For those of you who use handsaws (or back saws), what is your favorite saw to make dados? Do you use a different one for stopped versus through dados? Or do most of you use chisels to make your housing joints?
[OP]
Contributor
For those of you who use handsaws (or back saws), what is your favorite saw to make dados? Do you use a different one for stopped versus through dados? Or do most of you use chisels to make your housing joints?
Member
I like using a carcase saw. For stopped dados, I use a chisel.
Contributor
For through dados, I used to use a mitre saw. Now I use a 16" gentleman's saw that I bought on a lark (had never seen one before this long) and love it. For stopped dados, I use a stair saw with the blade reversed so that I pulls like a Japanese saw.
Contributor
It depends on the size of the work. For a stopped dado in a piece of 1X12 the saw would have to be long enough. Usually a 12 - 16" backsaw would be used. Maybe a similar saw for a through dado on a 2X4 or 2X6.
For smaller work, maybe a dovetail saw or a short backsaw.
Chisels are then used to remove the waste. For a 3/4" dado a 1/2" or 5/8" chisel works fine and helps to avoid chip outs along the walls of the dado.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Friend of the Creek
I use a Japanese pull saw for both. Will often also use a square block of wood for a guide (cheater).
[OP]
Contributor
Ryoba or Dojzuki?Originally Posted by Phil Mueller
I use a Japanese pull saw for both. Will often also use a square block of wood for a guide (cheater
Friend of the Creek
I have several of both and they all work fine. My guide block is 1 1/2” square, so as long as I can cut the dado to depth before hitting the saw spine, I tend to favor the Dozuki.
Contributor
Preferred saw would be the Langtdon 75 mitre box and saw, to saw the dado's walls, as I can control depths of cuts....then a chisel to clear out the waste..
Next would be the Stanley No. 39 3/8" Dado Plane..
Then the Stanley No. 45.
Finally, a Disston No. 4, followed by a chisel...and cleaned up with the dado plane.
Contributor
In the past I have used a mitre box saw plus guide for through dados and through sliding dovetails ...
I am more likely these days to build stopped dados and stopped sliding dovetails, and my saw of choice is an azebiiki ...
I may also use a fence ...
In all these instances, the waste is removed with a chisel ..
... and finished with a router ...
... and plane (here a re-treaded Stanley #79) ...
Regards from Perth
Derek
Last edited by Derek Cohen; 02-08-2019 at 1:00 AM.
Member
I like my Geo. H. Bishop adjustable saw (a Galootaclaus gift) for dados, or even for tenon shoulders because the back acts as a depth stop.
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User
Member
I use a crosscut carcase saw. A guide block is very helpful, a must for sliding dovetails.
Last edited by Robert Engel; 02-08-2019 at 7:39 AM.
Contributor
I typically use a gents saw that I turned into a stair saw, chisel and router plane. I'll admit that I don't do it often any more, and that nowadays I am almost as likely to grab the cordless Makita circular saw to do most of the work, followed by the saw chisel and plane.
Making furniture teaches us new ways to remove splinters.
Member
I've been using a crosscut panel saw against a guide block. Seems to work OK, but I'm really eyeing that azebiiki now...
One thing I've noticed about my saw is that the line of teeth is not straight (front to back), they belly out in the middle of the saw. Make it a little hard to get a consistent depth. Guessing it's not really supposed to be like that, right?
Member
That's called a breasted toothline or something like that, some saws are made that way.
[OP]
Contributor
I keep thinking of getting an azebiki but when I asked on here last time Stanley C said that the ones available here are more suited for carpenters than woodworkers. I’ve had the one from Hida in my cart more than once but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. That’s part of the reason I asked this question. I know Derek uses one and I admire his work.
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