hand tool/ dovetail questions?

[dlbristol]

I am going to try to learn how to do hand cut dove tails. I have three questions. 1. $$ are an issue for the saw/saws, any advice on selecting a good saw? I have looked a ebay and there are some in my price range. 2. Do I need both a cross cut and rip saw or can I can I get by while learning with one or the other? 3. I cannot for the life of me get my hand planes tuned or sharpened to do any kind of reasonable cut. Any suggestions will be welcome. I have looked at many online posts and so far nothing really has helped. Good to be back on the forum, It has been a while.

[Mike907]

Take a look at this saw/guide combo which should work well for getting started.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.a ... 2884,41718

Mike

[algale]

Did you see this post? http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... aw#p180650

[nuhobby]

Regarding the hand-plane sharpening, a honing jig can really help. There are the affordable ($15 range) Eclipse style guides at several supply houses which can do a good job. This said, I've sometimes honed a really shiny-looking bevel that wasn't even sharp! It's very important to do enough material removal at the initial rougher grit(s) to "raise the burr", the jaggedy feeling on the tip that shows you've really gotten the two planar surfaces of the bevel to intersect. Then you can hone to finer and finer grits.

Good luck!

Chris