tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post7543112053798894482..comments2023-05-20T10:47:25.792-04:00Comments on Close Grain: Why Use Power Tools?Steve Branamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-64069863347198090102011-08-22T12:45:51.735-04:002011-08-22T12:45:51.735-04:00I agree on many points. I use almost 100% hand to...I agree on many points. I use almost 100% hand tools, but sometimes getting items to the same thickness is a bit of drudgery. I do have a bandsaw which I use for curved cuts or any ripping, but if I was to get another tailed apprentice, it would be a power planer. <br /><br />One of my local lumberyards will run your stock through a huge thickness planer as part of their service. When I purchase lumber there, I take advantage of this and leave a bit of meat on the stock so I can take any wind out as needed. Often their wood is in such good shape, this is hardly needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-44662891396165595242011-08-16T18:03:16.575-04:002011-08-16T18:03:16.575-04:00Excellent points from both of you. Mitchell, once ...Excellent points from both of you. Mitchell, once again that goes to show there's no substitute for putting in the time to develop the skill, hand or power. My attempts at machine resawing were not nearly as successful.<br /><br />Which then points out an unrealistic expectation: too often we expect to match the results of an experienced woodworker on the first attempt, looking for instant gratification without paying our dues. Disciplining myself to learn hand tool techniques has definitely taught me a lot more patience.Steve Branamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10526202082032043903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-29288562080743634702011-08-16T09:29:30.354-04:002011-08-16T09:29:30.354-04:00Nice article Steve! My only addition would be that...Nice article Steve! My only addition would be that it is not a bad idea to learn how to do the grunt work by hand just as a good skill to have before switching to power tools. Remember, all of those master craftsmen of old were once apprentices who had to do the grunt work before they were masters who could have apprentices do the grunt work for them. For many people getting started in woodworking, it may be a while before they can afford, or have the space for, big power tool workhorses and this is the perfect time to learn to do it by hand so that you can appreciate and decide what you would rather have power tools do for you.Denver Woodworkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07672547492844288671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554186870925500720.post-80387222673657246982011-08-16T09:23:31.316-04:002011-08-16T09:23:31.316-04:00My old man was a product of post war carpentry, th...My old man was a product of post war carpentry, those that came out of the service in 1945 who got jobs in the building trade. When he started, he had to learn how to work with hand tools as the only power tool he could afford was a cast iron 8" Beaver tablesaw. In the late 50's, when the price of power tools dropped, he embraced them with all his might.<br /><br />My reason for explaining all of this is so I can make the statement; there are power tool users and there are (or were) power tool craftsmen. My old man could resaw an 8' length of oak on his tablesaw and have it come out the other side without a single burn mark. He could shape molding by hand on his jointer, and make crown molding all day long on his radial arm saw. <br /><br />While almost any fool can cut a board with a power tool, some of the mid-20th century woodworkers spent more time perfecting their knowledge and touch on their basic machines than we do learning the same with a jack plane.theparttimewoodworker.blogspot.cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108394540757607814noreply@blogger.com