No. 02
The Dovetail Saw
BACKSAW · RIP-FILED · 15 PPI
JOINERY · RIP CUTS
A brass-backed rip saw filed fine — it starts on the knife line and tracks straight down.
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- 1Brass back (spine)
- 2Handle (tote)
Bench spec
- Filing
- Rip, ~15 ppi
- Back
- Folded brass spine
- Plate
- Thin, taper-ground
- Best for
- Dovetails & tenons
On the bench
A dovetail saw is rip-filed even when it crosses the board, because joinery cuts run with the grain down into the wood and a rip tooth clears that kerf cleanly. The folded brass back stiffens a thin plate so it holds the line instead of wandering; start on the far corner, let the saw’s own weight cut, and never force it.
Common miss · ✗
Steering the cut
Push the saw off the line and the thin plate flexes and binds — set it in the knife wall, then saw straight and let the teeth follow.
Take it further
Read the deeper field guides, compare vetted picks, or carry the drawing as original merch in the shop.