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It depends on what you are going to do with it and how often you are going to use it. I have not used my western/push saws at all since I got my japanese pull saws. For anything I want to do by hand, they are IME/O way better. Anything bigger/more agricultural I will go to power tools. The floppiness is something that took me a while to get over and was for me a case of technique. They are not designed to be put into compression (I properly kinked a blade once by catching it on the push stroke - cheap-ish to swap the blade out). Once you can get that nailed down, I have found they cut faster than any cheap western push saw I've had. Also, it may be personal preference again, with the pull cut and the handle shape, I find it easier to keep a straight cut. Much narrower kerf too. Again, if it is something where the size of kerf doesn't matter, I'm going circ/mitre/track saw.
stevo_com-
Cheers. What one(s) do you have?
I'm sure there's a practice element, but unfortunately nowadays when I need to saw something, I need to saw it. For me, they also seem to require you and the wood to be in the right place - idk if that is to do with the handle(?)
I do however find horizontal cuts easier when they're needed.
hugo7
Nah. That irwin one seems to get good reviews and is cheap. I've got a Japanese Lidl middle isle thing, but I don't really get on with the floppiness.
I think this will actually be the first pannel saw I've bought!