To start out I own and use power tools, I just regulate them to the DIY side of life now. I used to use them in my hobby woodworking. But I found a problem, I didn't really enjoy them, you see I didn't think of it as wood working. I thought of it as machine set up. My hobby then was setting up machines. If you carefully set up your tablesaw, have the right blade and the right settings, and set that fence to .397" You can push that piece of wood through pretty much brainlessly (minus the safety issues) and have a rip that leaves a .397" wide piece of stock. Did you work the wood or the machine in that scenario?
To further push the point, how many questions on woodworking forums have to do with the actual working the wood part (eg. pushing the wood through the saw) and how many have to do with machine acquisition and set-up (eg. which TS blade, how to set out feed tables, etc)
So, are you a woodworker or a machine setter-upper?
Edit
I am adding this here since I know people don't read through the post. And three points I have tried to make in the comments section seem to be still taken the wrong way based on the original post
1. I read what I wrote and realize how everyone seems to be taking it different than how I meant. But as I have added from the second comment, this is not about handtools vs powertools. Bandsaw boxes are more about woodworking than machine set up. Some (ok, maybe alot) of people make handplanes all about set up. They rehab and tweak the machine (the plane) and try to get it set up to take that magical .001" shaving.
2. If you are a pro, this doesn't apply to you, you are doing a job putting food on the table making the best product possible as efficiently as possible, I'm talking about the hobbiest.
3.I am not implying that one hobby is better or superior. Do whatever you want, its a hobby, have fun. And while I know its both, which wins out as your favorite part of the hobby, working the wood, or setting up machines? Be the a tablesaw or a handplane. (trust me, I know of plenty handtool "woodworkers" where it is all about the old tools. And that's great.
To further push the point, how many questions on woodworking forums have to do with the actual working the wood part (eg. pushing the wood through the saw) and how many have to do with machine acquisition and set-up (eg. which TS blade, how to set out feed tables, etc)
So, are you a woodworker or a machine setter-upper?
Edit
I am adding this here since I know people don't read through the post. And three points I have tried to make in the comments section seem to be still taken the wrong way based on the original post
1. I read what I wrote and realize how everyone seems to be taking it different than how I meant. But as I have added from the second comment, this is not about handtools vs powertools. Bandsaw boxes are more about woodworking than machine set up. Some (ok, maybe alot) of people make handplanes all about set up. They rehab and tweak the machine (the plane) and try to get it set up to take that magical .001" shaving.
2. If you are a pro, this doesn't apply to you, you are doing a job putting food on the table making the best product possible as efficiently as possible, I'm talking about the hobbiest.
3.I am not implying that one hobby is better or superior. Do whatever you want, its a hobby, have fun. And while I know its both, which wins out as your favorite part of the hobby, working the wood, or setting up machines? Be the a tablesaw or a handplane. (trust me, I know of plenty handtool "woodworkers" where it is all about the old tools. And that's great.