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samson

15/09/2008 11:44 PM

Removing material on hand cut dovetails

When you remove material after making your cuts, do
you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
combination of both?

Thanks,

S.


This topic has 6 replies

BB

Bored Borg

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

17/09/2008 3:08 AM

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:44:38 +0100, samson wrote
(in article <[email protected]>):

> When you remove material after making your cuts, do
> you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
> combination of both?
>
> Thanks,
>
> S.

I just finished watching the "Dovetail A Drawer" video about 30 minutes ago.

Definitely chisel only. Across the pins/tails "baseline" then into the face
of the waste - NOT the endgrain - cutting back toward the line you just cut
starting maybe 1/4 in from the end, leaving the endmost piece "fat." Flip the
stock over and repeat from the other side. The fat piece left between the
ends of the pins or tails supports the waste until the cuts meet and the
waste drops out of the way.

TV

Tom Veatch

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

16/09/2008 12:06 AM

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:44:38 -0500, samson <[email protected]> wrote:

>When you remove material after making your cuts, do
>you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
>combination of both?
>
>Thanks,
>
>S.


Combination. Coping saw to get the biggest chunk of waste out of the
way staying well clear of the line, then a sharp chisel to pare to the
line.

Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA

cc

charlieb

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

03/10/2008 3:37 AM

Using a jeweler's saw rather than a coping saw is a good idea
since a normal coping saw blade is wider than the kerf of either
a japanese dovetail or "push saw" dovetail saw and even a
"coarse" jeweler's saw has a thinner kerf than any dovetail
saw.

And just for clarification - you don't "chop out" the waste
in the sockets - most of the material work is "split out"
- which isn't hard on sharp edges.

OH - and "leave the line". If you cut "on the line" you lose
where you should be stopping.

Cn

Chris

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

16/09/2008 12:52 AM

samson wrote:
> When you remove material after making your cuts, do
> you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
> combination of both?
>
> Thanks,
>
> S.
Use a very sharp chisel and go slow.

Chris

MF

"Michael Faurot"

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

16/09/2008 10:59 AM

samson <[email protected]> wrote:
> When you remove material after making your cuts, do
> you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
> combination of both?

Chisels only.

NB

"Norman Billingham"

in reply to samson on 15/09/2008 11:44 PM

16/09/2008 9:16 AM


<Tom Veatch> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:44:38 -0500, samson <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>When you remove material after making your cuts, do
>>you use a coping saw, a (sharp) chisel, or some
>>combination of both?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>S.
>
>
> Combination. Coping saw to get the biggest chunk of waste out of the
> way staying well clear of the line, then a sharp chisel to pare to the
> line.

Why blunt a chisel taking out wood which can be removed in a lump? I use a
jewellers piercing saw to cut back to about 2mm from the line then finish
with a chisel. The piercing saw has a much finer blade than a coping saw
and fits easily into the thin cuts made by a good dovetail saw.


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