Quote Originally Posted by Stanley Covington View Post
Thanks for confirming. I was not being critical. I was simply concerned that others might have missed these points in the flurry of comments.

I have no doubts Mr Sellers has conducted the same test, and reached the same conclusions during his long and celebrated teaching career.

I have not seen any of his videos except those on YouTube, but judging from those I’ve seen, he tends to keep things very simple and uses basic tools instead of specialized tools. This is an admirable approach considering his video audience, and not being a tool salesman.

But judging by the tools displayed in the cabinets behind his stage workbench, he has very advanced tools at hand. I must assume that they are not just stage dressing, but he not only knows how to use them all, but does use them outside his teaching videos.

Am I mistaken?
I am no expert on Paul Sellers and never a member of his masterclasses, my understanding of his techniques or methods of work came from whatever YouTube videos I came across. So my comments about his tools and use here may not be 100% correct.

He does use the hand router (preston?) a lot in dado or tenon work. Spokeshaves, saws, bench planes and of course chisels are used in many projects. Does he use moulding planes, rabbet planes and others in his Masterclasses? Others may chime in.

My hand skills were formed before he became active in the digital world. But I like his exploration of traditional skills or his interpretation of traditional methods.

I don't like a round bevel on my chisels or blades but many have become a good sharpener because of the method he promotes. No one has turned more woodworkers into freehand sharpening than he, if you ask me. 20k? Not sure if he was referring to stropping.

Based on the YouTube videos I have seen, I can say he walks the talk and in most cases, he does not need to resort to the specialist tools seen in his background tool cabinet.

He has the full collection of the Stanleys, but does most of planing work with a #4 or 41/2.

He may be making a deliberate effort not to use specialist tools (hence a bench chisel for mortising) as many of his audiences may don't have any of them.

Simon