????? Re Hand cut dovetail saw
I'm VERY new to handtools but the elegant simplicity of a hand-cut DT has grabbed me ever since I saw Rob Cosman on the ww show circuit make beautiful DTs over and over again while bantering with the crowd and assembling joints without any trial fit.
Here's my dilemna - while it's an amazing tool, the L-N saw is a bite $-wise. My next choice might be the Lee Valley dovetail kit with their saw and a magnetized jig assembly to keep you on the "straight & narrow". I hate sounding like a snob, but I'd permanently feel I'm relying on training wheels.
After such a long preface, my question is: if I don't want to spend the $ on the L-N saw, does anyone ever use a Japanese puul-type saw with a stiff back? Any limitations? Problems? Anything I should know about? I'd be following Rob Cosman's techniques which obviously work but with a different saw.
All opinions, knowledge and experiences would be very welcome ... I hear a Shaker-style step stool calling my name in time for when the garage warms up enough for glue to work. Thank you. Howard
Ditto to looking for reasons to hand dovetail...
I had a chance to purchase a used Leigh Dovetail jig for about half price a year or so ago. When I got it home, I realized I had to make a place for it. So I added a space under an existing shelf, and made a drawer to keep this together. The only problem was I didn't know how to use the Leigh jig....So I hand-cut the dovetails to make the drawer for it. I told Frank Klausz about this, and he said a drawer is a good place for the jig to stay.
When I first got Frank's video, I started making drawers. I used a bunch of junk plywood, then MDF to make utility cases. In two months I made over 90 drawers. I became quite comfortable with hand-cut dovetails. Now, the few times I use that Leigh jig, it seems terribly restrictive.
Within the last 2 weeks, I got a new medium-sized bowsaw from Glenn Livingston (Woodjoy Tools). I really love this saw and will use it the next time I do dovetails.
Just today, I finished modifying two old 1/4" chisels into left & right skew chisels. (As did my friend Dick Shryock) I will use these to clean up half-blind dovetails next time. I'm currently building a dining room table for my son, with two drawers, so it will be soon.
Thanks for the note.
Woody from South Portland, Maine
Well it's about time you showed up Woody.
Where you been hiding you old pirate. I ain't seen hide nor hair of you for almost 2 years. You and Dick going to Donelley's Nashua auctiona nd tailgate in April?
The MJD Tools auction is April 25-26...
at the usual location at the Naushua Holiday Inn and the parking lot. Barring anything unusual happening I'll be there for both the tailgate session and the auction too.