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 saw is best for cutting dovetail joints?
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 is the best tool for dovetail joints?
For making perfect fixed dovetail joints, many woodworkers turn to the Leigh Super 18-inch Dovetail Jig. Dovetails and half-blind dovetail joints can be made fast and effortlessly with this woodworking tool, and look like they’ve been professionally made.
How do I choose a dovetail saw?
Like tenon saws, these can be brass or steel-backed, the main difference is that the steel-backed saws are lighter. You also want to make sure it has 15 PPI or more (slightly smaller teeth) and has a comfortable wooden handle. Paul likes the turned (inline) handle for cutting dovetails, as found on the gent’s saw.
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 tool is commonly used to cut dovetails?
Woodworking Hand Tools used for Cutting Dovetails The tools I’ll be using for cutting dovetails are a dovetail saw, a crosscut saw, a coping saw, a few wood chisels, a marking gauge, a combination square, a bevel square, a pair of dividers, a marking knife, a joiner’s mallet, and a pencil.
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.
What is the weakness of dovetail joint?
The disadvantages of dovetail joints are that they can be fairly difficult to mark out and cut, and if they are made badly these joints lose the advantages listed above. Depending on the project, function, and design, there are a number of different types of dovetail joints to choose from.
Are dovetail joints 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.
How difficult is a dovetail joint?
It is a difficult joint to make manually, requiring skilled workmanship. There are different types of dovetail joints. The angle of slope varies according to the wood used, purpose of joint and type of work. Typically the slope is 1:6 for softwoods, and a shallower 1:8 slope for hardwoods.
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 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 a dovetail saw?
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.
What saw is best for wood joints?
What size is a dovetail saw?
The high-carbon steel blade, 11″ (279 mm) long and 0.02″ (0.5 mm) thick, has a cut depth of about 2-3/8″ (60 mm). Each saw is 16-3/8″ (416 mm) long overall and weighs just under a pound.
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.
What tool is used to make a dovetail joint?
What tools are used to make a dovetail joint? Well, a saw and a chisel are the basics. It’s good to have a set of dividers, a marking knife, a marking gauge, and a coping saw as well. How much stronger is a dovetail joint vs other joint types?
What size is a dovetail saw?
The high-carbon steel blade, 11″ (279 mm) long and 0.02″ (0.5 mm) thick, has a cut depth of about 2-3/8″ (60 mm). Each saw is 16-3/8″ (416 mm) long overall and weighs just under a pound.
What are the rules for dovetails?
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.
What is a small backsaw used to cut dovetails?
The “Gent’s” Saw It can be used for dovetailing, small crosscuts, etc. It’s often an essential part of a small, specialized toolkit, like for model making, but most woodworkers can get along fine without it. It’s the one kind of backsaw I don’t own, so I have no picture of a gent’s saw to show you.
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 weakest joint in carpentry?
A butt joint uses a simple technique whereby two pieces of material are joined together at their ends, without any special shaping or cutting. Although it is simple, the butt joint is also the weakest of the wood joinery types.
Should you glue dovetail joints?
Michael Dresdner: The only areas that require glue on dovetails are the diagonal faces. All the diagonal faces are long grain, all the square faces are end grain, and all the flat faces abut end grain. Therefore, you need only apply glue to the diagonal faces on the tails or pins, or both.
Is a finger joint stronger than a dovetail joint?
For box joint, some people put a lot more fingers than it is possible to do with Dovetail. In this case, the gluing surface is larger, and the joint is likely stronger. Also, some find a way to hide a finish nail in the joint. Dovetail has the advantage of a mechanical lock independent of the glue.
