Popular Woodworking 2009-04 № 175, страница 15

against the square edge and an inch or two slicking out al the top. Pick up your saw and get se: to work.

But First, Some Practice

Woodworkers are an interesting bunch. Lack of confidence will keep someone from attempting something, but as soon as I hat hurdle has been crossed, it is often assumed thai one's first covetails may as well be cut in a wide, expensive piece of mahogany that's part of a complex piece of furniture.

Spend some time getting used to how the saw feels in your hand, and what it feels like to makea cut. The best way to do this is to make a lot of cuts. Get some cheap wood and make as many cuts as you can in the end of a board. Don't bother marking lines, just cut.

As you get t he hang of it, gel out your square and see how you've done. The design of saws has evolved to make thingseasy, and if you can keep from thinking too much, the weight and balance ofthe saw, along with gravity, will take care ofthe hard part. You just need to learn to steer. When you're comfortable starting the saw and cutting straight across and straight down, cut off the end of your board and repeal the exercise by making angled cuts.

Do all of this by eye, and find a vertical angle that looks like a dovetail to you. Make as many cuts as you can, and after a few see if you can make them parallel to each other. Go halfway across the board angling to the left, then make more cuts that angle to the right on the other hall.

When you've ruined the end of the board again, cut it off square and practice making cuts that angle front to back and are straight up and down. Keep your pencil and your layout tools away for now. The idea is to get comfortable with the process and figure out how to hold the saw, where to put your feet and how to move your arm.

Now Worry About the Lines

The half-hour or so that you spent making cuts without lines will enable you to move to the next step with confidence. Now you can practice cutting to a line knowing how it feels to start and make a cut. The first part is making a good line. A pencil line shows where the line should be, but a knife line will actually help you make a better cut.

As it is with all other tools, you can spend a lot of money for a nice marking knife. Someday that will make perfect sense, but for now

use a utility knife or an X-Acto knife. Run the point ofthe knife along the blade of your square or bevel gauge. A knife line can be hard to see; you can run a pencil along it to make it more visible.

If you can make the first saw stroke accurately, you are wellon your way to being adept with the saw, anc the knife line provides a channel for the saw teeth to ride in. Make a gentle stroke to keep from jumping out of that channel. The saw wants to cut straight, and it wants to be balanced vertically. If you force the process you will be in the way. If you just watch and let it happen, the saw will do most ofthe work. PW

Bob is a senior editor of this magazine, and the author of "Shop Drawings for Greene & Greene Furniture."

Three clamps and you're ready. With the work clamped to the jig, and the jig clamped to your bench, you can practice making cuts with a handsaw.

The Cheap Approach to Handsaws

If you are new to using a handsaw and want a decent tool on a budget, there are a couple reasonable options. The first is to purchase a Japarese Dozuki-style saw with a replaceable blade and a reinforced back. Expect to pay $30-$50. Stay away from the really cheap saws at the big box stores.

Japanese saws are usually sharp and functional when new, and they cut on the pull stroke. The teeth are exceptionally hard, a condition with both pluses and minuses. The good thing is that the saw will stay sharp. The bad things are that it is easy to snap off a tooti if you force the saw while making a cut, and that the teeth can be too hard to be sharpened.

A good start. Mary woodworkers start with a Japanese Dozuki as their first joinery saw. It is sharp, functional and doesn't cost a fortune.

We work with harder woods than the Japanese do, and while a Dozuki will outperform a Western-style saw at a comparable price, many woodworkers find pushing a Western saw preferable. A quality backsaw costs about as much as a good router or jigsaw does. It's a worthwhile investment, once you're adept enough to recognize the fine points.

There is a new alternative, tie Veritas dovetail saw (leevalley.com). At $65, it nicely fills the gap between cheap saws that don't work at all, and the high end saws. It also allows you to learn with the same technique you'll need if you decide to move up to a premium saw. — RL

A new alternative. A good Western-style joinery saw can be expensive, but the new Veritas dovetail saw is a quality tool at a reasonable price.

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