Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Dennis Mcdonaugh

>I have the LN and it is a great tool. Feels nice, cuts clean and straight and looks good. I also have a $10 Stanley broomstick handled dovetail saw and while it doesn't look as nice or feel as good, it cuts just as straight and has finer teeth. I also like vintage saws such as Disston, Adkins and Tyzak etc. I have several and after sharpening they feel and cut just as nicely as the LN. There just seems to be something about using a hundred year old tool that makes you feel good.

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations *LINK*

L. Hanson - N. Idaho

>I think that any of the saws you mentioned will work fine... The Pax saw will have the most uncomfortable handle. I agree with Dennis that an old saw is also a viable option - the older Disston, Atkins, Bishop, Simonds, et. al. back saws are all great to use and are a great value, besides. The most important thing - IMO - is to learn how to sharpen them. They will all get dull with time, and it seems a waste to me to send them off... but to each his own. Visit vintagesaws.com's library for a great primer on sharpening.

Oh, yeah - there's another option, too... Make your own:

Leif

www.norsewoodsmith.com




Make Your Own

Whoops - fixed link  *LINK*

L. Hanson - N. Idaho

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Make your own

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Alan Hamilton

>Darin,

I switched from a middling quality saw to a Lie-Nielsen. The difference--at least for me--was dramatic. I give it my highest recommendation.

I haven't tried any of the other saws in your list.

You should be aware that there's one huge problem with a Lie-Nielsen--no, not the price--you won't be able to blame your tools.

Alan

STW Dovetail Saw *LINK*

Rossmoor Galoot

>Don't leave Spehar Toolworks out of the mix!

Vlad's dovetail saws start at $90 and include a custom fit handle.




STW Dovetail Saw

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>I have the LN dovetail saw and carcass saw both are excellent. I also have a Adria saw absolutely stunning it's pretty much a dead tie in my book.

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Doug Reynolds in Seattle

>I, too, have two L-N's and am very satisfied. However, since Adria is just across the Sound in Vancouver, why not pay him a visit?

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Brad Smith

>I have the LN dovetail saw, and I am quite happy with it.

Over the past year I've become more and more interested in doing things with hand tools, and my current goal is to learn how to do nice hand-cut dovetails. During this time I've used a dozuki saw, a LN dovetail saw, and a straight-handled "gent's" saw to cut dovetails. I find that I get the best results with either the gent's saw or the LN saw. In terms of comfort I find that I like the pistol-style grip of the LN saw better than the gent's saw.

From what I can determine, I think the reason I'm getting better results from the LN and gent's saws is due to their slightly thicker blades. I have the same problem as you with the dozuki saw -- my cuts seem to wander slightly. Obviously the problem is my technique and skill level, but more specifically I think it's because the dozuki blade is thinner and more flexible. With the LN saw I can immediately tell if the saw is starting to bind/drift around, and for whatever reason I seem to be able to determine this and fix it without it affecting the cut.

One other slight consideration is that the dozuki saw cuts on the pull stroke and tends to cover the layout line with sawdust as you're cutting, but that doesn't bother me all that much.

I've watched Lonnie Bird cut perfect dovetails with a dozuki saw, so again it's definitely my lack of skill -- it's a fine saw. But then again, Lonnie could probably cut perfect dt's with a cheap steak knife :-)

Brad

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Dan Donaldson

>My personal preference is the straight handled LN dovetail saw. I also have the LN pistol grip one, but have better luck with the straight handled one.

Tyzack & some work is OK too

Stephen Poe

>I have used but not owned some of the saws mentioned and they seem to work fine. My own saw is a Tazack 10" model 120 (the one with the brass back and the rather crude reddish handle - and the elephant on it - I think I might have bought it because of the elephant) that I bought from Woodcraft about 15 years ago. Never worked as good as my broomhandle Stanley, so I hardly ever used it. 22 tpi and crosscut might be why. I did spend an hour with a scraper and wood rasp and managed to make the handle both look and feel good. Last year I took it to Tom Law and he refiled the teeth to 15 tpi and a rip set and now it works great. I suspect that there are a lot of well made saws out there that with some work on the handle and the proper tooth profile and spacing would be just fine - but most of them don't come that way. I also have two 12" Tyzack saws he reworked (one rip one xcut) and they are both fine also. Cost me about $25 per saw to have him do the work.

Stephen

Thanks for the info guys, now I have to choose!

Darin in Victoria

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Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>If you need to shave your budget, and you choose the Lie-Nielsen, you can get it from the Fine Tool Journal folks for $113USD postpaid.

I think I would go across The Sound and look at an Adria, though.

Re: Dovetail Saw Recommendations

David Linnabary

>I'll second the gent's style handle for dovies.

I find that they are faster and less fatiguing. The length is an advantage in alignment and I feel more comfortable with a light pool que type grip and a longer stroke. A light grip allows me to more easily feel when I'm doing something wrong with my arm motion.

Maybe the hardest part is convincing yourself that you can stand a little farther away from your work and still achieve accuracy and consistancy. :)

David