My foray into hand tools

Michael, that is outstanding to hear! And there’s still no one I know in my area that actually uses handtools to any significant degree, either. LJs is a great resource, and I would also recommend Robert Wearing’s Essential Woodworker by Lost Art Press. A true reference and how-to for hand tool technica and joinery.

Keep up the good work!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

I was lucky enough to grow up with a Dad who did things the “old fashioned way”. We used to watch New Yankee Workshop, with Norm’s seemingly unlimited power tool budget, and wonder how we could make some of those projects without spending thousands on power planers, jointers, milling machines, etc.

It sometimes seems amazing to me, but people actually built fine furniture before electricity was invented. I love my power tools, but it’s nice to know a few different ways to accomplish the same thing. I look forward to the operations that I still do by hand just so I can work without a dust mask and hearing protection. It makes things so much more enjoyable.

-- "There seems to be a black hole in my garage that swallows up pencils and tape measures as soon as I put them down."

Welcome to the ancient world of hand tooling. There’s no turning back once you go down this road. I stared with a stanley #3, and it has been no turning back. Just watch your fingers, chisels and saw are not as loud as a table saw, but they still have no trouble cutting flesh.

-- Aaron Possom Town, TN

Congrat Michael, the first dovetails – kind of like the first kiss.
It looks good and like a wonderful open road ahed.
Best thoughts,
Mads

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.

another one lost to want hearing the silent sound of shavings poping out of the planes :-)
welcome to the slippery road where galoots rule :-)

Dennis

Nice job Mike. I am fairly new to the dark side myself.

those dove tails look better than my first ones that’s for sure. Joinery without noise….......

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Wow, you’ve made a great start Mike. If you want to find out more about hand tools and their use, you might like to ‘watch’ the following threads:

Handplanes of your dreams
Saws, using, collecting, buying and cleaning
Workbench Smackdown
Vintage Drill of your Dreams

There’s a significan amount of knowledge in these threads and you will get to know other LJs who like to use hand tools in their work and can then buddy with them and read their blogs also.

Hope that helps.

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.

@ brit: I’ve had the pleasure of rifling through several of those topics, but haven’t participated in any of them yet. I really like the workbench thread alot, seeing as I spend several hours a day at mine!
I’m excited about my joinery adventures to come. I think I am going to do the “dovetail a day” plan and really own my dovetails by the end!
I’ll probably take pictures of my progress.

-- Life is Good