Popular Woodworking 2004-12 № 145, страница 18

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INNOVATION THROUGH & THROUGH

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PORTER-CABLE® continues to prove its cutting-edge innovation and design with these latest tools.

7-1/4" MAG-SAW™ KIT

Change blades without changing gears. This award-winning, first-ever Quik-Chmge circular saw provides a fast and hassle-free system for changing blades making you more productive on the job site.

Available in blade-left and blade-right models with or without a brake.

VARIABLE-SPEED DUAL ACTION TIGER SAW® KIT

A revolutionary rotating back handle puts an end to turning your body to get more leverage. Plus an extra-heavy-duty 11.5 AMP motor for maximum power for all cutting capacities and blade clamp QuiC-Cfumce for keyless blade change in seconds.

FINISH NAILER/BRAD NAILER COMPRESSOR COMBO KIT

Have everything on hand with this special edition two-nailer combo kit complete with both Brad and Finisher Nailers and 2 peak HP .8 HP running 6-gallon pancake compressor. Also includes an adjustable depth-of-drive, jam-release mechanism and non-marring nose tip.

For more cutting-edge innovations from PORTER-CABLE®, visit porter-cable.com.

PORTER +CHBLE

Q & A

4 Ways to Make Dovetailing Easier

What are the Best Tricks To Improving Hand-cut Dovetails?

Hand-cut dovetails - I have a heckuva time with these. Frank Klausz, Rob Cosman, Ian Kirby ... I have seen all the books and videos. I have practiced for hours, and I continue to struggle with them. It has become somewhat of a nagging obsession at this point, and I am looking for help.

I just received your new issue (October 2004) and enjoyed it thoroughly. Your hand-cut dovetails were beautiful. Can you give me any tips on cutting these?

How about Western- vs. Japanese-style saws? I seem to recall an article on this question, but I'm really looking for your opinion. I debated biting the bullet and purchasing a Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw, but then I see numerous articles pointing me to the dozuki for dovetails. If I go with a We stern-style saw, do I try to get one with rip cut or crosscut teeth?

Kevin Bradley via the Internet

Hand-cut dovetails are one of the toughest things for me to do. They require all of my attention.

My best advice on getting good is actually something I plan to write about this year. For three months I cut a set of through-dovetails every evening after work. I dated each set. The next night as I began the new set, I studied the previous night's work to see what I was doing wrong. I was surprise d to find that I was making the same mistakes over and over. Once I saw the pattern, I knew what I needed to work on.

That said, here are the four "small breakthroughs" that have helped over the years.

1. Rip teeth: I used to use a crosscut dozuki to cut dovetails. It worked fine, but rip teeth track better. Saw teeth on Western saws are more robust (I have ruined several Japanese crosscut saws during what I would consider normal use). I'd purchase either a rip Western saw or a rip dozuki. Rip teeth do make a difference.

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Step 1: Mark your lines with a spear-point marking knife.

Step 2: Darken the knife lines with a mechanical pencil.

Step 3: Erase the excess lead. This leaves very sharp and dark lines.

WRITE TO US

Every day we get questions from readers on all subjects about their woodworking. Some are letters; many are e-mail messages. We are more than happy to share our woodworking experience with you by answering your questions or adding some clarity to whatever aspect of the craft you are unsure about. In addition to the hundreds we answer privately every month, we want to share the best questions here with readers.

Send your questions via e-mail to popwood@fwpubs.com, or by mail to: Q&A • Popular Woodworking 4700 E. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236

Popular Woodworking December 2004