Thanks. I think the reason I tried the Japanese saw was like many I originally had a very bad western saw and had difficulty using it. Also, sawing on the pull stroke just makes some sense to me. If I had a Lie Nielson Dovetail saw, I’d probably like it. However, my inexpensive Japanese saw works real well. I got the marking gage at the same time because the pin style ones seem to tear the wood and this one slices it. Now Veritas and others make the disc style that work just as well. I do have the advantage of two cutters for marking out mortises on this gage, though.

I am a self taught woodworker. For the dovetails, the first way I tried is tails first. Mostly because I can visualize the tail and then cut the pin to it. It is also a bit easier to make the simple pin cuts precisely rather than the tails cuts as a second operation. I’ve actually done it both ways. I think for situations where you have very narrow pins it is a lot easier to cut the pins first and then mark the tails rather than the reverse. I guess I’ve just practiced a bit more with tails first so, that’s usually where I start. It is interesting though that usually we want to cut the “mortise” first and fit the “tenon” to it yet in this case I chose the “tenon” (or the tail) first. I think though that this is a bit of a different mindset because you want to avoid a lot of fitting of the tail if you can because it’s so visible – unlike the tenon which you can fit a lot while trying to match the mortise.

–Mark

This was a real good write-up. It was kind of a surprise to me, no particular reason, that you wrote going to the Japanese Dovetail Saw then the picture of the marking guage. Do you remember why you choose to investigate Japanese handtools??? I have a few planes that are for specific tasks. Also in reading your post, I began to wonder if the reason the discussion of “pins or tails” evolved because most of us are self taught and its logical to put the peg in the hole and over time, the self taught woodworkers out number those with training.

Neil

David: Thanks for the kind words. The table is coming along. I’m moving on to the top and then the finish prep and finish. I guess I had better decide exactly how I will finish it!

–Mark

Another excellent episode. I had to read this a number of times. Lots of great information. Your dovetails turned out great! Looking forward to future episodes and completion of your table.

David

The dovetails look great! So your a tails first guy. That’s ok I will still continue to read your blog. Very nicely documented and very well done. The table is looking really good, keep it up.