Rob, you sell tools, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, you are a teaching legend and the world will remember you long after you've retired, and much longer than that
I am pretty much a complete novice. Sawing has always been a white knuckle chore, angles were always anything but what I wanted, and you could just forget about sawing on the line I wanted. This problem of mine has made me just go to a machine to get the job done - which I still usually manage to screw up. I watched this last night, practiced exactly as Rob demonstrated. In about 30 minutes I am magically able to hit within 1 degree of 90 on the rip cuts and able to start lines exactly where they need to be started. I haven't started on trying ripping angles (which is still a bit terrifying to me), but I am feeling so much better about the prospect. I am soooooo grateful to have found this video!
This is where Rob differs from most other teachers. I think he really wants to keep the trade alive and really am in tune with his teaching methods. After a lot of searching, I have found m place, Sit down stay a while, you might just learn something! Thank you, Rob, for all you do, I really like watching your videos, and really love all of your saws, only can Offord the dovetail saw right now but, I'm saving up. Those chisels are my dream, I have most of the set up for sharpening that you recommend. Trend, 16k and i have a few other Shapton stones. PROMOTION If you have been back and forth about spending $300 on his dovetail saw, pull the trigger. I have said it before and will say it again, there's no better feeling then to spend good money on something, not knowing what you will get, then when it comes and make your first cut with it and immediately saying in your head" This is a game changer" .. there's no better feeling then that. Rob is a man of integrity. Not only does he sell quality tools that he himself uses, but he shows you exactly how to use them, no secrets here.
I have watched and learned from your videos for several weeks now. When i encounter a question i return to you and your videos. I apologize! I made a point of subscribing today. Should’ve done it at the first video but I hesitated because i didn’t know you or your experience. Now for any who read this listen up! Rob has the knowledge AND understanding of what is needed to know and comprehend what he is teaching. Trust him! He gives practical knowledge that you will need to advance your skill in working with wood. Nobody tells you how to stand and place your feet and the position of your body needed for accurate and consistent skill in working you wood projects. Thank you Rob, i would be proud to have you as a grandson. I am proud to have you as a teacher!
I was struggling to get a consistent plumb cut on the tail board and I came across a video by DavidBarronFurniture titled “Chisel techniques for hand cut dovetails” and he uses the dovetail marker to align the saw when starting the cut. I tried it and it helps me start the cut plumb. The trick is figuring out exactly where to place the line against the dovetail marker to start the cut and preserve the pen line.
Very cool that your show gets translated to other languages like Spanish. You are the best and very humble that you do follow ups on purchases. I did get your pistol saw and you call me from Canada appreciating the purchase when I was in Los Angeles and also invited me to go to a seminar in the Santa Barbara area. You are the best. Thank you.
I love your teaching style. You speak clearly, explain in detail and you show us ho to do it. I'm not native English speaker, but I clearly understand what you teach. Thank you for sharing.
Great info on body positioning. I hadn’t heard that level of detail and bet that’ll improve all of my sawing. Also, if y’all don’t have starter teeth on your saw, a quick n’ dirty way to make some is taking two light passes with a file across the top of the first inch of teeth. A nail file (e.g. an emery board) will even work on induction hardened saws since the abrasive is usually aluminum oxide.
Your stance is very good. In the oilfield you are taught that the center point between your feet in any orientation there is a weak area perpendicular to it, all work in that point is to be avoided because instability/injuries/blahblah. You can demonstrate it by having someone gently push/pull you perpendicular to the center point of your feet, and then have them push/pull you parallel to your feet. Your whole body will be significantly more stable if you avoid that weak point no matter how you position them.
There are usually several ways of formulating the same truths. My sawing started to improve a bit by realizing that I was giving my hand too many tasks to carry out. I was asking it to grab the saw firmly, hold it upright (perpendicular to the workpiece) and steer it along the line by pushing it forward and pulling it back. I replaced this notion by giving it just one task: hold it perpendicular. All the other tasks were assigned to my elbow. Which alerted me to the need to know where my elbow was and also removed any need to hold the saw in a white-knuckled grip. ( Hold it as you would a baby's hand, as that chap Rob Cosman advises!).
A thoroughly informative video detailing all the essential aspects to make perfect saw cuts. The tips and strategies are so useful! Your explanations are simple to understand and always backed up by a reason for adopting such techniques. Thank you !!
absolutely perfect timing for me as i just got my cosman dovetail saw last week. these exercises will be a great way to practice my technique and get to know my new saw. thanks so much
@@RobCosmanWoodworkingi want to believe that that is true but i not that much of a narcissistic. the professional dovetail saw is an amazing saw btw completely better than my old veritas(which is actually a pretty good saw) in every way, worth every penny. now im saving up for a dometail saw and dovetail marker.!!
Another great instructional vid! The detail in your explanations is perfect. One of the most frustrating things for me was starting each cut. I finally figured out for myself that a light touch at the start made all the difference.That and understanding that the kerf guides the cut, so a lighter grip makes the whole experience much more pleasant and rewarding, as well. Thanks again!
Utterly awsomatious, I love to learn the techniques, my notbpad is my sharpest new tool, your brilliant teaching speaks my language 😊 u tube you lot are amazing ,mind blown, I think I’ll be needing the saw the planers and more pine, time to step up ,thank you so much mate
As I was watching, it reminded of my days of playing pool. I played a lot when I was much younger and I taught others that the way to shoot straight was keyed to the alignment of the shoulder and the elbow. The elbow had to be directly below the shoulder. You can't swing the cue straight if the elbow is swinging in an arc.
Thanks Rob for the excellent primer on sawing. I am practicing the exercises you mentioned and am getting better each day but am still having difficulty stopping my cuts at the gauge line. Any suggestions? I put some blue tape at the line and that seems to help somewhat…
Rob, question for you. I'm going through these exercises and they're helping a lot. If working in 3/4 or wider stock, do you keep the light lateral pressure w anchoring fingers against the blade for the entire cut? Thank you
I've just bought one of these saws when Rob had them on special offer. What a fantastic saw, the only downside I was charged £60 import tax to the UK. Ouch.
Well if you have my saw you should not need to reset it until the 2nd or 3rd sharpening. But you do that with a saw set that has minimal set. If you cannot find one of those set on the lowest setting then you have to stone the set down
I put a piece of tape (blue, green, whatever) down before I scribe the lines. Removing the excess tape gives me a crisp reference line that is easy to see and saw to.
Is the saw really that good / does it make that much of a difference..? Thinking about swapping my dozuki for one.. Does it even ship to Germany though?👀
Thank you Rob, I fully understand now why the Japanese saw gave me trouble in the Australian hardwoods we have here, highly figured and hard, I have a LieNielsen saw now and the difference is amazing, I was thinking it was just the saw, not the weight factor. Still learning the techniques to saw and this video has been very useful on explaining posture and muscle memory. One question and I think you do cover it here, but I’ll have to watch again but do you cut on the line or just beside it?
Always leave the line. The line is your reference you have to see it to cut to it. You will cut on the left or right side of the line, but never on the line
Excellent guide, thank you; have been practicing assiduously for days. Question - on the back face of my cuts I get a thin string of wood fibres, front is clean. Is this the saw or me? thanks again Brian
Hello Mr. Cosman. Thank you for all of your videos and teachings. I am purchasing your dovetail saw. I am so excited! It is my Father’s Day present! (I know that was a while back but took a little longer to save up since my wife lost her job early in the pandemic) I did my research and you just seem to have the most superior product but it also seems very specialized and different from any other saw on the market with the different teeth configuration. I want to ask you what happens if or when your dovetail saw should or needs to be re-sharpened. Can we send the saw back to you for this service? I don’t want anyone to mess it up on me and I have never sharpened a saw.... Thank you again Sir!
I never use a Japanese saw with one hand except to start a cut. Seems like the pistol grip would be much more comfortable for one handed sawing at bench height. The two handed handles are great for some stuff though, allows you to use your legs and core muscles not just 💪
Hello Rob. Your lessons are very helpful, and I find your style very effective. I watch all your videos with great interest. Thank you very much for your work ... Take care of yourself. :)
@@RobCosmanWoodworking Hello dear Rob. Once again, thank you so much for everything you do ... Several years ago, I became fanatically ill with the carpentry trade, and where I live, there is no one to learn it from. :) Therefore, I am very glad and happy that I can learn from people like you. I would be very interested to see and learn how to make joinery join an invisible dovetail.? Sorry for my english if I misspelled the name of this compound.? I've seen some masters make this connection, but your style and technique, I was very impressed. Moreover, I find your approach more efficient ... Thanks again. Take care of yourself. Best regards, Daniel.
feels great to see you're not 100% perfect every cut, makes it more doable (and I started to think you might be a machine :P ). Another very good video. thanks Rob
I love the way you teach. It makes everything clear. Now I'm going to practice with my saw which somehow keeps getting stuck and to think its a lie nielson. If it continues I going to try your saw. Only hesitation is it takes way too long to get to me. 😁
Felipe Huibonhoa Adrian Mack is entirely correct. Start listening at 9:32. Rob explains all about tooth set. Also cleaning/waxing the saw plate might help.
@@adrianmack3 its brand new. Maybe 2 months old. I bought both the cross cut and the dovetail. The cross cut works beautifully but for some reason the dovetail just keep on biting into the wood instead of sawing. Its very frustrating when you trying to learn to get clean dovetails. I going to try the wax strategy and see if that works. Saw could be a lemon or i think its just me.🤣 thanks for the advise.
Regarding body mechanics. I could not help but think of how similar it is to shooting pool. Grip the cue like a baby's hand. Hand, wrist, forearm and upper arm all in the plane and swinging like a pendulum. You learn from experience exactly where to position your feet to get everything in line for the shot. As a final note take some warm up cuts first on a scrap piece of wood before the real cuts that count.
Have you worked with students that are cross-eye dominant (as an example, they are right-handed but their dominant eye is left or vice-versa). I have found that this causes issues with sawing and it seems like most people recommend switching hands, but I'm finding it difficult. I'm willing to keep trying if that makes sense (that is, learn to saw left-handed).
Rob, thinner boards (like 1/4” or 3/8” thick), would it be appropriate to use some sort of a sacrificial backer board? Also, I remember you saying that if you don’t have a slew block, to either use a table saw or clamp a ruler on... would you encourage light chiseling to the gauge line to create the catch for the pin board? I don’t have a sacrificial fence for my job site saw, and the clamping the ruler method makes me worry that it would be awkward. By the way, you were right about the saw! Good tools make the job easier.
Yes, add a 3/4 inch pine sacrificial board behind your actual board. Extend your line onto the sacrificial board. Now you have more line to reference against. I would not chisel. Another method is you can use a router plane to take down a small rabbit. If you don't have that just clamp on a ruler or a piece of wood with a straight edge...it's not a problem.
Rob, excellent video packed with useful information. Your saw looks well thought out, but I have a question about resharpening. 15 tpi teeth are small and somewhat of a challenge ( for me at least) to sharpen and set. Can a hobbiest sharpen and set 22 tpi teeth? Does having both 15 and 22 tpi make it even more challenging? I know a DT saw isn’t sharpened that often but eventually it needs sharpening. Thanks again for the gift of your teaching.
Well i recommend never sharpening the 22 TPI teeth. They actually work better dull. Sharpening them makes them “sticky” and harder to start. As you say, anyone can sharpen the 15 TPI teeth
What about with a pull saw... Do you turn the wood around so the tearout isn’t on the face? Seems like that is the other big disadvantage to the narrower kerf Asian saws for dovetails and tenons.
Great video! Quick random question: I saw you dropped your square. I drop stuff all the time and my floor is concrete :( What kind of padding do you have in the area around your bench? Are you happy with it?
i have noticed that you did a turning video last week. as s complete nove to that area of woodworking, i might know the names of most of the tools involved but i don't know what cuts a properly sharpened tool should do. like what is a scraper for example?
Nice video. I have seen that putting the finger in the top of japanese saws develop the muscle memory. But im thinking in adquire western saws And i have a question. Is not about the video. But the other day i was looking if i find scraper videos in your chanel. And i was surprise of not find one(because i have seen most woodworking topics in your chanel). Do you use scrapers or prefer sandpaper?
I use planes with sharp blades and try not to use sandpaper. If I need it every now and then I will reach for my scraper. Guess I need to do a video on it.
Hi Rob. Do you ship your saws and other products internationally? For example if I’d want your dovetail saw in India, how much would it cost me for the saw + shipping ?
Rob I really appreciate all of your videos. I watch them from the other side of the world, jordan. I have a question concerning hand plane blades. With every single blade I tend to have a slight camber whenever I sharpen them. Whether I do it free hand or using a jig I always end up with a slight camber. The blade is flat and the sharpening stone is flat. Not sure what I am doing wrong, any help would be most appreciated.
@@RobCosmanWoodworking thank you very much Rob. Both are very possible. I will try sandpaper on a flat surface and watch out for uneven pressure (actually now that you mentioned it, I might be pressing more on the edges with my thumb and index as I grab the two ends of the blade like I grab a pencil). Will give it another shot and see how it goes. Thanks again for all what you do.
@@RobCosmanWoodworking hello Rob. I paid more attention to my technique and used sand paper on a flat surface. It worked like charm. Happy with the results. Thank you very much for your help.
My Cosman dovetail saw doesn't seem to cut nearly as aggressively (fast) as yours when I'm trying to simply use the weight of the saw to make the cut. I assume you are actually assisting the saw by applying some downward pressure?
I am ambidextrous and depending on what side of the line either use my right or left hand on the saw. I am thinking I should just pick one and stick with it
I really wish the camera would get right up in there so we can see. Those guys who film building a plastic model plane are experts at up close filming. I really want to see the line being cut
Crosscut vs rip. Crosscut have sharp three sided teeth who’s points score either side of the saw kerf before removing the middle. Leaves a clean cut. Rio teeth are two sided teeth that have a chisel like sharp edge that takes out small chunks parallel to the run of the grain. Faster cutting when ripping wood.
I laughed when you said 'you may as well use a chainsaw' because my first effort looked like I actually used a chainsaw. I was using a Japanese dovetail saw. This might turn out to be a problem.
Awesome instruction, but the viewers need a "close up" view when you're describing the cutting angle process. The right side, left side cutting is good if you can see really closely. I originally thought you were cutting left and right of the same line because from 2 meters away, a thin red line, fingers and a saw doesn't allow the viewer the opportunity to see it.
"Keep this finger pulled back, by the way." Words to live by. Don't want to go cutting into what for many people is one of only two of their best fingers. I'm going to have to find a way to incorporate this phrase into normal usage.
... now, that being said, I want to go on record to confirm your (Rob’s) statement that the saw is 70% responsible for your success in sawing dovetails. I was struggling with my dovetail cuts using a decent Crown saw. Then I bought myself a Cosman saw for Father’s Day. I built 4 drawers for my workbench (that’s 16 dovetail corners) in July with my new saw, and every one of them was at least a decent working dovetail joint. Three out of my last four were what I would call good, and two of those three went together “straight from the saw”. Doing practice cuts like you demonstrated in this video is a crucial skill-builder, Rob, thanks for demonstrating that!
I find that watching you and your meathods aee making me more deliberate and precise in my own life, work or home life. I find myself wanting to do things the best I can always, not just good enough. I also find that, with focus, it need not take much more time, attitude is key. Thank you for all that you share
@@RobCosmanWoodworking I always like the videos. But I didn't get my star. Lol. I catch you live pretty frequently. Thanks for your hard work teaching us.
Rob, you sell tools, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, you are a teaching legend and the world will remember you long after you've retired, and much longer than that
I am pretty much a complete novice. Sawing has always been a white knuckle chore, angles were always anything but what I wanted, and you could just forget about sawing on the line I wanted. This problem of mine has made me just go to a machine to get the job done - which I still usually manage to screw up. I watched this last night, practiced exactly as Rob demonstrated. In about 30 minutes I am magically able to hit within 1 degree of 90 on the rip cuts and able to start lines exactly where they need to be started. I haven't started on trying ripping angles (which is still a bit terrifying to me), but I am feeling so much better about the prospect. I am soooooo grateful to have found this video!
robcosman.... you tha man. much appreciation, not only methods but you teach a man to respect his craft. cheers.
Only Rob teaches everything you need, including the practice technique. This is a master wood working artisan
This is where Rob differs from most other teachers. I think he really wants to keep the trade alive and really am in tune with his teaching methods.
After a lot of searching, I have found m place, Sit down stay a while, you might just learn something!
Thank you, Rob, for all you do, I really like watching your videos, and really love all of your saws, only can Offord the dovetail saw right now but, I'm saving up. Those chisels are my dream, I have most of the set up for sharpening that you recommend. Trend, 16k and i have a few other Shapton stones.
PROMOTION
If you have been back and forth about spending $300 on his dovetail saw, pull the trigger. I have said it before and will say it again, there's no better feeling then to spend good money on something, not knowing what you will get, then when it comes and make your first cut with it and immediately saying in your head" This is a game changer" .. there's no better feeling then that.
Rob is a man of integrity. Not only does he sell quality tools that he himself uses, but he shows you exactly how to use them, no secrets here.
Learnt more in this one video than I have in dozens of others. Comprehensive and properly sequenced. Thank you.
I have watched and learned from your videos for several weeks now. When i encounter a question i return to you and your videos. I apologize! I made a point of subscribing today. Should’ve done it at the first video but I hesitated because i didn’t know you or your experience. Now for any who read this listen up! Rob has the knowledge AND understanding of what is needed to know and comprehend what he is teaching. Trust him! He gives practical knowledge that you will need to advance your skill in working with wood. Nobody tells you how to stand and place your feet and the position of your body needed for accurate and consistent skill in working you wood projects. Thank you Rob, i would be proud to have you as a grandson. I am proud to have you as a teacher!
Rob you are the absolute authority on sawing dovetails, nobody else even comes close.
Well I do love dovetails. I hope you got something out of this video
Well said.. Rob is so good and executes dovetails so smoothly which makes them seem easy to make while they are not.
The correction and overcorrection really helped me with the plum cuts so much. Thank you!
I just wanted to thank you for this video. I have done some practice as you suggested and I am seeing a vast improvement! Thank you very much!
Rob do not change your teaching method it really does work , thanks for the help with developing hand tool skills .
Hey Rob I don’t know if you read these comments but I just wanna let you know how much I appreciate your guidance.
How can *anyone* thumbs-down this video? I've been working wood for 50 years, and still learned the *right* way to do it. Thank you, again, Rob.
Thanks Bill. Glad you enjoyed it
I was struggling to get a consistent plumb cut on the tail board and I came across a video by DavidBarronFurniture titled “Chisel techniques for hand cut dovetails” and he uses the dovetail marker to align the saw when starting the cut. I tried it and it helps me start the cut plumb. The trick is figuring out exactly where to place the line against the dovetail marker to start the cut and preserve the pen line.
Very cool that your show gets translated to other languages like Spanish. You are the best and very humble that you do follow ups on purchases. I did get your pistol saw and you call me from Canada appreciating the purchase when I was in Los Angeles and also invited me to go to a seminar in the Santa Barbara area. You are the best. Thank you.
I love your teaching style. You speak clearly, explain in detail and you show us ho to do it. I'm not native English speaker, but I clearly understand what you teach. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for commenting. Glad you can understand my Canadian accent!
Great info on body positioning. I hadn’t heard that level of detail and bet that’ll improve all of my sawing.
Also, if y’all don’t have starter teeth on your saw, a quick n’ dirty way to make some is taking two light passes with a file across the top of the first inch of teeth. A nail file (e.g. an emery board) will even work on induction hardened saws since the abrasive is usually aluminum oxide.
First time I've ever listened to anyone teach dovetails by hand. With practice I now believe I'm capable of cutting them. Just need the right saw!!
Love your videos and what you do for veterans. As a vet myself, simply practicing a dovetail a day has helped my mental health dramatically.
Thank you Thomas. Glad to hear it helps, it is an honor and a privilege to work with these folks.
One more time a top dovetail class and your dovetail saw looks like a jewel.I wish to buy one.Thanks for share with us.
I have one waiting for you
Your stance is very good. In the oilfield you are taught that the center point between your feet in any orientation there is a weak area perpendicular to it, all work in that point is to be avoided because instability/injuries/blahblah. You can demonstrate it by having someone gently push/pull you perpendicular to the center point of your feet, and then have them push/pull you parallel to your feet. Your whole body will be significantly more stable if you avoid that weak point no matter how you position them.
Good points. Body mechanics are key
Very interesting thank you Carl.
There are usually several ways of formulating the same truths. My sawing started to improve a bit by realizing that I was giving my hand too many tasks to carry out. I was asking it to grab the saw firmly, hold it upright (perpendicular to the workpiece) and steer it along the line by pushing it forward and pulling it back. I replaced this notion by giving it just one task: hold it perpendicular. All the other tasks were assigned to my elbow. Which alerted me to the need to know where my elbow was and also removed any need to hold the saw in a white-knuckled grip. ( Hold it as you would a baby's hand, as that chap Rob Cosman advises!).
A thoroughly informative video detailing all the essential aspects to make perfect saw cuts. The tips and strategies are so useful! Your explanations are simple to understand and always backed up by a reason for adopting such techniques. Thank you !!
Thanks so much for watching and commenting
Excellent video Mr. Cosman. I appreciate the knowledge you are sharing with us all!!!
I hope it helps improve your woodworking
absolutely perfect timing for me as i just got my cosman dovetail saw last week. these exercises will be a great way to practice my technique and get to know my new saw. thanks so much
Thats why we released it. I knew you were getting your saw
@@RobCosmanWoodworkingi want to believe that that is true but i not that much of a narcissistic. the professional dovetail saw is an amazing saw btw completely better than my old veritas(which is actually a pretty good saw) in every way, worth every penny. now im saving up for a dometail saw and dovetail marker.!!
Another great instructional vid! The detail in your explanations is perfect. One of the most frustrating things for me was starting each cut. I finally figured out for myself that a light touch at the start made all the difference.That and understanding that the kerf guides the cut, so a lighter grip makes the whole experience much more pleasant and rewarding, as well. Thanks again!
Bingo. you discovered two of the most important secrets
What a great lesson, hard to find quality training like this online. Thanks for sharing, can't wait to get into more of your lessons.
Thanks for watching. I was a bit disappointed for the low numbers of views this one received. I dont know why
The Ted Williams of hand tool woodworking
Utterly awsomatious, I love to learn the techniques, my notbpad is my sharpest new tool, your brilliant teaching speaks my language 😊 u tube you lot are amazing ,mind blown, I think I’ll be needing the saw the planers and more pine, time to step up ,thank you so much mate
As I was watching, it reminded of my days of playing pool. I played a lot when I was much younger and I taught others that the way to shoot straight was keyed to the alignment of the shoulder and the elbow. The elbow had to be directly below the shoulder. You can't swing the cue straight if the elbow is swinging in an arc.
Thanks Rob for the excellent primer on sawing. I am practicing the exercises you mentioned and am getting better each day but am still having difficulty stopping my cuts at the gauge line. Any suggestions? I put some blue tape at the line and that seems to help somewhat…
Rob, question for you. I'm going through these exercises and they're helping a lot.
If working in 3/4 or wider stock, do you keep the light lateral pressure w anchoring fingers against the blade for the entire cut? Thank you
Keep up the great videos Rob! It’s always educational and helpful thanks!
Thanks for watching and commenting
Great instruction~!! I'm going out now to practice. Thank you, Rob~!
Thanks for watching
im totally saving up to buy one of your saws they look amazing!
Cathy, I just bought this saw. It is amazing, and you won't regret buying one. It's an excellent investment.
I've just bought one of these saws when Rob had them on special offer. What a fantastic saw, the only downside I was charged £60 import tax to the UK. Ouch.
@@ianjay3286 thankfully i live in Canada so i won't have to pay that. wow! that's costly.
Hi Rob, thanks for another great video! :) Can you explain how you can achieve a 2 thou set on your saw when resetting it?
Well if you have my saw you should not need to reset it until the 2nd or 3rd sharpening. But you do that with a saw set that has minimal set. If you cannot find one of those set on the lowest setting then you have to stone the set down
Thank you Rob, i think that has to be one of the most helpful videos for sawing. An order for one of your saws in on my wishlist
I have your saw waiting for you
I'm ready to try some Dovetails!
Go th or it
Rob and team thanks for another lesson video that is easy to follow and shows many tips that will help.
Thanks. What video should we do next?
@@RobCosmanWoodworking How about some videos on finishing the projects?
I’d like to see some finishing for projects also. Waxes, polishes, oils, whatever Rob would like to show us.
I put a piece of tape (blue, green, whatever) down before I scribe the lines. Removing the excess tape gives me a crisp reference line that is easy to see and saw to.
You have to love blue tape...1000 uses
Buenas Tardes desde Argentina ; Exelente video y explicacion, inmejorable, felicitaciones al camarografo.Un gran saludo.--
Very well done Rob. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching and commenting
This gets a thumbs up and save for future reference. I'm going to have to get me a saw.
A good saw gives you super powers
Another great video, i love cutting dovetails now I have one of your saws, I find any excuse to do it.
Thanks
Is the saw really that good / does it make that much of a difference..? Thinking about swapping my dozuki for one.. Does it even ship to Germany though?👀
Mr Cheese I bought one 2 months ago. Was a dozuki user for years. Would never go back. The saw is better than advertised
Yes we ship worldwide
Yes we ship to Germany
Yes it is that good, I had a veritas now thats in the drawer where it will remain
Thank you Rob, I fully understand now why the Japanese saw gave me trouble in the Australian hardwoods we have here, highly figured and hard, I have a LieNielsen saw now and the difference is amazing, I was thinking it was just the saw, not the weight factor. Still learning the techniques to saw and this video has been very useful on explaining posture and muscle memory. One question and I think you do cover it here, but I’ll have to watch again but do you cut on the line or just beside it?
Always leave the line. The line is your reference you have to see it to cut to it. You will cut on the left or right side of the line, but never on the line
RobCosman.com thank you I did think as much but was not sure
Excellent guide, thank you; have been practicing assiduously for days. Question - on the back face of my cuts I get a thin string of wood fibres, front is clean. Is this the saw or me? thanks again Brian
That is minor tearout caused by the saw. That’s why he mentions to always put the face side of the board facing outwards in the vise.
Hello Mr. Cosman. Thank you for all of your videos and teachings. I am purchasing your dovetail saw. I am so excited! It is my Father’s Day present! (I know that was a while back but took a little longer to save up since my wife lost her job early in the pandemic) I did my research and you just seem to have the most superior product but it also seems very specialized and different from any other saw on the market with the different teeth configuration. I want to ask you what happens if or when your dovetail saw should or needs to be re-sharpened. Can we send the saw back to you for this service? I don’t want anyone to mess it up on me and I have never sharpened a saw.... Thank you again Sir!
You can, we charge $25 plus the postage so it would be a good idea to learn how to sharpen it yourself. Not hard. Cheers Rob
i've fitted pistolgrip handles to my Japanese pullsaws. It's a signficant improvement for me.
Now that is an interesting idea
I never use a Japanese saw with one hand except to start a cut. Seems like the pistol grip would be much more comfortable for one handed sawing at bench height. The two handed handles are great for some stuff though, allows you to use your legs and core muscles not just 💪
Haha, that is a nice idea. Often a mixture of two things is a good solution.
Hello Rob.
Your lessons are very helpful, and I find your style very effective.
I watch all your videos with great interest.
Thank you very much for your work ...
Take care of yourself. :)
Thanks for watching. What video should we do next?
@@RobCosmanWoodworking Hello dear Rob.
Once again, thank you so much for everything you do ...
Several years ago, I became fanatically ill with the carpentry trade, and where I live, there is no one to learn it from. :)
Therefore, I am very glad and happy that I can learn from people like you.
I would be very interested to see and learn how to make joinery join an invisible dovetail.? Sorry for my english if I misspelled the name of this compound.?
I've seen some masters make this connection, but your style and technique, I was very impressed. Moreover, I find your approach more efficient ...
Thanks again. Take care of yourself.
Best regards, Daniel.
Any thoughts on using magnetic saw guides to help in this process? Good idea? Not necessary? Thanks.
feels great to see you're not 100% perfect every cut, makes it more doable (and I started to think you might be a machine :P ). Another very good video. thanks Rob
I love the way you teach. It makes everything clear. Now I'm going to practice with my saw which somehow keeps getting stuck and to think its a lie nielson. If it continues I going to try your saw. Only hesitation is it takes way too long to get to me. 😁
Your saw needs a tune up, not replacing. Resharpen it, reset the set. Don't waste money, you already have a premium saw.
Felipe Huibonhoa Adrian Mack is entirely correct. Start listening at 9:32. Rob explains all about tooth set. Also cleaning/waxing the saw plate might help.
@@adrianmack3 its brand new. Maybe 2 months old. I bought both the cross cut and the dovetail. The cross cut works beautifully but for some reason the dovetail just keep on biting into the wood instead of sawing. Its very frustrating when you trying to learn to get clean dovetails. I going to try the wax strategy and see if that works. Saw could be a lemon or i think its just me.🤣 thanks for the advise.
@@lanecobb4150 thanks for the advise. I will try using wax. Sounds like a plan. 👍
@@felipehuibonhoa7338 Rob has a great sharpening pattern on his saw, nothing to saw you can't replicate it on your Lie Neilson.
Another great video Rob! I always pick something up from your videos. Keep them coming!
Will do. What should we video next?
@@RobCosmanWoodworking How about a couple on finishes?
Regarding body mechanics. I could not help but think of how similar it is to shooting pool. Grip the cue like a baby's hand. Hand, wrist, forearm and upper arm all in the plane and swinging like a pendulum. You learn from experience exactly where to position your feet to get everything in line for the shot. As a final note take some warm up cuts first on a scrap piece of wood before the real cuts that count.
Good advice. 2 ball in the corner pocket!!
Thanks Rob. Great help
When you say “the other side of the line” - is the line still on the wood after you make your cut?
Hi Rob, great beard trick.
Have you worked with students that are cross-eye dominant (as an example, they are right-handed but their dominant eye is left or vice-versa). I have found that this causes issues with sawing and it seems like most people recommend switching hands, but I'm finding it difficult. I'm willing to keep trying if that makes sense (that is, learn to saw left-handed).
Rob, thinner boards (like 1/4” or 3/8” thick), would it be appropriate to use some sort of a sacrificial backer board? Also, I remember you saying that if you don’t have a slew block, to either use a table saw or clamp a ruler on... would you encourage light chiseling to the gauge line to create the catch for the pin board? I don’t have a sacrificial fence for my job site saw, and the clamping the ruler method makes me worry that it would be awkward.
By the way, you were right about the saw! Good tools make the job easier.
Yes, add a 3/4 inch pine sacrificial board behind your actual board. Extend your line onto the sacrificial board. Now you have more line to reference against. I would not chisel. Another method is you can use a router plane to take down a small rabbit. If you don't have that just clamp on a ruler or a piece of wood with a straight edge...it's not a problem.
RobCosman.com thank you Rob!
Fabulous. Thank you.
Rob, excellent video packed with useful information. Your saw looks well thought out, but I have a question about resharpening. 15 tpi teeth are small and somewhat of a challenge ( for me at least) to sharpen and set. Can a hobbiest sharpen and set 22 tpi teeth? Does having both 15 and 22 tpi make it even more challenging? I know a DT saw isn’t sharpened that often but eventually it needs sharpening. Thanks again for the gift of your teaching.
Well i recommend never sharpening the 22 TPI teeth. They actually work better dull. Sharpening them makes them “sticky” and harder to start. As you say, anyone can sharpen the 15 TPI teeth
What about with a pull saw... Do you turn the wood around so the tearout isn’t on the face? Seems like that is the other big disadvantage to the narrower kerf Asian saws for dovetails and tenons.
Great video! Quick random question: I saw you dropped your square. I drop stuff all the time and my floor is concrete :( What kind of padding do you have in the area around your bench? Are you happy with it?
I have those interconnecting lightweight mats you can get in bundles at the big box stores. I think they are designed for playrooms and exercise rooms
@@RobCosmanWoodworking Thank you! Just bought some!
i have noticed that you did a turning video last week. as s complete nove to that area of woodworking, i might know the names of most of the tools involved but i don't know what cuts a properly sharpened tool should do. like what is a scraper for example?
We are making a separate video on sharpening and using each of the basic turning tools.
Nice video. I have seen that putting the finger in the top of japanese saws develop the muscle memory. But im thinking in adquire western saws
And i have a question. Is not about the video. But the other day i was looking if i find scraper videos in your chanel. And i was surprise of not find one(because i have seen most woodworking topics in your chanel). Do you use scrapers or prefer sandpaper?
I use planes with sharp blades and try not to use sandpaper. If I need it every now and then I will reach for my scraper. Guess I need to do a video on it.
Thanks Rob
Awesome video
great video!! thanks rob
Thanks for watching and commenting
thanks
Another great video!!!
call me
Hi Rob. Do you ship your saws and other products internationally? For example if I’d want your dovetail saw in India, how much would it cost me for the saw + shipping ?
Rob I really appreciate all of your videos. I watch them from the other side of the world, jordan. I have a question concerning hand plane blades. With every single blade I tend to have a slight camber whenever I sharpen them. Whether I do it free hand or using a jig I always end up with a slight camber. The blade is flat and the sharpening stone is flat. Not sure what I am doing wrong, any help would be most appreciated.
Well it has to be either: 1) the stone is not perfectly flat like you think or 2) you are putting uneven pressure on the blade when you sharpen
@@RobCosmanWoodworking thank you very much Rob. Both are very possible. I will try sandpaper on a flat surface and watch out for uneven pressure (actually now that you mentioned it, I might be pressing more on the edges with my thumb and index as I grab the two ends of the blade like I grab a pencil). Will give it another shot and see how it goes. Thanks again for all what you do.
@@RobCosmanWoodworking hello Rob. I paid more attention to my technique and used sand paper on a flat surface. It worked like charm. Happy with the results. Thank you very much for your help.
Very informative cheers
Thanks
Hey Rob, How do you wipe your saw blades so frequently without cutting into your fingers?
Tough skin!
My Cosman dovetail saw doesn't seem to cut nearly as aggressively (fast) as yours when I'm trying to simply use the weight of the saw to make the cut. I assume you are actually assisting the saw by applying some downward pressure?
I probably aim my down pressure on about a 5 degree slope
Genius
I am ambidextrous and depending on what side of the line either use my right or left hand on the saw. I am thinking I should just pick one and stick with it
I am a righty, sorry i cant help much with thus. I would guess its better to get the muscle memory down on one side first then try the other side
I really wish the camera would get right up in there so we can see. Those guys who film building a plastic model plane are experts at up close filming. I really want to see the line being cut
Even 2 feet away is far. Some shots are up close. Your camera guy is pretty good. I’m the particular one.
Would you consider having your camera person try out some of your lessons?
if i were rob i would be concerned that jake's level of genius would shine through and put him out of a job. too much risk involved
Then what would i do for a camera man?
What is the difference in the teeth on a dovetail saw vs a crosscut saw?
Crosscut vs rip. Crosscut have sharp three sided teeth who’s points score either side of the saw kerf before removing the middle. Leaves a clean cut. Rio teeth are two sided teeth that have a chisel like sharp edge that takes out small chunks parallel to the run of the grain. Faster cutting when ripping wood.
@@RobCosmanWoodworking Thanks Rob. I have your Crosscut saw and love it. I'm working up the nerve to try hand dovetails!
I laughed when you said 'you may as well use a chainsaw' because my first effort looked like I actually used a chainsaw. I was using a Japanese dovetail saw. This might turn out to be a problem.
Awesome instruction, but the viewers need a "close up" view when you're describing the cutting angle process.
The right side, left side cutting is good if you can see really closely. I originally thought you were cutting left and right of the same line because from 2 meters away, a thin red line, fingers and a saw doesn't allow the viewer the opportunity to see it.
"Keep this finger pulled back, by the way."
Words to live by. Don't want to go cutting into what for many people is one of only two of their best fingers.
I'm going to have to find a way to incorporate this phrase into normal usage.
I find dovetails a bit more challenging than for most people. I'm a left hander but I am also blind in my left eye.
We had a Wounded Warrior in our class who had one eye shot out. He did beautiful dovetails. Dont say you cant do it
@@RobCosmanWoodworking I can do them. Last year I did a cedar Scotch dresser that had 184 dovetails in the drawers.
5:25 "you may have use a chain saw"... lol
I rarely disagree with you on anything but Japanese saws do not wander any more in hardwoods than they do in softwoods
The Dovetail Jesus!
Don't think I can be lumped in with him.....You know he was a carpenter!!!!
👏👏👏👍
So you're saying we're NOT supposed to use a chain saw for dovetails? That explains a lot...
Or a really really thin chainsaw
Rob, great tutorial! BTW: thanks again for the call - CH (COL-R) Matt Wysocki
I agree 100% about the saw but who can afford a 300 dove tail saw??
More folks than we can keep up with!
Average the cost out per year over a lifetime - these aren’t disposable tools
Great video, but... it’s spelled PLUMB, boys!
... now, that being said, I want to go on record to confirm your (Rob’s) statement that the saw is 70% responsible for your success in sawing dovetails. I was struggling with my dovetail cuts using a decent Crown saw. Then I bought myself a Cosman saw for Father’s Day. I built 4 drawers for my workbench (that’s 16 dovetail corners) in July with my new saw, and every one of them was at least a decent working dovetail joint. Three out of my last four were what I would call good, and two of those three went together “straight from the saw”. Doing practice cuts like you demonstrated in this video is a crucial skill-builder, Rob, thanks for demonstrating that!
Thanks for buying my saw. Sounds like you are off and running
Sounds like you are doing great!
Wax on; wax off!
You have dropped a chisel against the kick board underneath your bench just behind you!!,
Just a screwdriver
GOSPEL WORDS: Cutting The Dovetail is 70 % the saw. In other words buy and use the best tools you can - they make or break any project.
Second,
yes you are. How did you like the video?
I find that watching you and your meathods aee making me more deliberate and precise in my own life, work or home life. I find myself wanting to do things the best I can always, not just good enough. I also find that, with focus, it need not take much more time, attitude is key. Thank you for all that you share
Can tell how old this is by your hair lol
First... HAHA
You get the gold star? so how did you like the video?
@@RobCosmanWoodworking I always like the videos. But I didn't get my star. Lol. I catch you live pretty frequently. Thanks for your hard work teaching us.