TS55 for trimming dovetails?

[Toller]

I just used my "new" TS55 for its first real task.  I made a large complicated glue up and didn't get it exactly right; one piece stuck out an eight inch.  I set the rail up even with the rest of the piece and just trimmed the errant piece.  Came out fine.

Made me think of dovetails and box joints.  I usually make them oversized and sand them even; but it is a bear to get everything perfectly square.  Any reason not to cut the oversized parts off with the saw?  As I write this I realize you can't get both sides, but one would be an improvement.  Though maybe with a shim you can get both sides.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

My view is "why not" if it works for you and is a safe procedure, as what you described is.  The rail provides the control needed for the safety.  I don't understand why you cannot use the saw with guide rail for the other cuts as well.  I once made a trundle bed and for the trundle joints I stood on my workbench with the side rails vertical, since it was essentially a very large drawer.

Dave R.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

I used a TS55 and guide rail to trim a set of flush cabinet doors so I had a 3/32 gap all around.

Turned out faster and more accurate than hand planing.  (Could be I could use more practice with a hand plane, but with the TS55, why bother?)

 

[TomCrawford]

You could just leave them proud and claim your are using the Greene & Greene style.