Comments on: Video: Not Sawing, But Nibbling

By: Steve Branam

Steve Branam — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:50:36 +0000

Very nice! I like the emphasis on guiding with the thumb while nibbling.

This is one of those fine subtleties that seems almost too trivial to mention, yet can have a huge effect on accuracy.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:13:45 +0000

Chris,

I think Adam Cherubini has hijacked the link to all your previous blog entries on saws. It looks like the correct link is:

Thanks,
Steve

By: billlattpa

billlattpa — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:39:08 +0000

I learned to cut dovetails pins first which I prefer but always seems to be a somewhat delicate operation to me. Probably because I work with mainly oak and pine. After the first few times I cut my dovetails I started using the base of the blade to “nibble” away and then going into the cut fully. I found that this leads to cleaner and more accurate cuts. It’s nice to see that my “technique” has some form of basis in reality..

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:50:42 +0000

Derek,

You are spot on with your assessment. I had the same thoughts as I delved into the world of rake and fleam and sloped gullets.

After teaching lots of people to saw during classes during the last six years, I’ve found that a sharp saw and a little practice make these differences in rake difficult to notice.

Some people are more comfortable starting on the front corner. Some on the back. That has been my conclusion.

So point taken.

By: Derek Cohen

Derek Cohen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:23:55 +0000

Hi Chris

About the sawing technique …

1. Dovetails: sawing from the end increases the effective rake angle of the teeth. For a high angle saw, such as the LN (with zero rake), this will make the saw very grabby and difficult to start. Generally I advise that the cut starts at the nearest end. I think that Adam Cherubini would nod his head here.

2. Tenons: you get my full support. You are (a) reducing rake angle by pitching the board foward, seeing two lines simultaneously, and (c) not obscurring the line as much as with the shoulder cut (see #3).

3. Shoulder: I prefer to saw towards the end. Again, this reduces the rake angle but also sawing backards obscures the line more (than sawing forwards).

Regards from Perth

Derek

By: DanGar

DanGar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:17:26 +0000

There is nothing like GOOD TOOLS when it comes to woodworking.
Try to do that with a HOMECENTER saw!

By: Cobwobbler

Cobwobbler — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:06:10 +0000

Hi Chris,
Here’s a link to a Youtube clip about a similar technique, has an interesting “Gas pedal” analogy about 2 minutes in.
http://bit.ly/nqV7Jz
TTFN, Martin

By: Pedder

Pedder — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:05:44 +0000

Like your first class sawing technique this is making a guarding line carefully, then saw fast. Good idea.

Cheers
Pedder

By: Niels

Niels — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:49:46 +0000

Word.