I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?

"DGDevin" wrote in message
...
| I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and
similar
| projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
| recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
| other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
| reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
| considerations? Any recommendations?

I use an L-N saw and do very small dovetails on a regular basis in stock
about 1/4" thick... the pins are a saw kerf wide at the thin end and 1/8" at
the fat end. The L-N saw will do this right out of the box. After looking at
a lot of different options I ordered six more L-N saws for use when I teach
dovetailing classes at my club.

After doing these kinds of tiny dovetails cutting them in 3/4" stock with
fatter pins is a breeze!

John

On Apr 17, 3:12*pm, "DGDevin" wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. *I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? *Any recommendations?

http://www.adriatools.com/

Adria dovetail saw works perfectly if you want a western style saw.

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:12:15 -0700, DGDevin wrote:

I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and
similar projects. ... Any recommendations?

I prefer a quality dozuki saw. Typically half the kerf of the one you
mentioned.

DGDevin wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?

I've been researching this myself, so I know of a few different ones.
In the western saws there are the "big names" and then everyone else.
It certainly used to be true that L-N was one of the few usable saws out
of the box, but there are now more choices.

L-N makes a good saw. For a bit more you can get it with progressive
pitch--that is, the teeth are fine at the toe for easy starting, and get
bigger at the heel to cut faster. Apparently this takes a bit of
getting used to, but leads to faster cuts.

"Tools for Working Wood" sells a dovetail saw under the Grammercy label.
It's got a different design, being lighter and smaller than most of
the others. Some like it, some think the handle is too skinny.

Many people think Wenzloff & Sons make some of the best saws out there.
They've got two stock versions of dovetail saws (available at Lee Valley
and The Best Things but they're both backordered), and you can put your
name on the list for a custom one...but the wait time is around 5 months
before it gets started.

There are other premium saw makers out there too...Adria is one, "Ed in
Oakville" on the Canadian Woodworking forums is another, and I'm sure
there are others. Most of them involve some waiting.

Lastly, there are any number of japanese-style dozukis that will do the
job. For faster cuts, look for one with rip teeth.

Chris

DGDevin wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?



Other guys in here will have different opinions, but I like the saw
he http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...16&cat=1,42884

It's not expensive, and it cuts along the lines nicely. This one was
ready out of the box and I'd buy another.

--


Tanus

This is not really a sig

http://www.home.mycybernet.net/~waugh/shop/

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:12:15 -0700, "DGDevin"
wrote:

I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?


I have tried several saws for cutting dovetails, including a hacksaw.
I have been using a Craftsman (!) dovetail saw which does a very good
job. A bandsaw does a great job on the tails. But the most important
tool is "skill." If you are cutting blind dovetails, get a skew
chisel. It works much better than a pen knife.

DGDevin wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?


I've used $50-60 Dozuki's, cheap no-name saws, a Zona, and the LN rip
and crosscut dovetail saws.

I like the LN best for "normal" furniture hand work. The Zona, made
here in Connecticut and sold in hobby shops that sell model building
supplies, cuts VERY well and is excellent for smaller parts. The
shocker is that it costs less than $10! You may find the Zona is all you
need. Be aware that X-Acto saws look like Zona saws. The comparison is
apples to oranges.

Mario Roderiguez used to teach a class where a no-name $20 saw from
Woodcraft was "detoothed", refiled, and reset as part of the class.

Try a Zona. If you don't have a decent hobby shop nearby, these guys
sell 'em online:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLH60

On Apr 17, 4:12*pm, "DGDevin" wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. *I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? *Any recommendations?

Take a look at a "Silky" saw, if you google silky you will find them.
The folding gomboy made for bamboo has fine impulse hardened teeth and
will last a very long time cutting pins and tails. It folds keeping it
from harm when not in use. I have several.

Daily Grind Sharpening Service

On Apr 18, 7:06 am, B A R R Y wrote:
DGDevin wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? Any recommendations?

I've used $50-60 Dozuki's, cheap no-name saws, a Zona, and the LN rip
and crosscut dovetail saws.

I like the LN best for "normal" furniture hand work. The Zona, made
here in Connecticut and sold in hobby shops that sell model building
supplies, cuts VERY well and is excellent for smaller parts. The
shocker is that it costs less than $10! You may find the Zona is all you
need. Be aware that X-Acto saws look like Zona saws. The comparison is
apples to oranges.

I've used X-Acto razor saws for small dovetails. They
work fine provided you don't let the blade get bent.
At under $5.00, you can't beat the price.

Mario Roderiguez used to teach a class where a no-name $20 saw from
Woodcraft was "detoothed", refiled, and reset as part of the class.

That's actually a good saw once you stone back
most of the set to help it cut easier and with
less wandering. File the teeth rip if you like, with
whatever relief angle works best for you. Nice, thin
kerf dovetail saw for not much money.

Try a Zona. If you don't have a decent hobby shop nearby, these guys
sell 'em online:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLH60

On Apr 18, 6:06*am, B A R R Y wrote:
DGDevin wrote:
I'm interested in a handsaw for making small dovetails for boxes and similar
projects. *I just watched Ron Cosman's first video on the subject and his
recommendation of the Lie-Nielsen saw is persuasive if it's true that many
other brands are not ready to use out of the box, is his advice on that
reasonable or should it be taken with a grain of salt due to commerical
considerations? *Any recommendations?

I've used $50-60 Dozuki's, cheap no-name saws, a Zona, and the LN rip
and crosscut dovetail saws.

I like the LN best for "normal" furniture hand work. * The Zona, made
here in Connecticut and sold in hobby shops that sell model building
supplies, cuts VERY well and is excellent for smaller parts. *The
shocker is that it costs less than $10! You may find the Zona is all you
need. *Be aware that X-Acto saws look like Zona saws. *The comparison is
apples to oranges.

Mario Roderiguez used to teach a class where a no-name $20 saw from
Woodcraft was "detoothed", refiled, and reset as part of the class.

Try a Zona. *If you don't have a decent hobby shop nearby, these guys
sell 'em online:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLH60

I have the lie-nielsen saws bith crosscut and rip. I swear by them for
and type precision work like a dovetail

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

"randyswoodshoop" wrote in message
...
On Apr 18, 6:06 am, B A R R Y wrote:
DGDevin wrote:
snip

I have the lie-nielsen saws bith crosscut and rip. I swear by them for
and type precision work like a dovetail

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Me too! AMOF I have the LN dovetail and both carcass saws.

Thanks to everyone for the opinions and advice, gave me lots to think about
before putting in an order with Lee Valley. I spread some money around
between a reasonable-priced saw, some good chisels and a few measuring and
marking gadgets to make it easier to get those pins and tails to appear
where I want them to be. Now it's time to dig through the scrap bin and
practice, practice practice! I predict by this time next year my friends
and relations will be sick of small wooden boxes as gifts.... ;~)

"DGDevin" wrote in message
m...
| Thanks to everyone for the opinions and advice, gave me lots to think
about
| before putting in an order with Lee Valley. I spread some money around
| between a reasonable-priced saw, some good chisels and a few measuring and
| marking gadgets to make it easier to get those pins and tails to appear
| where I want them to be. Now it's time to dig through the scrap bin and
| practice, practice practice! I predict by this time next year my friends
| and relations will be sick of small wooden boxes as gifts.... ;~)

Re the gift thing... it happens. Though I find that a lot of my female
associates like my boxes so there is always someone to give them to...
charity auctions and charity dinner raffles eat up quite a few too. The hard
part with the charity auctions is that the boxes sometimes don't sell for
much as people have no idea what they took to make. An pro associate of mine
has taken to putting a reserve on his items with the stipulation that if the
item doesn't meet the reserve he will buy it for the reserve.

John

Joe wrote:
On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:02:29 -0700, DGDevin wrote:

I predict by this time next year my friends and relations will be
sick of small wooden boxes as gifts.... ;~)

Take a look at your library or pick up a copy of..

400 Wood Boxes: The Fine Art of Containment & Concealment

or any of the box books by Doug Stowe.

I have two so far, both gifts from the Mrs., Popular Woodworking's Box By
Box, and Wood magazine's Making Great Boxes. I'll keep an eye out for the
ones you mention, thanks.