I'm planning to get my first few hand saws and want to ensure I'm making the right choices since good backsaws can be quite pricey. I'm thinking I need three specific types: a carcass saw, a tenon saw, and a dovetail saw. For the carcass saw, I intend to use it for cutting boards like 2x6s and 1x4s to length before shaping them with other tools. So, I assume a crosscut saw would be best for that, right? As for the tenon saw, it's meant for trimming the cheeks of tenons mainly along the grain of 2x4s and 4x4s, which I think means it should be a rip saw. Lastly, my dovetail saw will mostly cut dovetails in 1x4s, 2x6s, and sometimes plywood, so I believe a fine tooth rip saw would be the way to go for that. Am I on the right path with my choices?
2 Answers
You're definitely on the right track! For your three saws, a carcass saw is a good choice for crosscuts, but if you're cutting larger boards, you might want to consider a full-sized hand saw too. Just remember, the carcass saw might be a bit small for some of those bigger cuts you mentioned. If you're leaning towards a Veritas set, that's a solid option, they have a good balance of quality and price. Helps cover all your needs in one buy!
Just a heads up, you likely meant ‘carcase saw’. If you're tackling bigger boards like 2x6, a full hand saw would work wonders. Starting with a dovetail saw is smart, see how much you actually need the larger back saws later on.
Definitely check out local garage sales for used saws! I've found many good ones and learning to recondition them saves big bucks.
I totally agree about the Veritas set! I have it and it’s been great. I originally went for that because it’s hard not to love having all three saws ready to go without hunting around for them.