Here is a picture of a recent set of custom saws for a cabinet maker in Maine.
The front saw is a 10″ 15ppi rip dovetail saw.
The back saw (no pun) is an 11″ 11ppi crosscutting carcass saw.
These two bad boys are ready to go to work. Both are graced with some California fiddleback walnut.
Here is the finished product. Mortised new Winsor Saw medallion into highly figured quilted maple. The blade is .025″ 1095 spring steel filed 12ppi rip. In terms of the tote the angle is slight more aggressive than the original No. 9. I sharpened the lines and streamlined the overall pattern to give a more stylized look than the originally clunky No. 9 tote. Contact Winsor Saw at sales@winsorsaw.com to order. 6-8 weeks for delivery.
Found this perfect piece of quilted hard maple to execute another Reagan remake.
One of my customers, John B, send me these two pictures. The first is a Winsor Saw Tenon
doing joinery in hard maple in preparation for a 1800’s Chippendale mirror. The second is the end product, or better yet, art piece! Here’s what John has to say about his new Winsor Tenon Saw:
“Hi Robert, Attached is a photo of your saw helping me cut the joinery of late 1800s Chippendale rococo mirror.
The ripped filing cuts beautifully.”
Simply stunning!
We been working on a new design for brass medallions which will be integrated into all saws.
Going out to Dwayne a matching set: dovetail and tenon saws wrapped in oiled leather.
Dovetail joint in quilted maple.
I have to thank Rob Cosman for this simple test.
This test will not only test your saw but your skills as well.
A dovetail saw needs to cut smooth enough to create a glue joint. If the saw cuts too rough then when you glue the dovetail joint you will not get a clean joint line, rather you will get a line that needs to be filled.
A great dovetail saw will not only cut fast, but it will cut straight accurate glue lines.
So test your saw!
Take some 3/4″ stock. Mark a 1″ wide by 1.5″ long rectangular piece on either the left or right side of your stock.
Cut out the rectangle. Cut the vertical line first, then turn the stock 90 degrees and cut the horizontal. Make sure the saw tracks on your line. A great dovetail saw cuts perfectly straight. If you get off your line you will not get back on. That’s just the name of the game. Trying to correct will only twist and bind the saw, maybe even permanently tweaking the plate (blade).
Ok, take your rectangle piece, flip it vertically, glue and clamp. Wait 30 minutes and inspect your joint. Are you happy with the results? Even though your saw left some score marks while cutting the joint line should be seamless.
If not try it again. Focus on gentle even strokes with the saw. Make sure your body (hips, shoulders, forearm, elbow, and shoulder) is in line with the cut. Your grip should be light. Let the saw do its job. Watch it cut against the line. Is is cutting straight? Does it curve? Is it binding? Keep at it and see if you can make a clean joint line.
If you repeatedly cannot make a clean joint/glue line it is time for a new saw or its time to have your saw tuned by a professional.
Winsor Saw Dovetail Saws
With so many options for dovetail saws on the market today how do you go about selecting a saw. Here is simple criteria:
Foxy–a saw need not be an eye-sore. A good looking tool, in my opinion, is more likely to get used. Find a saw maker who makes good looking saws. Polished steel, shiny brass accents, and well finished exotic wood should all be there.
Fit–don’t buy a saw that you can’t try. If a saw does not fit you well then you will not cut well. Handles can be too small, too large, too thin, an improper attack angle and so on. You should be able to either test drive the saw or buy from a sawmaker who has a return policy.
Function–a dovetail saw needs to cut well. The saw should cut: 1) fast, 2) straight, 3) easily, and ) smoothly. A quality saw is going to be tested and tuned. The set should be just enough to release pressue off the blade but not too much to affect the straightness of the cut. You and your saw should cut straight. By this I mean the the saw will cut and track a perfect straight line both vertically and horizontally. This is essential for cutting dovetails. Use a carpenter’s square to test how straight your cuts are. You shouldn’t have to force a saw to cut. You need not be white knuckled when you grip your saw. A saw needs to be very sharp and have the proper rake (tooth angle) and set. This allows the saw to begin the cut easily without twisting, bending or binding. Lastly a quality dovetail saw will leave a smooth surface. A smooth wood surface is essential for dovetail glueups. If the saw leaves too much of a rough face, splinters or tearout you may not get the surface area you need to properly glue your joints.
I hope this helps. Next blog will focus on some simple tests you can do to see if your dovetail saw is cutting properly.
Best wishes,
Robert
WinsorSaw.com
Winsor Saw 