Woodworking projects sometimes call for a dowel or rod to be cut off at surface level. Power saws aren't usually up to the task and most hand saws, on top of too inflexible to stay flush with the surface, would damage the surface with their offset teeth.
Enter the Japanese Flush-Cut Saw. This handy saw is not only rigid enough to make fine cuts in thin material, but also flexible enough to press tightly against the surface of your project -- imagine a long, metal spatula with sharp, toothy edges. The teeth curl back toward the handle and do not offset each other which means two things: one, the bottom of the saw is smooth and will not marr up your project; and two, it only cuts on the pull stroke.
There really is no other saw that can do this job. Sure, perhaps only a handful of you will find need for such a device in the near future, but I love this thing, so there you are. And if you are in a family full of men, you now have a new topic to bring up at dinner. And there are birthdays and Father's Day to consider. Isaac calls this simple tool a "revelation."
Funny -- I just noticed this -- ours has a stamp on the blade that reads, "For your pleasant life." How about that!?
