However, we would absolutely recommend investing in both types of saw as each one if perfectly designed for its purpose. If you want your projects to have the best finish, it’s essential to use the right type of equipment. What Are The Best Tenon Saws? This Irwin saw features triple-ground teeth to optimise cutting performance on push and pull strokes, just like the Draper model. With more TPI than the Draper model (12 vs 11), this Irwin saw doesn’t cut as fast but provides a neater finish. The tenon saw is designed for cross-cutting and its unique design is perfect for this type of cut. When you are looking to make very precise crosscuts, the rip-filed teeth of the tenon saw allow for much greater accuracy and neatness across the grain. What Is The Difference Between A Tenon Saw And A Dovetail Saw? While there are differences between individual tenon saws, you will find that, for the most part, these saws have between 10 and 14 TPI. This means that they typically have more teeth per inch than other types of saw which allows them to create a much neater finish. In addition to this, the greater number of teeth per inch means that cuts are achieved more slowly. This provides you with greater control over the cut, again giving a more smooth, even and precise finish. Another brilliant feature of the tenon saw is the pistol grip handle. This gives the user greater comfort while cutting as well as making the saw safer to use.

If you’re just getting started and initially setting up your workshop, there are a lot of things you’ll need to buy. This may mean that you don’t want to break the bank on any particular item but it’s also important not to compromise where quality is concerned. The mortise (female part) is cut using a fine chisel and a lightweight hammer, but the tenon (male part) requires a saw that cuts accurately and neatly. The beautifully carved handle not only offers comfort and gives the user greater control over the tool, but it gives it that professional look and feel too. The great thing about the tenon saw is that it is so versatile. Regardless of the type of wood, you are cutting, your tenon saw will be up for the challenge. These tools can be used to cut both hard and softwoods. If you need to perform a rip cut, along the grain, then a tenon saw is not the best tool to use. For this, you will need something like a rip saw or a panel saw.

Irwin Jack Xpert 10503534 300mm / 12" 3055 Ultra Fine Tenon Saw

In terms of the tenon and mortise joint, the tenon saw is perfectly designed for the job. For this application, precision is key and, as we have learned, that is where the tenon saw excels. When attempting to create a tenon and mortise joint with other types of tool, you will find the process becomes much more complicated and difficult. If you are making furniture, this is one of the most important tools to have in your kit. What Materials Can You Cut With A Tenon Saw? This one features a plastic handle that is moulded to perfectly fit the shape of the hand. Furthermore, it benefits from a soft grip for ultimate comfort while cutting. Conclusion n the other hand, a dovetail saw is designed to cut dovetail joints and it features a higher TPI than the tenon saw to allow it to do this. Moreover, since making dovetail joints usually means cutting along the grain, the teeth of this saw are designed for rip cutting. Can I Use A Tenon Saw For Dovetails? The 300mm blade with 80mm cutting depth places this Irwin model on par with the Draper 49280, but it’s much lighter at 330g. On the downside, several users have complained about the lacquered coating applied to the blade to prevent rusting. However, you can easily remove this with white spirit if it slows down the cut too much. Pros

When it comes to handles, you’ll find that the best tenon saws have pistol grips. These grips hold the blade in a solid and steady position, allowing you to control the cut. If you are in a real fix and have no other tool for making a dovetail joint, then you may be able to get away with using your tenon saw for this. That said, most woodworkers would agree that you’d need a tenon saw that was on the smaller side for the best results.With that in mind, many people ask can you use a tenon saw to cut plastic? In theory, you can but you might not get the precision that you would when cutting wood. For obtaining the same smooth, even finish on plastic, it is preferable to use something like a coping saw. Are Tenon Saws Ripcut Or Crosscut Saws? At 655g, the 9550B is the heaviest of the three, but it feels nicely balanced. The handle feels good in the hand, and because it’s wooden, it can easily be sanded down or shaped to suit individual needs. Getting into woodworking means that you’ll be faced with a plethora of different tools and knowing what each of them is for can be headache-inducing. We recently produced a guide on the different types of saws and what they are used for but we wanted to place our focus on the tenon saw since these are versatile and an essential part of your toolkit. For the most part, a tenon saw will be used to make tenons that are used in mortise and tenon joints. This is where the saw gets its name. They are very similar to the dovetail saw in that they have a stiff blade and are designed for making precise, straight cuts. But we will look at this comparison in a little more detail later on.