Comments on: Who is a hand tool woodworker? http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/ inside the woodshop Wed, 16 May 2012 14:51:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rob http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-362 Rob Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:51:27 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-362 Bill, You're most welcome and I appreciate your interest. Thanks for your comments with more good features of hand tool woodworking. Rob Bill,

You’re most welcome and I appreciate your interest. Thanks for your comments with more good features of hand tool woodworking.

Rob

]]> By: Bill Callahan http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-290 Bill Callahan Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:24:53 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-290 Rob I've enjoyed reading, Who is a hand tool woodworker and all the comments very much. Thank you! I grew up thinking I needed lots of tools and everyone seem to be marketing and selling POWER tools. Personally, I’ve learned over time that I enjoy the creative process more because of hand tools. I’ve also found them to be far safer, easier to use, at times faster, and far more affordable. Plus one can do woodworking in places like an apartment where lots of dust and noise of power tools would be out of the question. Lastly, I think a lot about all the talk of climate change and sustainable living, I believe we'll soon see a resurgence of self-made things using hand tools and more often made with recycled materials, especially wood, stone and glass. Rob I’ve enjoyed reading, Who is a hand tool woodworker and all the comments very much. Thank you!

I grew up thinking I needed lots of tools and everyone seem to be marketing and selling POWER tools. Personally, I’ve learned over time that I enjoy the creative process more because of hand tools. I’ve also found them to be far safer, easier to use, at times faster, and far more affordable. Plus one can do woodworking in places like an apartment where lots of dust and noise of power tools would be out of the question. Lastly, I think a lot about all the talk of climate change and sustainable living, I believe we’ll soon see a resurgence of self-made things using hand tools and more often made with recycled materials, especially wood, stone and glass.

]]> By: Rob http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-217 Rob Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:39:19 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-217 Thanks Keith. Video work such as yours at woodtreks.com is a good way to bring an appreciation of hand craftsmanship to the buying public. Thanks Keith.
Video work such as yours at woodtreks.com is a good way to bring an appreciation of hand craftsmanship to the buying public.

]]> By: Keith Cruickshank http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-216 Keith Cruickshank Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:12:17 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-216 Rob: What a great post. Very well said. Rob: What a great post. Very well said.

]]> By: Rob http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-187 Rob Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:17:44 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-187 Mack, Yeah, especially for one-of-a-kind work. Thanks. Rob Mack,

Yeah, especially for one-of-a-kind work. Thanks.

Rob

]]> By: Mack http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-186 Mack Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:39:10 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-186 Hey Rob- Fine job on outlining the differences/tensions between the two woodworking modes. Allow me to add the following thoughts, sort of responding to Luke's comments above as well. I've just recently turned pro, and the first thing I thought I would have to do is hang my Galoot head and boost up my power tool arsenal for all the above reasons. I discovered two things: 1. There is a significant market for hand tool work (and the buyer has learned to tell the difference.) 2. There are actually a lot of things that can be done by hand quicker than with power tools! That seems counter-intuitive, but if it takes you an hour to get your table saw tenoning jig set up and the cheeks cut, when you can grab a mortising guage and tenon saw and have the tenon cut in 5 minutes, then it pays to work on your tenoning skills. Food for thought! Hey Rob-

Fine job on outlining the differences/tensions between the two woodworking modes. Allow me to add the following thoughts, sort of responding to Luke’s comments above as well.

I’ve just recently turned pro, and the first thing I thought I would have to do is hang my Galoot head and boost up my power tool arsenal for all the above reasons. I discovered two things: 1. There is a significant market for hand tool work (and the buyer has learned to tell the difference.) 2. There are actually a lot of things that can be done by hand quicker than with power tools! That seems counter-intuitive, but if it takes you an hour to get your table saw tenoning jig set up and the cheeks cut, when you can grab a mortising guage and tenon saw and have the tenon cut in 5 minutes, then it pays to work on your tenoning skills.

Food for thought!

]]> By: Rob http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-185 Rob Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:11:06 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-185 Hi Amos, Thanks, I appreciate your response. Rob Hi Amos,

Thanks, I appreciate your response.

Rob

]]> By: Rob http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-184 Rob Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:58:54 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-184 Hi Luke, Thanks for the fine comment. I also think that those who learn hand work at the outset will later become better craftsmen, regardless of their mode of work. Rob Hi Luke,

Thanks for the fine comment. I also think that those who learn hand work at the outset will later become better craftsmen, regardless of their mode of work.

Rob

]]> By: Amos http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-183 Amos Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:37:27 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-183 Thanks for your excellent blog. This post on handtool/powertool use expressed exactly how I feel about the subject, and does a good job of explaining "blended woodworking". You write very well; I may have had these same thoughts but I don't have the ability to put them into words like you do. Thanks for your excellent blog. This post on handtool/powertool use expressed exactly how I feel about the subject, and does a good job of explaining “blended woodworking”. You write very well; I may have had these same thoughts but I don’t have the ability to put them into words like you do.

]]> By: Luke Townsley http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2008/12/15/who-is-a-hand-tool-woodworker/#comment-182 Luke Townsley Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:50:43 +0000 http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/?p=237#comment-182 Interesting thoughts and well said. As a hobby woodworker, I like hand tools. If it were my living (unless I were making reproductions), I would probably use power tools to a great extent.k If I were a high end studio furniture maker, I would probably use a broad selection of hand and power tools to produce the best possible result. In hobby woodworking, it is often about the process more than the product. For that reason, I think hand tools are very appropriate for a lot of woodworkers. I understand that many will seek their own comfort level still looking to sawmills, planers, bandsaws, and so forth for the rough brute work. In production woodworking, it is about the economics and speed. In very high end work, it is about the product. There is something about hand tools that a lot of us find to be more satisfying. Some find hand tools to be pure frustration. That may be because they are highly focused on production, or more likely because they have never really learned hand tools. Interesting thoughts and well said. As a hobby woodworker, I like hand tools. If it were my living (unless I were making reproductions), I would probably use power tools to a great extent.k

If I were a high end studio furniture maker, I would probably use a broad selection of hand and power tools to produce the best possible result.

In hobby woodworking, it is often about the process more than the product. For that reason, I think hand tools are very appropriate for a lot of woodworkers. I understand that many will seek their own comfort level still looking to sawmills, planers, bandsaws, and so forth for the rough brute work.

In production woodworking, it is about the economics and speed. In very high end work, it is about the product.

There is something about hand tools that a lot of us find to be more satisfying. Some find hand tools to be pure frustration. That may be because they are highly focused on production, or more likely because they have never really learned hand tools.

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