You guys are a bad influence on me!

[Thomas Knighton]

You all really are. Yeah, I was interested in hand tools when I started my Bare Essentials thread. However, I still suspected that they would only be used due to space, not because of some deep seeded desire to unravel the mysteries of jointers long gone. Nope...I just wasn't going to have the space for a cabinet saw, mortiser, planer, jointer, drum sander, drill press, and a plethora of other useful tools.

My wife is terrified of the idea of me using a table saw. I guess something about a 10" whirling blade of destruction just inches away from my appendages makes her a bit nervous. I have no idea why, but regardless, I spent my time telling her I would be careful, even mentioning the SawStop Contractor's saw that should be coming out soon (hoping for the go ahead to get it when money was available). Basically, I was sort of blowing her off on this one. She's a nervous sort anyways.

Then, I started my Bare Essentials thread, and got some wonderful advice. I've got a couple of hundred dollars worth of tools either here or on the way. All hand tools BTW. I got up at 5:00 AM like usual, and came on here. I piddled around the forums a bit, read all the threads that looked interesting, and then wandered off to peruse the internet in various ways. What was I doing? Nope...not porn. Not even power tools. Nope.

That's right. You sorry So-and-so's have me where I'm looking up how to do dados by hand, and to see if anyone makes new moulding planes. I looked at a table saw for about 3 minutes total...and then figured I didn't need it! I DIDN'T NEED A TABLE SAW!!!:eek: What is this madness?

Instead, I'm thinking of building a saw bench. I developed the philosophy that, for me to have it, a power tool must either already be in my possession, or do the job better than a hand tool. Not faster. Better. I'm not looking at doing this for a living. I'm looking at crafting something that will be awesome to look at and use in my home for ages to come, that my son can keep and point out to his grand kids that his father built that with his own two hands. Speed isn't necessary for me to do that.

You people did that to me. I hope you're happy with yourselves!!!!!!!









Oh yeah...I forgot to say one thing. THANKS! :D

Tom

[Mike Cutler]

Well.... Ya' know what they say.

" If ya' didn't want to know. Ya' shouldn't have asked." :D,;)

There are some machines that do a "better job". Primarily they are more accurate in a repetetive enviorment. I've seen some amazing handtool work though, where the machines were only used to perform the more arduous, time consuming tasks.

Good Luck with your affliction.:eek:,;)

[Billy Chambless]

Nice post, Thomas. You said some things I've been thinking, but said them more clearly than I could have.


Gotta admit, I was looking at a cute little Dewalt portable TS yesterday, but I only looked.

[Marcus Ward]

I'm looking up how to do dados by hand, and to see if anyone makes new moulding planes. I looked at a table saw for about 3 minutes total...and then figured I didn't need it! I DIDN'T NEED A TABLE SAW!!!:eek: What is this madness?


I dunno man, I like my table saw. ;) But I'm not in a storage closet either. I've got a 30x40 building. I have gone handtools on almost everything except long ripping operations. I'm close though. Crosscutting, my miter box and backsaw are more accurate than my electrical miter saw and a lot quieter.

You'll need a router plane. Look for a stanley 71. You don't need the depth gauge so you can get one cheaper if it's missing that part. Try to get a later one though that has the screw-adjust on the depth. I love mine. You know all those guys who go on and on about their 300$ dado blades for their table saw that make absolutely perfectly smooth dados? Yeah, so does my 20$ router plane. Cut the sides with a backsaw and clean it up with the plane.

I don't know if people make molding planes now but you can find tons of old ones. There is an antique mall near here that has bookcases full of molding planes for 15$ each. I am planning on a mission to that place soon to pick up some needed essentials.


You people did that to me. I hope you're happy with yourselves!!!!!!!
Oh yeah...I forgot to say one thing. THANKS! :D

Ha yes very happy with ourselves thank you very much. And you're welcome. It's much more satisfying than powertools.

[Thomas Knighton]

I dunno man, I like my table saw. ;) But I'm not in a storage closet either. I've got a 30x40 building.

Sure. Just rub it in :p


I have gone handtools on almost everything except long ripping operations. I'm close though. Crosscutting, my miter box and backsaw are more accurate than my electrical miter saw and a lot quieter.

Well, I've still got my circular saw, so I'm not having to just use hand tools on rips. Still, it's something I plan on giving a shot, just to see.


You'll need a router plane. Look for a stanley 71. You don't need the depth gauge so you can get one cheaper if it's missing that part. Try to get a later one though that has the screw-adjust on the depth. I love mine. You know all those guys who go on and on about their 300$ dado blades for their table saw that make absolutely perfectly smooth dados? Yeah, so does my 20$ router plane. Cut the sides with a backsaw and clean it up with the plane.

I wondered if a router plane would do it. Thanks for the Stanley number. I find myself strangely intrigued by old Stanley tools. A #4, #5, #51, all sitting within reach. The #80 should be here soon. For the record, I blame YOU for this one ;)


I don't know if people make molding planes now but you can find tons of old ones. There is an antique mall near here that has bookcases full of molding planes for 15$ each. I am planning on a mission to that place soon to pick up some needed essentials.

I'm not having any luck finding any locally, but I found a couple of inexpensive sources on the net for them. Still, with new you can order what you need, not try and find what you want.

But hey...why buy new? ;)


Ha yes very happy with ourselves thank you very much. And you're welcome. It's much more satisfying than powertools.

And again I reiterate: You are one of the worst for pushing me down the slippery slope I keep hearing so much about! ;)

Tom

[Randal Stevenson]

I started out with handtools, mostly inherited. I switched to tailed tools for a couple of reasons
1. I didn't know how to sharpen/adjust, etc
2. Speed and the types of projects (home repair)
3. I was on my own (no help, and growing up my mother was leary we would have my fathers injury record, aka I thought Red Green was based on him).

I picked up some stuff, based on Budget and shop size location (BT3100, and old DeWalt RAS for $75) but would still have to somewhat use those old hand tools (portability). I bought my EZ around the same time I bought my BT, and find that I use it more (portable and fits my needs).
Now I have learned more about sharpening and tune up, I am trying to combine the EZ and components with the Neanders tools to do my work.

There IS a happy medium, one just has to find it.

[Thomas Knighton]

Randall,

I have no doubts that a happy medium can exist, and I suspect that it's somewhat different for each person. It's just that what I posted previously is what I want. It's a far cry from the One True Way (TM) necessarily, just that it's the One True Way (TM) for me ;). I like the idea of learning to build beautiful pieces with old techniques, rather than technology. It's simply my choice on how I want to build.

It's sort of a "to each their own" sort of thing, don't you agree? ;)

Tom

[glenn bradley]

But Thomas . . . its a good thing.

[Thomas Knighton]

But Glenn...don't bother me with the details ;)

Tom

[jonathan snyder]

Not to worry Thomas its a fun ride!! Do you have sharpening equipment and have you learned to sharpen? Otherwise you will get frustrated fast.

Jonathan

[Randal Stevenson]

Randall,

I have no doubts that a happy medium can exist, and I suspect that it's somewhat different for each person. It's just that what I posted previously is what I want. It's a far cry from the One True Way (TM) necessarily, just that it's the One True Way (TM) for me ;). I like the idea of learning to build beautiful pieces with old techniques, rather than technology. It's simply my choice on how I want to build.

It's sort of a "to each their own" sort of thing, don't you agree? ;)

Tom

I do agree each has their own, just to point out that you still have the opportunity for those need in a hurry projects (honey I broke this things), with other tailed tools you probably already have. Plus now with sharpening, I can take back some house space and feel like less clutter (which we all do to much of thanks to our consumerism instead of conservation). I've said before how the sawboard (EZ/Smart table in my case) and circular saw is just a modern version of old techniques (saw horse and rip/crosscut saws). I am trying to adapt to a combination of the old ways (based solely on reading about them, no real mentors on them) and new versions of them, to fit my needs.

I had to laugh because I didn't get the one true way (TM) reference (googled it). Never used Debian, though I do use Linux, finally getting ready to install Ubuntu due to my prefered distro's "deal". Will be my first non RPM based distro.

[Thomas Knighton]

Fair enough. I guess I misunderstood your intent. As for sharpening, I have a few blades in desperate need of it right now (especially that #5) so I have time to practice. That will be a must!

When I was a kid, I got a POS childs workbench and hand tools. Not much, just a hammer, a brace, a saw, and a couple of chisels. They were all so dull that they would cut butter that had been left out all day. Needless to say, I got frustrated. I thought that hand tools sucked and wanted power tools. However, my parents had issues with an 8 year old holding a Spinning Blade of Destruction (TM) for some odd reason (story of my life obviously ;)).

Now, years later, I find myself coming full circle. The difference is, I fully understand that the reason my tools back then sucked was because they were dull (and the saw was probably a rip saw and all I needed to do was cross cut). If I can't sharpen by hand well enough, then I'll get something lie a WorkSharp. Scary Sharp is my first try due to cost, but I'm not ruling anything out. No stone will be unturned (pun fully intended :D).

Oh yeah, Randal? I thought I was just making something up with the One True Way (TM) comment. I've never even heard of Debian ;)

Tom

[Randy Klein]

I DIDN'T NEED A TABLE SAW!!!:eek: What is this madness?

I'm with you on that. I have a BS for ripping and a guided circ saw for plywood (although I don't really use plywood). I like crosscutting with a handsaw, but I could also use the BS if I didn't feel like it. Regardless, I use a shooting board to clean up all my crosscuts.

With hand tools, you can get away with a much smaller shop as you really only need room for a bench.

[Thomas Knighton]

With hand tools, you can get away with a much smaller shop as you really only need room for a bench.

That's what I've noticed. For anyone that doesn't know, Grizzly has a program on their website that lets to you play around with shop layout. I was first using it to figure out how to put power tools into it. Then, when I reached my decision to focus on hand tools, I tried again. This time, I placed something in the room to represent a bench (no actual workbenches), a stool to sit on, the hot water heater, then I realized that I didn't really need much more than that except maybe a couple of storage cabinets.

It was kind of liberating actually.

Tom

[Michael Gibbons]

Thomas, spend a twenty spot and get the Rob Cosman Rough-to-Ready dvd. Thatb should help explain alot. In fact get all his dvds, worth every penny and you can always go back to see a part you might not have understood the first time.

[Thomas Knighton]

Michael,

I've been looking at his stuff. I've pretty well exhausted my WW budget for this pay period, so I'll have to wait a bit. However, I'll definitely get that one, and probably all the others down the road!

Tom

[Randy Klein]

Michael,

I've been looking at his stuff. I've pretty well exhausted my WW budget for this pay period, so I'll have to wait a bit. However, I'll definitely get that one, and probably all the others down the road!

Tom

If you buy the DVD's from Craftsman Studio, they have a discount the more you buy, plus free shipping. I second the vote for cosman's videos, I have all but the carving ones.

[Thomas Knighton]

Cool! That definitely helps make the purchasing of multiple DVDs a bit easier for me :D

Thanks!

Tom

[Michael Gibbons]

Lie-Nielsen sells Robs DVDs because he is their Canadian distributor. They also have package deals like 5 for x amount.

[josh bjork]

This thread is too long. It is nice to discover sharp tools but it is also nice to make things square. I just bought a table saw one day. I didn't ask anyone. I just came home with a saw. It was easy. I want another one, too. I consider it the best money I have ever spent. Time is short. We only have so many saturdays.