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Tools Saws

Best Dovetail Saws

Updated November 2021
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Z-saw Dozuki "Z" Saw
Z-saw
Dozuki "Z" Saw

A sharp, easy to use pull-style dovetail saw that provides plenty of control for beginning woodworkers.

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Bottom Line

A sharp, easy to use pull-style dovetail saw that provides plenty of control for beginning woodworkers.

Pros

Clean crosscuts through soft and hard wood alike. Wider kerf (blade thickness) make this easier to control – a safer choice for beginners.

Cons

Needs more strokes to complete a cut. Saw teeth wear and break quickly. May struggle with wood thicker than ½ inch.

Best Bang for the Buck
Irwin Tools Dovetail/Detail Pull Saw, 7 1/4"
Irwin Tools
Dovetail/Detail Pull Saw, 7 1/4"

Thin blade and line-set teeth make this much better for flush cuts and dovetail cutting than competitors.

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Bottom Line

Thin blade and line-set teeth make this much better for flush cuts and dovetail cutting than competitors.

Pros

Handles cross cuts on most materials, including PVC pipe, with little difficulty. Very thin kerf allows for nicely detailed dovetail cuts.

Cons

Some caution needed on flush cuts due to flexible blade. Avoid rip cuts in most cases with this pull saw. Blades are somewhat fragile and will break if too much pressure is exerted.

Gyokucho Ryoba 9-1/2" Double Edge Razor Saw for Hardwoods
Gyokucho
Ryoba 9-1/2" Double Edge Razor Saw for Hardwoods

Slices through 2x4 pieces of wood like butter, with alternate blades for rip and cross cutting. Its thin, flexible blade may challenge newer users.

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Bottom Line

Slices through 2x4 pieces of wood like butter, with alternate blades for rip and cross cutting. Its thin, flexible blade may challenge newer users.

Pros

Very sharp blade. Easy to replace, and replacement blades are affordable. Provides super-smooth cross cuts.

Cons

Blade can’t be resharpened, but must be replaced. Does not work well for joinery due to flexible blade. Saw can drift a bit during a cut if pressure is exerted on the pull stroke due to thin kerf.

Shark 10-2204 Dowel/Dovetail/Detail Saw
Shark
10-2204 Dowel/Dovetail/Detail Saw

Better for trimming dowels than making dovetail cuts or flush, this is an otherwise good detail saw at a low price point.

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Bottom Line

Better for trimming dowels than making dovetail cuts or flush, this is an otherwise good detail saw at a low price point.

Pros

Good for a wide variety of cuts on 12-inch or less stock, not just dovetail. Cuts cleanly and smoothly. Replacement blades are easy to swap out.

Cons

Offset teeth make it tough to cut certain woods completely flush. Replacement blades cost almost as much as the entire unit. Blade is too flexible for some dovetail cuts, and can dull quickly.

Okada Hardware Japanese Mini Dozuki Panel Saw
Okada Hardware
Japanese Mini Dozuki Panel Saw

For making accurate, almost paper-thin cuts through wood, this pull-style saw is one of the best available, but its blade is delicate.

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Bottom Line

For making accurate, almost paper-thin cuts through wood, this pull-style saw is one of the best available, but its blade is delicate.

Pros

Great for cross cuts, and tracks accurately thanks to pull, rather than push, action. Super-thin kerf helps make neat flush cuts. Small marking hook is a nice plus.

Cons

Does not handle ripping well (but most dovetails do not). Cutting hardwoods can be a challenge for less experienced woodworkers. Handle feels too light for tougher pull cuts.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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First Reviewed
November 05, 2021
30
Models
considered
16
Hours
researched
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The team that worked on this review
Our Top Picks
Z-saw
Best of the Best
Z-saw
Dozuki "Z" Saw
Bottom Line
A sharp, easy to use pull-style dovetail saw that provides plenty of control for beginning woodworkers.
Shop Now
Irwin Tools
Best Bang for the Buck
Irwin Tools
Dovetail/Detail Pull Saw, 7 1/4"
Bottom Line
Thin blade and line-set teeth make this much better for flush cuts and dovetail cutting than competitors.
Shop Now
Gyokucho
Top Pick
Gyokucho
Ryoba 9-1/2" Double Edge Razor Saw for Hardwoods
Bottom Line
Slices through 2x4 pieces of wood like butter, with alternate blades for rip and cross cutting. Its thin, flexible blade may challenge newer users.
Shop Now
Shark
Top Pick
Shark
10-2204 Dowel/Dovetail/Detail Saw
Bottom Line
Better for trimming dowels than making dovetail cuts or flush, this is an otherwise good detail saw at a low price point.
Shop Now
Okada Hardware
Top Pick
Okada Hardware
Japanese Mini Dozuki Panel Saw
Bottom Line
For making accurate, almost paper-thin cuts through wood, this pull-style saw is one of the best available, but its blade is delicate.
Shop Now
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