Dovetail Saw

[Giff]

Can anyone recommend a good dovetail saw. I have looked online at the Veritas and Lie Neilson and the LN is nearly twice as much.
Anyone got any suggestions or advice. Thanks Giff

 

[Paul Chapman]

The Vertas is excellent value for money and there is little to choose in performance between the Veritas and the LN.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Giff]

Thanks Paul that helps a lot on that. I have been looking at these and others online has anyone any opinions on the Veritas dovetail saw v the Japanese Dozuki
as this has the replaceable blades.. Thanks Giff

 

[Harbo]

Western types cut on the push stroke - Japanese on the pull so a lot thinner kerf.
I like both types but not everybody like the Japanese ones?
Veritas you can sharpen - the Japanese generally disposable.
Best to see if you can try them out somewhere?

Rod

 

[mickthetree]

Take a look over at workshopheaven as well. They have a range of saws.

I currently use an inexpensive gents saw to cut dovetails. Works fine for me.

HTH

 

[Jacob]

I use an old Spear & Jackson. Works fine for me. Thin blade about 0.5mm as I recall. Don't see the point of even thinner blades as per Jap saws.
All the old saws, Footprint etc are good. It's down to the sharpening anyway.
I recently bought an "Atkinson & Walker" DT from WH just to see if I was missing anything but it seemed to be identical to the older ones, except for cruder handle shape. But it wasn't sharp - which is how saws were always sold in the past, but nowadays looks a bit silly IMHO

Here's a nice Sheffield saw on ebay.
They are all much the same. I guess they were made in just a few places but bought in and re-branded by different makers or dealers.

 

[devonwoody]

My vote is a Japanese saw unless you are good at resharpening. It costs almost as much to resharpen a saw as the original buying price these days.

 

[mtt.tr]

i brought a cheap dovetail saw on ebay works a treat

 

[woodbloke]

Japanese here...have a look at the dozuki on the WH site. It's around £30ish which is about one third the price of a LN (which I also owned) and is much superior...only my view of course. If you can't get on with Oriental type saws, then you're stuck with the Western option, of which the Veritas is the best IMO - Rob

 

[OPJ]

I used to use a Gent's saw very similar to the one mickthetree has linked to (I think it was about £15, made by Footprint). It served me very well for the first few years and I still use it now for small cuts and some detailed work. I only really considered buying a dedicated dovetail saw when I started getting very good at cutting dovetails - I went for one of these dovetail saw kits and haven't really looked back. The beauty, here, is that you can make your own handle to suit your hand - for comfort, preference and personality/preference.

 

[mbartlett99]

I've got the Veritas unit - excellent saw and a really comfy grip. Used a LN at school and to be honest it was nothing to write home about plus the handle never felt right. Although I use Japanese saws I find it a bit hard to steer them when doing dovetails and once they're off track they stay off track. Its all personal though isn't it?

 

[bugbear]

Although I use Japanese saws I find it a bit hard to steer them when doing dovetails and once they're off track they stay off track.

That's true of any saw with fine set.

BugBear

 

[The Wood Butcher]

Used a LN at school

:shock: Eton..? Or the other place..?

 

[bugbear]

They are all much the same. I guess they were made in just a few places but bought in and re-branded by different makers or dealers.

Yeah - common sense.

http://www.vintagesaws.com/catalog/inde ... cts_id=145

The same applies to the completely unvarying wooden planes.

http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/book ... good_1.htm

And Windsor chairs all look the same.

http://www.wycombe.gov.uk/council-servi ... combe.aspx

"common sense"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

BugBear

 

[Jacob]

I'm talking about later ones. Frinstance my local saw doctor keeps some quite nice (cheap) handsaws with his own brand on the blades. I know he doesn't make them. They are identical to some other "brands" I've seen in catalogues - most of which are more expensive.
You could do it yourself BB. Talk to whoever it is in Sheffield and launch the "BB Saw" "Best of British" hand sharpened by toolies!
Actually not a bad idea as there are no british saws which you can buy ready to use outa the carrier bag, not counting hardpoint. And other stuff - buy Crown tools (excellent quality but never sharp) and perk them up a bit; sharpen chisels, straighten squares, polish edges etc.

 

[RogerP]

I've tried Japanese saws, I really have, but I just don't enjoy using them. Old habits I suppose, anyway I've treated to a couple of western push cut saws and I'm happy again

 

[bugbear]

I'm talking about later ones.

Ah; sweeping, and wrong, generalisations, with caveats added when you're picked up. Good ol' Grim!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Frinstance my local saw doctor keeps some quite nice (cheap) handsaws with his own brand on the blades. I know he doesn't make them. They are identical to some other "brands" I've seen in catalogues - most of which are more expensive.
You could do it yourself BB. Talk to whoever it is in Sheffield and launch the "BB Saw" "Best of British" hand sharpened by toolies!
Actually not a bad idea as there are no british saws which you can buy ready to use outa the carrier bag, not counting hardpoint. And other stuff - buy Crown tools (excellent quality but never sharp) and perk them up a bit; sharpen chisels, straighten squares, polish edges etc.

It was done in the early 80's by Roger Buse, and Tilgear.

Didn't work.

BugBear

 

[devonwoody]

Personally I find mitre joint corners and modern glues means that dovetails are old hat. :!:

 

[andy king]

...there are no british saws which you can buy ready to use outa the carrier bag, not counting hardpoint.

Nope, that's wrong.
The Pax 1776 saws made by Thomas Flinn are hand filed, and are very sharp.

Andy

 

[mbartlett99]

Well this thread seems to have gently diverged but that leads me onto my own question ...

Being flat cap wearing citizen of the Republic of South Yorkshire (although I live with the shandy drinkers now) I proudly bought a lovely looking Thomas Flinn flush cut saw - looked great and I'd be doing my bit to support whats left of the industry that gave my family work for generations. Received it, great handle, great feel and about as much use as a chocolate watch. In disgust I filed it in the back of the workbench and went and bought an Irwin - looks awful, feels terrible and as sharp as a razor blade.

So, the question is did I just get a bum unit from Flinns or are all their saws (or flush cut) saw rubbish?