Why Chris Schwarz is so skinny.

the more you practice, the more efficient you get too though (or so I’m told).

+1 to the OP. yes, it is a good workout.

make sure you have sharp tools, and using the proper plane for the job (scrub/#5 for the roughing, then #5/higher for the flatenening, and #4 and lower for the smoothing, scrap if needed) to make the workout less fatiguing and more rewarding (another lesson to be learnt).

sounds like you’re doing great progress, both on the bench, and on your skills!

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

yup, also how much of your body are you using. If you’re just using your arms (common) or just your legs (less so), it’s going to be harder than if you use a little bit of everything. I find the least work is using arms, legs (shifting body weight, like a golf swing, just less so), and with a slight turn to the abs. It’s a muscular version of “Many hands make light work” adage.

-- "That which has in itself the greatest use, possesses the greatest beauty." - Unknown Shaker

I’ve found some pleasure in using hand planes and to parrot Purp and Will, sharp tools and use all of your body.

Sharp tools is obvious but for how you use your body I’m more the put your whole body into it. For something long I’ll walk along it leaning my whole body into it, arms bent and mostly locked to my sides and push along with my legs. For smaller pieces again start with my arms, put my back and whole upper body into it, and finish off the stroke with arms. With a block plane I use just my arm but for anything bigger I try to use as much of my body as I can.

What all of these guys said, and EAT A LOT OF BROWNIES. Keeps your body mass up. The better to work the wood with.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

T’is a rarefied pleasure that too many abjure for the whine and grind of machines. Welcome to working wood.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein