Saws for DOVETAILING

Whether you’re starting out or stepping up, get the saw that suits your work and budget

- Paul Anthony

Because of their terrific strength and good looks, well-made hand-cut dovetails are a hallmark of fine craftsmanship, as well as a source of pride for any woodworker accomplished enough to make them. Laying out and cutting the joint can be challenging, but it’s certainly within anyone’s reach, as shown on page 31.

It definitely helps to use a good saw for the job—one that cuts relatively quickly, smoothly enough, and without any tendency to veer on its own. Saws suitable for cutting dovetails share two common characteristics: a relatively small size, and a spine on the blade to stiffen it. Otherwise, design varies widely. Some blades are thicker, some longer, and some have more teeth. Some cut on the push stroke; some on the pull stroke. Some are better quality and, of course, prices range to suit.

On these pages, I have curated a selection of generally affordable saws for dovetailing, dividing them into three basic families: gent’s saws, pistol-grip saws, and Japanese saws. My colleague Ken Burton and I tested each tool for ease of starting, sawing speed, smoothness of cut, and accuracy of tracking. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it does represent a good range of proven, capable saws. So whether you have yet to lay out your first set of dovetails or you’re simply looking to tighten your game, you’ll find something here to suit your work and budget.

Gent’s saws