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

What would you use a dovetail saw for?

Although similar to a tenon saw, dovetail saws generally have thinner blades with a greater number of teeth per inch. 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 the difference between a pull saw and a back saw?

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

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. A mitre saw is filed for crosscutting, is quite a bit longer than a tenon saw and attached to a mitre rig. Most common these days are picture frame saws.

What is a small backsaw used to cut dovetails?

Gent’s saws. A gent’s saw is a small, economically priced backsaw meant for general work. These saws are typically available in 6- to 10″-long versions, with teeth per inch (tpi) usually ranging from 12tpi to 22tpi. Although often configured for crosscutting, the teeth work fine for dovetailing.

What kind of saw do you use for dovetails?

I think the standard LN saw is great and recommend it. Don’t spend the extra money. [When I first started making dovetails, I used a dozuki. I didn’t have any problems with it cutting straight but it was fairly slow – the one I was using had fairly fine teeth which made for a slow cut.]

Is a tenon saw the same as a back saw?

Tenon Saws (can also be known as Sash Saws, Back saws and Carcass Saws) – Often used for cutting tenon joints but can be used for a wide variety of applications. It is made up of a wooden handle with a wide blade made from thin steel. There are several different lengths of tenon saws ranging from 10-14”.

Why do back saws have a back?

A backsaw is a specialized handsaw for cutting tenons (joints or grooves) in wood. The blade is rectangular, 8 to 14 inches in length, with a hardwood or plastic handle and a metal-reinforced back edge (opposite the teeth) to keep the blade from bending while cutting.

What are the three types of saw?

Jigsaws, circular saws, and reciprocating saws are all portable power saws, but they are used to make different types of cuts. Similarly, chop saws make straight, vertical cuts, while miter saws or compound miter saws can make straight, angled, or mitered cuts.

What are the 3 types of miter saws?

Types of Mitre Saws All mitre saws produce precise angled cuts ideal for a wide range of uses. There are three types of mitre saws: sliding, compound and sliding compound.

Do carpenters use miter saws?

The saws also make straight crosscuts and, when equipped with the right blade, miter saw uses are versatile, making them an important part of a tool arsenal for professional carpenters as well as DIYers.

Is it worth buying a miter saw?

Precision is what makes miter saws so indispensable. Because the blade is fixed to a sturdy arm on a heavy body, cuts can be fine-tuned to the width of the blade. “You can shave off little bits until you get a perfect fit,” says Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor.

Why do people use dovetail joints?

The advantages of the dovetail joint are that it is the strongest of all joints, has a large gluing area, is interlocking, resists being pulled apart, looks attractive, and would hold together even without glue.

When was dovetail used?

While dovetail joints can be found on ancient Egyptian coffins from 3000 BC, they were not used in European and American furniture until the mid 1600s. Dovetails have flared tails like a bird on the end of the drawer’s side boards that interlock into mirroring pins on the drawer’s face board.

What is a dovetail joint used for in furniture?

Applications of a Dovetail Joint? Dovetail joints are most commonly used woodworking. Carpenters use dovetail joints to create cabinets, furniture, drawers, log buildings, carcass construction, timber framing. Dovetail joints are known for their strength and durability.

Can you cut dovetails with a jigsaw?

Undoubtedly, you can do the basic cutting with anything that “will fit” and then refine with chisels. That includes a jig saw; preferably one like the Festool or top of the line Bosch that has blade guides.

How do you sharpen a back saw?

As a rule, sharpen saws with triangular files. With one stroke of the file, both the tooth face and the back of the neighbouring teeth are sharpened. This means that the teeth all have an angle of 60° at the tip.

Which part of a dovetail do you cut first?

Cutting the dovetail pins first makes sense. It’s easier to hold the pin board in place to mark the tails than it is to hold the tail board against the end of what will be the pin board. Also, the walls of the pins provide a good surface for the awl as you mark the tails.1 Feb 1996

Is a dovetail saw a rip saw?

Since dovetailing is a ripping operation, where the kerf runs with the grain, our Dovetail Saws have teeth filed to a rip profile.

How do you use a back saw safely?

Cutting With a Backsaw Before beginning your cut, it is crucial to adjust your grip for maximal safety. Grip it firmly in both hands with your fingers away from the blade. Hold this position throughout your entire cut. Always keep pressure on its handle as you pull back or push forward.

Can a tenon saw cut 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.

Is a dovetail saw 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.

Can a back saw be sharpened?

Synopsis: There’s a lot of complicated detail out there about the best way to sharpen a handsaw, but professional saw maker Mark Harrell says you don’t really need it. You can sharpen any backsaw using a few simple tools and his step-by-step method.

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.

Why do back saws have a brass back?

Back Saws. Back Saws get their name from the steel or brass back (labelled on the diagram). The heavy back gives the saw its weight which is useful when sawing wood. The weight of the saw along with the forward sawing motion allows the saw to cut through woods relatively easily.

What saw is best for beginners?

The First Saw: Compound Miter Saw While their size may seem intimidating, they are by far the easiest saws to learn to use safely and accurately. They’re excellent for small projects as well as large-scale construction.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner