The blade on a jeweler’s saw is tiny enough to drop right into a dovetail saw’s kerf, and with the blade mounted sideways in the saw, I can cut straight across, leaving minimal cleanup work for the chisel. The blade angle isn’t usually adjustable on this type of saw, but an easy modification will allow you to mount the blade to cut sideways.

Take apart the blade clamp on each end of the frame. Cut a slot for the blade in each clamp block. To get the slot the proper size, use the same size blade you’ll be using later—I use a 2/0 blade from toolsforworkingwood.com. If the steel clamp blocks prove too hard to cut, soften the steel by heating them to a glowing red in a gas or propane flame, then let them cool off slowly. Mount a 2/0 blade in a scrollsaw to cut the slot into each clamp block, making them a little shallower than the blade’s width. There’s no need to harden the steel again once you cut the groove.

Pete Michelinie, Woodstock, VT

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