Welcome to the forum, Bert.
bert":1gfu4obi said:
I found the posts on dovetail saws so interesting that I have started on the conversion of a gent's saw to a 12ppi open handle rip saw.
Gosh, good for you.
Bert":1gfu4obi said:
My question is, can a very minimal set be done with a standard saw set, or is set really needed for a dovetail saw?
Warning: setting saws is easily the weakest point in my saw sharpening bluff-, er, knowledge.

Well, it depends... I think, with the ppi you're going for, that some set will be needed. On very dry, thin wood using a finer ppi you can get away without any additional set, but it's a bit iffy. As far as the set itself goes, just crank it up to the finest setting disregarding any tpi stamped on it and see how it goes. You can always remove some with a stone if it's too much. The only problem you can sometimes have is the plunger on the saw set is too big for the tooth size, but that can be filed down apparently. BugBear's adapted an Eclipse for finer teeth by doing that very thing, IIRC. I tend to look out for older saw sets simply because they usually have narrower plungers - picked up two last weekend causing the dealer to ask if I bought my saws in pairs too. :roll:
Cheers, Alf