. The Japanese style versus the Western style is really a "religious" thing, like Nikon versus Canon. Both have advantages. I think (but am not 100% sure) that the Western style is easier to sharpen. Japanese style saws have a thinner kerf since they cut on the pull (rather then push) so the blade doesn't need to be so stiff, i.e. thick. Also the straight handle means it's less sensitive to the position of the hand.