Don’t buy a ‘dovetail saw’ for your dovetails. They’re too small. Instead go with a small tenon or carcase saw. These will still cut your dead small joints but will be much, much more versatile.If you are in a real fix and have no other tool for making a dovetail joint, then you may be able to get away with using your tenon saw for this. That said, most woodworkers would agree that you’d need a tenon saw that was on the smaller side for the best results.
Can I use a tenon saw for dovetails?
I find I have greater control with say a ten inch tenon saw and this just happens to be the ideal saw for dovetails too and so I keep my so-called dovetail saw close to hand for the shoulder-cutting aspect of cutting tenons.
What is the difference between a tenon saw and dovetail saw?
A tenon saw is 10″ or more and has 10 to 14 tooth points per inch and is typically set as a crosscut saw. A dovetail saw is usually 8″ long and has 18 to 22 tooth points per inch and usually set as a crosscut but may also be obtained as a rip tooth to give a smoother cut along the grain.
What saw to use for dovetails?
You need a saw with rip teeth for dovetail work. This means the cutting edges of the teeth are approximately perpendicular to the length of the saw. Two saws that do the trick are a Japanese dozuki (top) and a Western backsaw.
What can you cut with a tenon saw?
What are Tenon Saws Used for? Tenon saws are mostly used for short, accurate cuts in demanding precision jobs such as joinery or furniture-making. Tenon saws get their name from being commonly used in cutting smaller or more intricate pieces of wood, and especially for making joints.
Can I use a tenon saw for dovetails?
I find I have greater control with say a ten inch tenon saw and this just happens to be the ideal saw for dovetails too and so I keep my so-called dovetail saw close to hand for the shoulder-cutting aspect of cutting tenons.
Does a tenon saw cut straight lines?
Tenon Saw A hand saw with a stiff back that is used to cut straight lines in wood. These saws are particularly good for cutting joints such as finger joints or mortise and tenon joints. Coping Saw A hand saw that is used to cut curves and complex shapes in wood and plastic.
Does a tenon saw cut on push or pull?
The most common TPI counts for a tenon saw blade are between 10-14, giving a slower but more controlled cut than coarser hand saws. Some tenon saws are designed to cut on the forward stroke only (a ‘push saw’, as opposed to a ‘pull saw’), although you should be aware that this isn’t always the case.
What is a gentleman’s saw?
The “Gentleman’s Saw” is a western type back saw. It was generally of a smaller size and features a simple turned handle. A Gent’s saw cuts on the push stroke and has a brass spine to keep the blade straight and stiff.
Why do tenon saws have a brass back?
A tenon saw and dovetail saw are both part of the back saw family along with sash saws. They are both similar in appearance and both have a brass or metal back to help with the accuracy of a cut. A tenon saw is the larger of the two and has a wider and thicker saw blade typically with less teeth than a dovetail saw.
When would you use a tenon saw?
Tenon saw – A tenon saw is used for making straight and precise smaller cuts in hard and soft wood. Due to their high tpi, they provide a neat finish in the wood. The blade on these saws also does not flex, so you have full control of the cut.
Should a tenon saw be rip or crosscut?
I would recommend getting a rip IF you could only have one for both types of cuts. I have both a 15tpi crosscut carcass and a 15tpi rip carcass. Despite the fact that the rip doubles as my dovetail saw, I still use the carcass way more. Crosscutting with a rip works fine, but will leave a less flattering surface.
What is the best length for a dovetail saw?
It will also cut your small tenons and shoulders. Even if you’ll use your saw mostly for run of the mill drawer dovetails, the longer length will give much straighter cuts, and be much faster. It will also help you to see square. Go for around the 10″ (250mm) mark.
What is the advantage of a tenon saw?
You may find that tenon saws cut at a slower pace compared to saws with less teeth per inch, but this helps add to the control tenon saws provide. One of the main advantages of tenon saws is that they are perfect for cutting both hard and soft woods, making them a useful and versatile tool to have in your toolbox.
What angle does a tenon saw cut at?
The teeth per inch are set at 3, ensuring smooth and precise cuts every time. The cutting angle of 90 degrees allows for efficient and accurate cutting in various materials.
How long should a tenon saw be?
Buying a Tenon Saw. Paul Sellers recommends a 12” tenon saw with 14-16 PPI. You can get brass-backed or steel-backed ones, the steel-backed saws are slightly lighter in weight so it is down to personal preference, however Paul says most experienced craftsman ultimately use a brass-backed.
Can you cut dovetails with a coping saw?
With a coping saw, you can quickly get rid of the waste between dovetails (above). The saw’s narrow blade also makes it a great tool for cutting curves, like those on a bracket foot (right).
What is the difference between a tenon saw and a hand saw?
Tenon saws generally have a higher TPI for a finer, more precise cut. Pruning saws have fewer teeth, usually ranging from 8 to 14 TPI, for rougher cutting. Universal hand saws have a medium TPI, usually between 8 and 18, for general-purpose sawing.
Can you cut dovetails on a table saw?
With a minimum of fuss–you don’t even need some special jig–you can use your tablesaw to quickly and efficiently cut through dovetails that are indistinguishable from hand-cut.
What is the difference between a hack saw and a tenon saw?
Hacksaw has disposable metal cutting blade held in tension within a bow frame. Tennon saws have a rigid blade to eliminate blade distortion on precision timber joinery. If you tried to use a hacksaw for that sort of work you would get blade deflection affecting precision.
Can I use a tenon saw for dovetails?
I find I have greater control with say a ten inch tenon saw and this just happens to be the ideal saw for dovetails too and so I keep my so-called dovetail saw close to hand for the shoulder-cutting aspect of cutting tenons.
Do you cut the mortise or tenon first?
Always cut the mortise first and then size the tenon to fit snugly. It’s quicker and easier to adjust the dimensions of a tenon (as we’ll show later) than to change a mortise.
How deep to cut mortise and tenon?
Tenon thickness: A tenon’s thickness should be one-third the thickness of the stock being mortised. So, if you are joining two pieces of 3/4″material, the tenon should be ¼” thick (1/3 of ¾). If you are joining a 7/8″-thick apron to a 1-1/2″-thick table leg, the tenon should be 1/2″ thick (1/3 of 1-1/2).
What is the short note on a tenon saw?
A tenon saw is a kind of backsaw that is used to cut straight lines in wood. It does not cut materials such as metal. It is a standard item in the carpenter’s toolkit. A tenon saw is made out of high-speed steel (HSS) and brass.
Can you cut a tenon with a router?
If you use a router table, you can cut the tenons with either a slot-cutting bit or with a mortising bit, and a cross slide. With the appropriate bit installed, set the length of the tenon by fixing a stop block to the cross slide and making one cut on each face.
Do I need a tenon saw?
Unless you cut a lot of tenons by hand, you really don’t need a tenon saw. But if you do, then it’s practically essential.
