As I have grown older, now 62, I have found that whenever possible I use both smaller power tools and even smaller hand tools. I often turn to my power hand tools instead of using my table saw or even my bandsaw. Instead I use my jig saw and small power saw (5-1/2” blade) with the necessary straight-edge jigs. My block plane is my best friend and I made sanding blocks from sections of hand railing (about 6” long). This along with moving to more non-powered hand tools seems to make my shop more peaceful. There is something about the sound of an electric jigsaw that is comforting. At times it seems like a small sowing machine in operation.
I really appreciate all the wonderful “Welcomes” I received yesterday when joining this site.
Richard
-- Richard
8 comments so far
ratchet
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1391 posts in 4841 days
#1 posted 12-10-2009 05:49 PM
I too feel the pull of smaller tools. In my case lately its been well tunes hand planes and scrapers.
Nice post.
Tim Dahn
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1625 posts in 4619 days
#2 posted 12-10-2009 06:58 PM
Me too. The one word that sticks out at me is peaceful, I enjoy the sounds that hand tools make more now.Welcome to Lumberjocks by the way.
-- Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement.
Moron
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5048 posts in 4948 days
#3 posted 12-10-2009 09:43 PM
I get shorter with age, and my girth is expanding slowly. I think that when the day comes and I wake up with no pain…...............I’ll be dead.
I also seem to like my hand tools more and more.
-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso
rseabrease
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55 posts in 4145 days
#4 posted 12-10-2009 09:51 PM
I thank each one of you for your comments. I do think the words peaceful, quiet and happiness all describe the hand tool feeling. This time of year when it is cold and close to Christmas my workshop seems to take on a whole new atmosphere. During the week I work in an office at a computer all day. On the weekends I go down to the shop and turn on the radio. Most stations are playing Christmas songs and the smell of pine always reminds me of a Christmas tree. It really is a different time.
My company shuts down from December 24th until January 4th 2010. I foresee myself sleeping in, eating a leisurely breakfast and taking my coffee down to the shop. My wife usually brings down lunch and we eat in together on the sawdust covered workbench. Really good times!
I am so addicted to wood that I will only use “popsicle” sticks to stir my coffee. I seem to get a unique taste in the coffee and the stick tastes pretty good too.
I hope everyone has a very good woodworking day!
Richard
-- Richard
hObOmOnk
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1381 posts in 5182 days
#5 posted 12-10-2009 09:55 PM
I too like to work close to the grain.
-- 温故知新
Kent Shepherd
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2718 posts in 4341 days
#6 posted 12-11-2009 01:26 AM
I love any kind of tool, but hand tools bring a certain joy to the work that power can’t.
Don’t get me wrong, I use power tools constantly. I just get in another zone with my planes.
-- http://shepherdtoolandsupply.com/
Moron
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5048 posts in 4948 days
#7 posted 12-11-2009 04:33 AM
in absolute silence
the sound of a sharp hand tool doing its job
is absolutely deafening
especially at Christmas
-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso
rseabrease
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55 posts in 4145 days
#8 posted 12-14-2009 04:45 PM
I thank all of you for the great comments. Still trying to figure out how everything works on this wonderful site.
-- Richard
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