Dovetails

Hack saw

Adam Cherubini

>You know, I like a good dt saw. i don't have one, but I like the good ones I've used. I use a crown gent's saw, which i find is uncomfortable, but functional.

For that matter you can use a hack saw to cut dovetails. What you really need most is to learn how to saw. So maybe the best tool is a panel saw or rip saw.

I think practice is a really good idea. I do that a lot. But importnat to remember that when you begin the joint, you only need to hold square, regardless of which side you cut first. You can forgive the angle.

I'm not saying anything about anybody cause i agree with every post so far. But some folks I've read or talked to seem to make too big a deal out of DT's. And I think that's a shame. You can cut them with a hack saw. I made some with Paul at Pennsbury with a 9 tooth framed tenon saw (or is that 12 tooth? can't recall). I'm not saying they were perfect. Maybe that's my point.

Adam

Re: nomenclature?

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>When I put a hacksaw blade in my bowsaw, is it still a bowsaw, or is it now a hacksaw, or maybe a Frankensaw? :^)

One problem with cutting dovetails with a hacksaw is the tiny teeth make for some really slow sawing. Neat, but slow. The other problem is I never met a hacksaw with a comfortable handle. I suppose I could fix that if it were important, but I've come to really like the way the Frankensaw works.

Second the Hack saw

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I haven't used one for dovetails, but they're right useful - if slow, as Sir W points out - for small work where you want a laser-clean cut but without the smoke and burning that always accompanies using a raygun.

Some of the saws that tension the blade by pivoting the far end (from the handle) and then using a knurled nut at the handle end, working against a tension rod, have fairly comfortable handles.

Iam Kirby's practice board

Doug Littlejohn

>Anyone have a picture of this?? It sounds like it woul dbe very useful to the handtool novice starting out.

TIA,

Sherwood

Re: Iam Kirby's practice board

Kevin French, Antrim NH

>No pics, but basically you mark a board with cuts about a 1/4" apart. Line up tail cuts on one end of he board. Half the board in one direction the oher half in the opposite.

Also add the scribe line to practice cutting to the line on both sides.

_______________________

I\\\\\\\\\\///////////I

Then do the same for the pin cuts

Just don't make a race out of it. Your looking for consistant cuts not speed.

BUY THE BOOK!!!!!!!!

there is a wealth of information in there. There and Jeff Gormans site. I have the whole site downloaded on PDFs on a CD and will make a hard copy someday.

Re: looks most effective

paul womack

>