Mike Allen1010
03-03-2011, 7:21 PM
A year ago I went to using only hand tools, thanks largely to the inspiration from the talented and knowledgeable contributors here at SMC.
I want to share my experience for the benefit of others who might be considering a similar path.
I had used hand saws and planes for joinery and final surfacing but always assumed I would need the precision of a table saw for accurately dimensioning stock and creating straight, square surfaces for joinery, gluing-up panels etc. I also assumed that that only those with a lifetime of experience and carefully honed skills were capable of producing good results using only hand tools.
The pictures below are what I now use as a “Table-Saw”:
As many of you I'm sure will appreciate, my saw till currently has more than double the number of saws I designed it for. As my saw sharpening and refurbishing skills have improved, the number of saws in my shop seems to have somehow magically multiplied! From my experience, what others have said here about the satisfaction that comes from acquiring and using hand tools being a slippery slope couldn't be more true!
Below are some pictures of the first project I've built using only hand tools -- a mahogany/walnut slant top desk.
In summary, I enjoy the process of woodworking now using only hand tools more than I ever did before when I was noisily fearing losing a finger to my tablesaw. In addition, I've been surprisingly pleased with the results and I'm certainly not especially talented or capable, just a weekend woodworker.
For me the hand tool path has been easier and more satisfying than I ever anticipated! To those who might be considering a similar path, I would encourage you to give it a shot -- I've been surprised by how quickly and accurately hands and eyes are able to create and recognize straight, square surfaces.
I want to thank everyone at SMC for inspiring me to pursue the hand tool path as I never would've considered it I hadn't benefited from what others have shared here. A special thanks to Daryl Weir who provided me with a Disston No. 12, 28” rip saw that showed me for the first time what a well-tuned handsaw actually felt like and that ripping long, square, straight edges was not only possible but enjoyable!
Mike Allen
I want to share my experience for the benefit of others who might be considering a similar path.
I had used hand saws and planes for joinery and final surfacing but always assumed I would need the precision of a table saw for accurately dimensioning stock and creating straight, square surfaces for joinery, gluing-up panels etc. I also assumed that that only those with a lifetime of experience and carefully honed skills were capable of producing good results using only hand tools.
The pictures below are what I now use as a “Table-Saw”:
As many of you I'm sure will appreciate, my saw till currently has more than double the number of saws I designed it for. As my saw sharpening and refurbishing skills have improved, the number of saws in my shop seems to have somehow magically multiplied! From my experience, what others have said here about the satisfaction that comes from acquiring and using hand tools being a slippery slope couldn't be more true!
Below are some pictures of the first project I've built using only hand tools -- a mahogany/walnut slant top desk.
In summary, I enjoy the process of woodworking now using only hand tools more than I ever did before when I was noisily fearing losing a finger to my tablesaw. In addition, I've been surprisingly pleased with the results and I'm certainly not especially talented or capable, just a weekend woodworker.
For me the hand tool path has been easier and more satisfying than I ever anticipated! To those who might be considering a similar path, I would encourage you to give it a shot -- I've been surprised by how quickly and accurately hands and eyes are able to create and recognize straight, square surfaces.
I want to thank everyone at SMC for inspiring me to pursue the hand tool path as I never would've considered it I hadn't benefited from what others have shared here. A special thanks to Daryl Weir who provided me with a Disston No. 12, 28” rip saw that showed me for the first time what a well-tuned handsaw actually felt like and that ripping long, square, straight edges was not only possible but enjoyable!
Mike Allen