Hand plane question...

[Chris C]

How many here want/have wanted to try hand tools but have not for whatever reason?

 

[Mike Davis]

Was gonna say me, but then I realized I just built a bathroom vanity and used almost every hand tool I have.

And every power tool too...

 

[Chris C]

I have a reason for asking...

 

[Mike Davis]

Want to teach a class? Please do!

 

[Chris C]

Want to teach a class? Please do!

I thought about it.....I need a grinder first.

 

[MarkE]

I am originally from New England. I got your grinder right here.

 

[Chris C]

I am originally from New England. I got your grinder right here.

Hahaha.... Not exactly what I was thinking

 

[bash]

I want to move more to hand tools. Have started (barely), but still tend to lean back on power tools. I believe one the biggest things holding me back is learning to sharpen well.
I am currently practicing my first hand cut half blind dovetails (preparing for upcoming drawer build for some end tables under construction). I am hoping these can be made completely with hand tools - we'll see.
Next on the hand tool list is more use of hand planes.
​

 

[hockey1]

When I was a kid starting out my father only let me use just the basic of hand tools. I can remember saying "I can't wait till I'm older so can use those power tools". Now that I'm a few years older, when

finessing projects ​

I find myself gravitating back to using hand tools and those basic skills I learned as a boy.

Will I give up my power tools....no way. I prefer to think the power tools are complimentary to hand tools just as well as the hand tools are complimentary to power tools. They all have a home and place in my workshop.

Bash - once a keen edge has been established my favorite sharpening aid has been a charged leather strop (very forgiving). At the first sign of a dulling edge I'll give the tool a couple of passes on the strop and its good as new. I find it's a whole lot easier to keep an edge honed than to let it get dull and have to re-sharpen.

 

[StephenK]

Right up there, hockey1 said what needs to be said - the more often you sharpen, the less time you spend sharpening...plus you get a break from repetition....