Angled Cuts

Note: This angled cuts exercise will allow you to practice controlling the saw and the direction of cut.

Equipment needed:

To view a video showing the sawing technique, click here.

Marking out using a dovetail template

  • Use a dovetail template to mark multiple angled lines across the end grain of the wood, about 3/16” (5mm) apart. To see how to mark out using a sliding bevel and a square, click here or to make your own dovetail template, click here.)
  • Use the straight edge of the dovetail template to continue these lines onto the face of the wood
  • Use your thumb alongside the saw plate as a guide to start off the cut
  • Once you are 4 or so strokes in, you should feel confident to remove your thumb
  • Switch between a dovetail and tenon saw and practice cutting at an angle.
  • Keeping to the outside of the pencil line, cut adjacent to it. We recommend practising until you have achieved consistent and accurate cuts.

Marking out using a sliding bevel and a square

  • Turn the wood end for end and use the square to mark straight lines on the end grain
  • Set the sliding bevel to just over 90°, this doesn’t need to be exact as it’s just for the purpose of practicing your angled cuts. Use the sliding bevel to continue these onto the face of the wood.
  • Use your thumb as a guide to start each cut
  • Hold the edge of the wood to minimise vibrations, this will make the cut easier.

Sawing Technique Video:

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14 Comments

  1. As a novice woodworker who has watched many of your video’s, i am delighted to find you have begun this concept. It will enable me and my son to watch and learn together, not only developing new skills but spend quality time as father and son. Ive been looking for something like this for a long time, somewhere to start. The process of learning woodworking can be daunting as there are many ‘experts’ but with no progressive learning formats Congratulations on providing this free service to the many thousanads of people who should follow.

    1. Hi Adam,

      Thank you very much for your kind words.

      I am really pleased to hear that this is something you are doing with your son. We’d love to see the projects you make together!

      Kind Regards,
      Izzy

  2. Hi Izzy!

    The instructions say to use the full extent of the saw. Yet when I watch, it seems Paul is only using 4/5 of the saw at most. The saw doesn’t go all the way through the cut? Does that have any practical impact?

    Once the first 4-5 strokes are carefully made, can you go on auto-pilot and will the saw stay on the waste side of the pencil line?

    Thanks and it is great to have more woodworkers explaining different aspects of the hand tool movement.

    Jeff D.

    1. Hi Jeff,

      I’m pleased you are enjoying the site!

      I passed on your query to Paul and he said:

      There is always maintenance in a cut, you can’t simply let the saw flow, you are making minute adjustments the whole time. ⅘ is a full length cut.

      Kind Regards,
      Izzy

  3. (Hi Paul) When producing angled vertical cuts ( i.e. and particularly the tails of dovetails); I was taught to reposition (angle) the workpiece in the vice so you are always effectively cutting the angles vertically. This method does have a simple logic to it; in that, why try to produce a more difficult cut when it’s not absolutely necessary. Just wondered what your philosophy was on angling the workpiece rather than the saw?

    1. Hi Stanley,

      The boards were positioned in the vise this way for photography purposes. I understand this may be a little confusing so we will be updating the pictures for this exercise in the future to avoid any confusion.

      Thanks for getting in touch.

      Kind Regards,
      Izzy

  4. Josh,
    My saws always give me trouble in the beginning of the cut, after that it is fairly smooth sailing. I read somewhere, maybe Paul’s blog that if you file off the tips of the first 3-4 teeth on your saw, at the end farthest away from you, just but passing a single cut file square to the tips of the teeth a few passes, this eases the saw into the initial cut. I’m going to try it and see.
    Jeff D.

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