What is a dovetail saw used for?

Dovetail saws are primarily used for work that require small, very precise cuts, typically in joint making including dovetail and small tenon joints.What is a dovetail saw?
Application Dovetail saws are used for applications that require small, very precise cuts or when an extremely neat finish is required. They are typically used for joint-making, particularly dovetail joints, where two pieces of wood must fit together precisely.
Materials A dovetail saw is designed for use in hard and softwoods.
Characteristics Blade …

What is a dovetail saw good for?

I think that many people think that a dovetail saw is for cutting dovetails and though that is true, it is not so much a dedicated saw but simply a small saw we use mostly for cutting smaller joints and that includes dovetails.

What is a dovetail saw used to cut?

What is the difference between a dovetail saw and a tenon 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 is a dovetail tool used for?

A dovetail joint is a joinery technique used in woodworking, traditionally used to joint wooden furniture. Dovetail joints are known for their inherent strength and resistance to being pulled apart (tensile strength).

Is dovetail worth it?

Making sure that you pick a drawer joint that can withstand this type of wear and tear is crucial to the longevity of your kitchen cabinets. Dovetail joints are considered one of the strongest joints used in kitchen cabinetry construction and are the best solution for a kitchen cabinet drawer box.

Can you cut tenons with a dovetail saw?

Particularly if you’ll be jointing a lot of carcases and the like. 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.

What is another name for a dovetail saw?

Backsaws: Larger backsaws are referred to as ‘tenon saws’ and the smaller backsaws are called ‘dovetail saws’. ‘Gents saws’ are similar to a dovetail saw, however they can be identified by their inline handle.

Which part of a dovetail do you cut first?

The first step of dovetails is marking your baseline, or depth line.

Why is it called a dovetail saw?

The purpose of a dovetail saw is, as the name implies, to cut dovetails and other fine joints. Besides its small size, the distinguishing feature of the dovetail saw that separates it from other backsaws is the thickness of its blade, about . 018″ (26 gauge).

What is the difference between a gentleman’s saw and a dovetail saw?

On the other hand, the gent’s saw, also referred to as a gentleman’s saw, is a versatile yet smaller hand saw that’s well-suited for a variety of woodworking tasks. It typically has a broader blade compared to a dovetail saw, making it capable of straight or crosscuts in wood.

Is a dovetail saw a rip saw?

Back saws have a rigid brass or steel back and can be either rip or crosscut. Dovetail saws are back saws with a high tooth count, filed for ripping; tenon saws have a lower tooth count and are filed for crosscutting.

What saw is best for cutting wood into joints?

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.

How deep should a dovetail joint be?

Two-step Shouldered Joints With a 3⁄4″-diameter flush-trimming bit in your router, plow out the dado to 3⁄16″ deep. Next, take your router with a tem- plate guide and dovetail bit, set it to 9⁄16″ deep (without moving the straightedge) and make the cut into the case side.

What is the difference between a back saw and a dovetail saw?

What is the best length for a dovetail saw?

Why are you thinking of getting another dovetail saw? A 9″ saw for the kind of wood we generally work with (3/4″ or so) should be very adequate. [If your saw is not working well, perhaps it needs to be sharpened.]

How long does it take to cut dovetails?

Business issues aside, hand cut dovetails are not that big of an issue in our shop. My time per drawer averages about 1.3 hours. That’s going from rough stock to parts ready to sand (insides) and assemble. Big drawers take longer, but most of the time in big drawers is in the glue-ups.

Can you cut dovetails with a jigsaw?

If you have a jigsaw table, a few simple angle jigs can help you create fast, precise and repeatable dovetails.

What is the difference between a carcass saw and a dovetail saw?

The main difference between the two I can see is the depth of cut at 40mm on the dovetail and 60mm on the carcass. Now I have some 40mm stock that I would ideally like to dovetail so the carcass is looking promising but don’t want to miss a trick and struggle with thinner stock.

What is the difference between a back saw and a dovetail saw?

Are dovetail saws crosscut or rip?

Technically you can cut any joint with either saw. With 16 ppi the number of teeth isn’t too far off from what you’d want. The difference, as was mentioned, is the a dovetail saw is a rip filed saw as both haves of the joint are sawn down the grain.

Should a tenon saw be rip or crosscut?

It appears that a carcase saw is a crosscut saw and the tenon saw is a rip saw. The teeth on a tenon saw tend to be slightly larger than on a carcase saw, the depth of cut slightly larger. Both saws are considerably coarser than a dovetail saw, with 16 to 18 or more tpi.

What does a dovetail look like?

This joint type has two parts, called pins and tails. You can tell the difference between these two pieces because the tails are flared triangular shapes, while the pins are thinner. The tails, which look like those of a dove, are what give the dovetail joint its name.

How hard is it to cut dovetails?

Dovetails can be complex, but they do not need to be. This is the simplest and easiest way I know to Hand cut a Dovetail joint. As Hand tool Woodworking skills go this one is very easy once you master a few basic skills. Also, there are thousands of ways to do it.

What are the rules for dovetail?

RULES: Dovetail is a better ball stroke play game played with a partner, with each player having their gross score recorded on a minimum of 8 holes. Both partners play the holes individually to the stroke play format and then select which score is entered on the card.

What angle is a hand cut dovetail?

When creating original work, it’s best to keep the angle ratio between 1:8 (7°) and 1:6 (9.5°). If the tail angles are too shallow, you’ll lose the classic dovetail look (not to mention holding power). And if they’re cut too steep, they’ll appear exaggerated and be prone to chipping.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner