Early Access Video: Hunting the Affordable Dovetail Saw
Added 2019-11-16 12:01:00 +0000 UTCFriends:
I've done plenty of videos on planes, but we all need a good joinery saw, and hoo-boy, are they pricey! So, I rounded up 4 very inexpensive saws and gave them a go. The results are VERY interesting.
I tried a few new things in this video, for instance I don't actually talk to the camera and my editor and I tried a few new film-making tricks. I know the audio could be a little cleaner, but I'm always interested to hear what you think of my work.
Hope your weekend is off to a great start!
--Rex
Comments
Which size do you recommend for a beginner? I bought a Dozuki style pull saw from Wood Craft before I knew what I was doing - I still don’t know what I’m doing and my dovetails are terrible. How many hours should I waste on this before I just give up and do them with a router? Lol
Adrian Abshire
2019-12-13 18:33:39 +0000 UTCI bought a slightly older version of one of these (it had a solid molded handle rather than the scooped out style of this one) at an estate sale when I was living in an apartment and carrying lumber in my car. I kept it in the trunk so I could get the savings of buying 12-14' boards and cut them to 6' fit into my car's front seat in the parking lot. Got lots of stares, but it worked. 4x4s take a bit, but these saws cut like the dickens.
Ethan Chitty
2019-11-26 13:38:53 +0000 UTCJust a thought for WFH videos - you might want to talk about how to resharpen your saws. Chances are the cheaper options will be using poorer quality steel and will be getting dull faster than premium options, particularly if people are using specialist saws for multiple jobs. Giving people on a budget an option to breath new life into their tools might be a good idea? I didn’t even know it was POSSIBLE for a user to sharpen a saw until relatively recently.
A1BASE
2019-11-18 14:58:27 +0000 UTCI love that you plan to experiment. I am excited to see what you try. Coming from the sciences, I can say most experiments fail, and that is good. That is how we learn. But this video is a long ways from a fail. Go for it!
Duncan
2019-11-17 17:06:33 +0000 UTCI shall indeed. Can’t wait for your dovetail video . . .
William Allen
2019-11-17 14:01:41 +0000 UTCWell, next week, more Rex. Promise!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:52:12 +0000 UTCMan, I don't NEED any more saws, but I just bought 4!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:51:44 +0000 UTCThey really seem like a premium brand. I love mine!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:50:15 +0000 UTCThanks so much! I think most people strongly prefer the other format, but it's nice to get some positive reinforcement.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:49:46 +0000 UTCMan, that is CHEAP. And it comes with the little miter-box. I will need to give that one a look. I do plan on doing a similar "shootout" with cheap tenon saws. Thanks for the tip!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:49:07 +0000 UTCThanks for the thorough review! I hope you keep us updated on the Crown. If it holds up long-term then that's a saw I need to try out. I think I steered away from it because the Amazon reviews were mediocre (but now that I'm looking at the Crown on Amazon, I can't figure out why I didn't get one). Anyway, please keep us posted!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:46:10 +0000 UTCThat's what most people are saying. Experiment over, I guess!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:39:59 +0000 UTCYou totally COULD retooth the little saw, but it's still too little. I think the larger Zona is still the better bet for a very cheap saw.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:39:26 +0000 UTCI appreciate the honest feedback. We were just trying a few new things.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:37:04 +0000 UTCHonestly, I have it because I saw it on Amazon for $12 and I thought it could possibly be a really great detail saw. I was wrong.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-17 12:36:15 +0000 UTCI have a cheap Greatneck backsaw that I took to a local tooling supply shop. $20 and they jointed it and cut new teeth at 11tpi. I set it myself so I could dial in the kerf I wanted. In the end, it's a great tenon saw because I have the shoulder planes I need to clean up behind it. Honestly though, I use my Japanese saws more frequently
Nic Beurskens
2019-11-17 05:24:36 +0000 UTCAs usual, a very informative video. My only dislike is not seeing your smiling face. That is part of the draw for your channel. We get to see the guy doing the work and read his face when he tells us something is the best thing since sliced bread and easy spread margarine. Just my 2 cents worth.
Jim Williams
2019-11-17 02:10:48 +0000 UTCI bought this saw for small dovetails: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G9ZEEQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It works well, given that it cost less than $20. This saw, in combination with my vintage Disston backsaw that I picked up for $2, meets all my fine joinery requirements, and I've not felt the need to get another saw (though I keep my eyes open when I hit garage sales and antique stores).
Yohann_M
2019-11-17 01:10:55 +0000 UTCI love the Suizan Japanese saws. They cut so easily and cleany. It really blew me away when I first got one.
Brian Suker
2019-11-17 01:01:28 +0000 UTCThis is an excellent format for the message/comparison you're making! It's more clinical, more detail-oriented, I think. But your previous (normal?) format is great also - more "personable," with more of your personality showing through, which is one of the reasons your channel is so appealing. Kudos to you and your video guy - I appreciate your work!
Howard Tuckey
2019-11-16 18:45:17 +0000 UTCHere in South Africa we have a small market so the range of what is available locally (so cheaper, because shipping is the killer buying from overseas) is small but one brand that is quite widely available is Stanley, including a fairly affordable mitre box and saw combination much like, if not the same, as the one I link from Amazon below. It would like to see you add this saw to your reviews of dovetail saws to learn just how useful they might be for fine joinery. https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-19-800-Storage-12-Inch-Backsaw/dp/B00009OYG9/ref=sr_1_12?crid=14SIUAMX6U660&keywords=stanley+miter+box+with+saw&qid=1573928508&sprefix=stanley+mit%2Caps%2C432&sr=8-12
Steve Crane
2019-11-16 18:30:37 +0000 UTCI love the early access, hahaha :D I picked up a "gent" saw on Paul Sellers recommendation, and it works great for small work. You do have to be careful because you can warp the blade if you try to force it cutting. Because the Japanese saws are pull saws, it is much harder to warp the blade during a stroke. I bought a set of Japanese saws from HidaTool.com for $75. Ryoba 10R 14c, Ryoba 12R 18C and a Dozuki with 16tpi. They are all from the same company, Gyokucho, so the blade thickness is the same for all the blades. If needed, one can start with the Dozuki and go as far as you can, and then change to the less precise Ryoba to finish the cut. The one thing I do not like about them is that they are disposable. Which rubs against my personal world view. I'm currently looking at Veritas and Crown saws. I borrowed a Veritas 14tpi dovetail saw and a bought the Crown 17tpi Gent Saw. I must say I really like the saw handle on the Veritas vs the round gent style handle. I have arthritis in my thumbs and the round handles require a bit more thumb than the traditional western style grips. The Veritas is $95cdn, which is 3 Japanese replacements, so long term that seems like good value. the crown was only $15cdn. The crown is a traditional plate, so it can be sharpened. For now, I can certainly work with the round handle, and for less than a Japanese saw I'm considerably happier with the results. Both the Veritas and Crown make laser straight very clean kerfs. The Dozuki probably needs to be 18 or even 24 tpi to be able to get as clean a kerf. And I've noticed that the Dozuki when encountering weird grain can very easily deviate its path inside the kerf. The front and back of the cut in the 2x4 were on the line, the middle of the kerf partially followed the line of the grain, creating a hump on the interior of the cut. Easy to fix with a chisel on one side, and it would be hidden inside a joint on the other side, but I know it's there. Overall, I'd have to agree with you Rex, I prefer the Western style saw, and at $15CDN for a lifetime saw, how could you go wrong? (Crown is the brand Paul recommended)
William Allen
2019-11-16 17:10:58 +0000 UTCI prefer the more personal feel of your standard format over the disembodied voice talking about what I'm viewing. Your usual videos have a unique look and feel. This video is the same as a million others on YouTube.
Bill Smithem
2019-11-16 16:10:15 +0000 UTCI think you've almost got enough saws to turn that disposable one into card scrapers. I was going to buy one of the disposable saw debated it for weeks then found a nice old saw that I can resharpen at the salvation army and bought it. Haven't started buying joinery saws yet had a couple nice ones but dont know where I lost those at. You said the teeth on the one were to small to sharpen, and my question would be what would the drawback of joining them and then resharpening them to a set that is more comfortable and slightly more aggressive be, because if I can buy a cheap one that can be altered I think I would go that route, but I would need a good handle my hands aren't small
The Poor Man
2019-11-16 16:01:13 +0000 UTCPersonally I prefer the previous format where you’re showing the tool and pointing out what you’re talking about. I’m not a huge fan of the number of video effects - it feels like someone’s just discovered the transitions panel in the editing software! 😉 Less is more for stuff like that, I find.
A1BASE
2019-11-16 14:35:56 +0000 UTC@Matthew Leigh - You're right, I should add that to my first aid kit :P
Daniel
2019-11-16 13:52:53 +0000 UTCWhy *wouldn't* you have a bone saw?
Matthew Leigh
2019-11-16 13:50:39 +0000 UTCNow I'm going to have to try dovetails
Matthew Leigh
2019-11-16 13:50:05 +0000 UTCNow my question is....why do you have a bone saw? o_0
Daniel
2019-11-16 13:48:50 +0000 UTCOh yeah, it's a bone saw!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-16 13:41:00 +0000 UTCThat's a pretty great deal for all 3!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-16 13:40:49 +0000 UTCThat first saw looks like an orthopaedic saw that is all metal so it can go in an autoclave.
WhatMeWorry
2019-11-16 13:37:09 +0000 UTCAU$140. https://www.timbecon.com.au/japanese-saw-general-purpose-kit There's a "fine-cabinetry" kit which is an extra $15, I'm not exactly sure what the difference is though.
Matthew Leigh
2019-11-16 12:54:11 +0000 UTCWhat did you pay for all three?
Rex Krueger
2019-11-16 12:51:53 +0000 UTCDon't worry. Although I plan to experiment more, I'll stick with my normal way of doing things for the most part!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-16 12:51:39 +0000 UTCNot the conclusion I expected, but definitely the conclusion I was hoping for - I've already got that saw! Came in a three pack with my ryoba and a kataba
Matthew Leigh
2019-11-16 12:14:08 +0000 UTCI like your new format. Good work! I do miss your regular intro. This video was very informative but less entertaining. This is just my opinion. Do with it what you will
Shanni Marmen
2019-11-16 12:13:39 +0000 UTC
