Marmotjr Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Looking to get into more 'advanced' joinery, ie dovetails. But I don't have a saw for this use, what ONE saw should I get that will cover most of the bases, tempt me to get more specialized saws, and is relatively inexpensive (<$50), and will give decent enough results that I won't get frustrated? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSouthWoodCraft Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I'm not sure what you consider inexpensive but I have the Veritas Carcass saw pictured below. It cuts smoothly and cleanly for me but I'm sure others will say to go with a true dovetail saw. https://www.woodcraft.com/products/veritas-crosscut-carcass-saw-14-tpi?gclid=Cj0KEQjwmv7JBRDXkMWW4_Tf8ZoBEiQA11B2fuQO3O-K7t52II-8p6I-AQTmobmf_JNNaW7fOSUrI7QaAvkY8P8HAQ Btw I definitely didnt pay as much as they are asking for it. Mine was closer to 55 as the box was already open. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 The LV dovetail saw is a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Wright Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 8 minutes ago, OldSouthWoodCraft said: I'm not sure what you consider inexpensive but I have the Veritas Carcass saw pictured below. It cuts smoothly and cleanly for me but I'm sure others will say to go with a true dovetail saw. https://www.woodcraft.com/products/veritas-crosscut-carcass-saw-14-tpi?gclid=Cj0KEQjwmv7JBRDXkMWW4_Tf8ZoBEiQA11B2fuQO3O-K7t52II-8p6I-AQTmobmf_JNNaW7fOSUrI7QaAvkY8P8HAQ Btw I definitely didnt pay as much as they are asking for it. Mine was closer to 55 as the box was already open. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Great advice from OldSouthWoodCraft If you are buying new that is your best bet. there is nothing under that Priceline that I would get that does not include restoration and sharpening. most of the time if someone can not afford that then I tell them to get a Hack Saw. you would be surprised how good the work you can do with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I'd rather do small crosscuts with a dovetail saw than cut dovetails with a crosscut saw. If you plan to do a lot of hand sawing or need to do deeper crosscuts you should buy one of each. Dovetail saw would be my first purchase. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 This was and would be my choice. http://www.leevalley.com/us/Wood/page.aspx?p=64007&cat=1,42884,68511&ap=1 Option 2 http://www.leevalley.com/us/Wood/page.aspx?p=32929&cat=1,42884 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I'm going to buck the trend a little and suggest the pair of Lee valley carcass saws - one filed rip, the other cross cut. I find I really like that size of saw. I bought the set of 3 Lee valley saws that comes with the large tenon saw, the cross cut carcass saw, and the dovetail saw. I use the carcass saw 90% of the time that I reach for one of them. I haven't cut dovetails yet, so obviously that's where that saw would come into its own, but for the tenons I've used them on the carcass saw size would have been fine. The set of three saws is nice, but I would have been pretty happy with just the two. Lee Valley carcass saws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 10 minutes ago, SawDustB said: I'm going to buck the trend a little and suggest the pair of Lee valley carcass saws - one filed rip, the other cross cut. I find I really like that size of saw. I bought the set of 3 Lee valley saws that comes with the large tenon saw, the cross cut carcass saw, and the dovetail saw. I use the carcass saw 90% of the time that I reach for one of them. I haven't cut dovetails yet, so obviously that's where that saw would come into its own, but for the tenons I've used them on the carcass saw size would have been fine. The set of three saws is nice, but I would have been pretty happy with just the two. Lee Valley carcass saws There was a price mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bleedinblue Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I was in the same boat and ended up taking Shannon Rogers' advice and went with the Veritas crosscut carcass. I have since half assed two attempts at dovetails, so it's too early to write it off, but I intend my next saw to be a dedicated DT saw. I'm sure the carcass would cut beautiful dovetails in capable hands, but afterward it seemed silly that I bought the saw with the intentions of learning to dovetail, and I intentionally moved the purpose built dt saw out of the way to get the carcass saw. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 The saw you should get is the one that fits your hand.Send back any saws that are too big or small. My joinery saws are wenzloff and sons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 There was a price mentioned. Oh, was there? I can't see one on the original post. Strange. I only suggested it because it's about the same cost as getting one saw from anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Based on your budget, the Veritas saw would be your best option, but still over budget. I would get the carcass saw as it's pretty versatile. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Veritas is best bang for the buck. If you don't have that kind of money for a saw yet, get a backsaw for a miter box from the hardware store, a XX Slim Taper file and refile the teeth into a rip pattern. It'll be some work but it'll be the cheapest way. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Keep in mind that a high-quality saw - if treated properly - will last you a lifetime. What you save up front buying lower quality, you lose in the end. It's an investment, just like everything else. I've used the Veritas saws, and while they perform beautifully, I just can't get over the aesthetics of them. Another option is to buy a dozuki. They can be had fairly cheaply and a lot of guys prefer cutting their dovetails with them. I personally have way more control and coordination with a western saw, but that's probably primarily because I learned on a western saw and have developed that particular muscle memory. I still use my dozuki from time to time even though I have a collection of western saws, so it wouldn't be a complete waste even if you discovered it's not your preferred saw for cutting dovetails. I'm pretty sure I paid less than $50 for mine, and it's a quality tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I recommend Japanese saws. I use a Dozuki "Z" saw for dovetails or other small cuts and a Gyokucho Ryoba for everything else. I have other Gyokucho saws, but I seldom use them. I also have LN dovetail and carcass saws: They never get used. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Eric. said: Keep in mind that a high-quality saw - if treated properly - will last you a lifetime. What you save up front buying lower quality, you lose in the end. It's an investment, just like everything else. I've used the Veritas saws, and while they perform beautifully, I just can't get over the aesthetics of them. I agree Eric and would also point out that cutting DT's is a learned skill and starting out with a low quality saw only makes picking up said skill that much more difficult. I would save and get a quality DT saw like Lie Nielsen, Bad Axe, or my favorite the Rob Cosman DT saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Eric. said: I've used the Veritas saws, and while they perform beautifully, I just can't get over the aesthetics of them. Glad someone else mentioned this. I really dislike that black plastic spine. That said, the Veritas saws are very nice to use, for pretty much any detail sawing. I have done very little dovetailing, but the Veritas Dovetail saw works nicely for small M&T joints, or really any other detail sawing. It is above your price range, but I really wouldn't recommend using anything cheaper. The Veritas is good enough you probably won't replace it, but supplement it with better specialty saws. If you absolutely need to stay under $50, I think you're best bet is to get a file and find an older backsaw somewhere to repair. Dozuki's work, but I've found that personally it's easier for the line to wander, since the blades aren't very rigid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 The Dozuki "Z" cuts a lot easier dovetails than most western saws, including the LN dovetail saw. FTR the one I like for dovetails is the Dozuki "Z" saw, not the other brands (I have a Gyokucho Dozuki also and it's not that good). It's very easy to get your cuts started with precision and they cut hardwood like butter. And they're cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 My beef with dozukis is the grip, nothing else. They do tend to be easier to use for beginners because they cut on the pull stroke...but I find the grip extremely awkward and it's difficult for me to make accurate cuts with it. The key with western saws is to hold the saw like you're holding a baby bird. The weight of the saw does the work. As soon as you try to apply pressure, things go wrong. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 12 minutes ago, Eric. said: My beef with dozukis is the grip, nothing else. They do tend to be easier to use for beginners because they cut on the pull stroke...but I find the grip extremely awkward and it's difficult for me to make accurate cuts with it. The key with western saws is to hold the saw like you're holding a baby bird. The weight of the saw does the work. As soon as you try to apply pressure, things go wrong. baby birds pffft. Real men use Japanese saws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 3 hours ago, Immortan D said: baby birds pffft. Real men use Japanese saws. Call and raise. - EDIT: REDACTED - 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Where are the chaps and safety glasses? It's like she doesn't care about safety 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Unfortunately, the whole Japanese vs Western saw question is something you have to try for yourself. People seem to really like one or the other. I tried going with a dozuki first, and it was OK, but never quite clicked for me. It took about 30 seconds of me using a western carcass saw to decide that it felt much more natural to me. I also found I had issues with flexing the plate on the pull saws. If you can, try a couple of each before buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Not all "dozukis" are the same. Dozuki is a type of saw not a brand or specific model. Talking about dozukis in general is like talking about western dovetail saws in general, and we all know they're not all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 33 minutes ago, Eric. said: Call and raise. I cut dovetails with a chainsaw once... Sadly, the rest of the board cut too. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.