Frettsaw and Dovetails?

I use a fretsaw, but I learned how to cut dovetails from Rob :). Frank Klausz has a video where he cuts dovetails in 3 minutes. He chops the waste with a chisel.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/klausz/

I think cabinet grade means, not so perfect joints.

I also use a fretsaw but I too learned from watching Rob’s DVD.
I did try the chisel method but found that using a fretsaw was a lot faster, especially when cutting dovetails in hardwood.
I do follow up the fretsaw work with chisels and pair away the waste afterwards.

cool video Mike, thanks for the link.

-- Alan, Prince George

i’ve seen his joints up close and they are perfect.. i use a chisel. it was the way i was taught. i can not cut a dovetail in 3 minutes.. it takes me longer then that to decide on a layout.. then finish a cup of coffee, then mark then.. then start over.. you get the picture..

but i do not make a living from woodwork..

-- It's not a sickness, i can stop buying tools anytime.

Im just getting the hang of handcut dovetails after 15yrs using machines, but I don,t see the point in using a fret saw when you chop out the waste anyway, seems like an unnecessary step. Klaus doesn,t use one but he does have that strange turning saw so maybe it depends on the size of the dovetail that your making.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

That video is amazing Mike, thanks for the link :)

Now i shall hop into bed and commence the sobbing as i will never be able to do that ;P

-- My signature is awesome.

THANKS FOR THE LINK, MIKE. It’s obvious he’s done that before ;-)) For production work, I suppose that’s how they did it so make a buck where perfect wasn’t an issue. I’ve tried chisels and saws, but I haven’t cut enough of them to decide, yet.

-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

Thanks guys! I love the input!

Johnpoolesc: Yeah, I know what you mean by layout (especially if you do not do it everyday, on the same size of pieces) ... but I think though, after sleeping on this (and I am not trying to shoot him down, because it was impressive the sheer speed of it all) that if he did not already have his marking devices already set up and had to figure/calculate out a classic style dovetail, it would take at least 5 minutes or so longer and if there was mitred ends, it would take at least 3 times that long.

It sounds like that this is an issue of try it out and see what works best… I think I would love to try this. I just gotta get a frett saw now! I was before thinking along the lines of KIWI1969 that it being an extra step and all, but, if it works so fast(?) well, like I said, I will have to try it! I will report back to all, as one who learned the other way to do it, and tried the the Frettsaw method after I have tried it!

I think I feel the same now as Peik Löf! ;-)

-- Nicholas, Cabinet/Furniture Maker, Blue Hill, Maine