Anybody used one of these?

Has Rob Cosman's dovetail videos helped anyone? I believe it is going to help me tremendously!

Edited December 8, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
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I have not used it but it looks like it would help keep the saw running true.

 

I have to admit, I'm the worst hand saw operator. Even with practice I have trouble following a line. Something that really helped me was switching from the traditional western style saw (push) to the Japanese style (pull). For me, it made following a line easier. I don't know why.

It looks like a magnet and good hard wood and I couild make one. Might try it when I get caught up??!?!!??? 

I do not do enough of those to warrant the investment. I had wondered on this do you have to get a particular saw or will any work? And would the saw not take some off of the jig and change the accuracy?

Rob Cosman says that his dovetail saws do not have set to them. That is, when a handsaw is sharpened, you ordinarily would take a special tool and bend every other tooth  to the right and then go back and bend the other teeth to the left. That is so that the saw blade does not bind, but it opens the kerf a little. W/o set, the magnetic guide would not be damaged and a dovetail saw would not bind in the kerf since it is not sawing a long distance; just the end of a board.  That is what I think.

I have one of the dovetail jigs and a 90 degree jig. I find it helped me make more accurate cuts than I have been able to do without the guide. They are probably more akin to training wheels for beginners. David Barron has a ton of You-Tube videos demonstrating the use of these guides. Before buying, I would recommend viewing the videos to see if you think they would be of any benefit to you. I typically cut tails first making good saw cuts on the pins the money cut. My results were a lot better the first time I used the guide. I like them but they are expensive and if you are already good at cutting dovetails they may have limited benefit. Although, if you cutting a lot of dovetails, these guides would probably help your productivity. Also, check out Paul Sellers video. He has some good technique and self made guides that helps with cutting dovetails. You can use these guides with either western style or Japanese pull saws. I like the saw that David recommends in his video. Hope this helps.