Originally Posted by
David Eisenhauer
After thinking more about this, one more thought. I have a short dovetail rip saw that I use for 3/16" - 1/2" thick drawer sides and backs. That is by far the most common dovetail work I do (volume wise) and that saw is great for that work, practically cuts the dovetails by itself while I drink coffee or swab sweat with the other hand. But, if I use it for cutting the tails on a clamped-up, double thickness carcase sides, it sucks. Too short, too fine and the blade heats up. Instead, I use a standard rip saw for that work.
Dave, I think your method is in line with what an 18th c. joiner would have done. There is a solid argument that what was called a dovetail saw in 18th c. England was for cutting drawer dovetails, as you suggest. A carcase saw would have been used for the carcase dovetails. Really, why else would it have been called a carcase saw? What else are you going to use a backsaw for on a carcase, other than to cut the DTs?
Bringing it back to the OP's question, if a 12" saw feels good to you for case construction, use it.
"For me, chairs and chairmaking are a means to an end. My real goal is to spend my days in a quiet, dustless shop doing hand work on an object that is beautiful, useful and fun to make." --Peter Galbert