ledzep@e... mused about Re: Technique Questions:
> > Folks,
> The problem I have with "practicing" is that at some level my
> brain recognizes I'm only "practicing" and I rarely work up the

Me too. 

> When I first got the IT saw, I needed to change some of the ways I
> cut dovetails so I did a fair amount of practicing, but it didn't
> seem like I was improving or learning much from it. Instead I found 
> just using it more and more on actual projects seemed to result in
> steady progress. 

Yes, the saw has a tendency to teach you technique.  I see this as a 
"Good Thing".  Before going up to York, I built a set of shelves.  
(These are utilitarian and I left all marks on) While freehanding the 
dovetails for this I re-discovered that by looking at the reflection 
of the stock off of the IT blade, when the stock was lined up with the 
reflection the saw was square.

I'm sure I read this somewhere and forgot it (possibly in Good 
Woodworking) but a polished blade makes it a *lot* easier to judge 
angles without layout marks.  

-Ted

(who is wondering if we will see a bunch of polished dovetail saws 
on the market in 50 years ;-)