Best not to buy expensive saw while learning to sharpen?

[AndrewBaker]

I have been advised not to buy expensive chisels when you have not yet learned to sharpen properly

I am considering the veritas dovetail saw but do you think I would be better off buying something like a crown dovetail saw because I have never sharpened a saw before?

thanks

 

[bugbear]

I have been advised not to buy expensive chisels when you have not yet learned to sharpen properly

I am considering the veritas dovetail saw but do you think I would be better off buying something like a crown dovetail saw because I have never sharpened a saw before?

thanks

I would recommend buying the Veritas saw (because it's very good) but also buying a second hand saw of similar type from eBay, and also a hand saw with larger teeth.

Practise your woodwork with the Veritas, and practise your sharpening on the eBay saws, starting with the large toothed one, and progressing to the smaller toothed one.

By the time your woodworking has blunted the Veritas to the point where it needs sharpening, you should be ready to sharpen it.

BugBear

 

[Jacob]

Nothing wrong with Crown DT saw and not cheap either.

If you want to learn to sharpen I wouldn't start with a DT saw as the teeth are small, least of all a new one as you are likely to mess it up at first.
I'd get a rusty old one - backed or not, but with no more than say 10 tpi. Plenty of them about for very little money. Practice away and bin it if no good!

 

[CaptainBarnacles]

I bought the Veritas dovetail saw and am really very happy with it, it's a lovely saw to use and is very well balanced. I've been cutting my first hand-cut dovetails in oak and elm with it this week and I can almost cut right to the line with it. By the time I have finished the 9th drawer I expect I'll be a bit better at it.

I wouldn't attempt to sharpen it myself yet though. I have just started learning to sharpen saws and I practice on a handful of saws that I picked up a the local car boot sale. I think I paid a fiver for 6 saws! None of them are very special and they are all rusted (though not pitted) but they are great for practicing on. When I get one properly sharp and cutting in a straight line I might attempt to sharpen one of my nice saws .

 

[bugbear]

I bought the Veritas dovetail saw and am really very happy with it, it's a lovely saw to use and is very well balanced. I've been cutting my first hand-cut dovetails in oak and elm with it this week and I can almost cut right to the line with it. By the time I have finished the 9th drawer I expect I'll be a bit better at it.

One of the better tips I've seen is to make loads of dovetailed storage boxes for your home and workshop; might as well make something useful whilst practising yer' DT's, prior to taking a saw to your really important projects.

BugBear

 

[CaptainBarnacles]

One of the better tips I've seen is to make loads of dovetailed storage boxes for your home and workshop; might as well make something useful whilst practising yer' DT's, prior to taking a saw to your really important projects.

BugBear

Now that sounds like a good idea. I can bang out a load of much needed (by SWMBO) storage boxes before I embark on MY much needed tool chest.