FishingBanter - View Single Post

**William Claspy**

On 7/26/06 11:28 AM, in article
, "Kevin Vang"
wrote:

In article ,
says...
Maybe we should talk about handtools vs. powertools instead. :-)

Well, you gotta at least pick something that is debatable!

I'll start! We just tore down our deck and re-built it, the old
deck having succumbed to a terminal case of dry rot. I suppose that
I could have built it without a reciprocating saw, circular saw,
compound miter saw, cordless electric drill, air compressor and
pneumatic framing nailer, but I sure as hell wouldn't have wanted
to.

I guess that's why they make both chocolate AND vanilla. :-)

I will admit to feeling virtuous when I watch a paper thin
shaving curl up out of a handplane, but

Virtuous? Hell, it gives some folks an orgasm!

I don't think that cross
cutting 2x6's with hand saw would give me the same warm fuzzy
feeling, especially not when it's 95 out.

While it is not debatable that doing so wouldn't give Kevin Vang the same
warm fuzzies, some may disagree, and rightfully so.

I'll admit to using each and every one of those tools you list (some more
than others) but at the end of the day, while I'll stand back and have a
certain feeling of satisfaction of a job well done, I won't get any warm
fuzzy feelings.

I would suggest that you try x-cutting some 2x stock with a well sharpened
hand saw- preferably a comfy-handled vintage Disston- and see what you
think. I'll suggest that if you do, you might well stand back from the saw
horses and think "I did THAT? That EASILY? With a HAND saw?"

Or, then again, you might not. :-)

I'll also add that if speed in finishing a project is important to you, hand
tool carpentry might not be the way to go. Currently I'm working on* a
firewood crib. I'm using the project to practice timber framing and am
primarily relying on hand tool joinery. I started last summer. It isn't
even standing yet. But I'll have warm fuzzies not just when it is done, but
during as well. And the usual plusses of hand tool work apply- the kids can
help, the cat doesn't disappear three backyards away, I can work early
morning or evening without ****ing off the neighbors, ...

(and yes, I know that building a deck isn't really woodworking...)

Ain't no shame in carpentry. No more'n in fishing streamers. :-)

Bill

*So in this case, "working on" means the timbers are out back, the design is
in my head, and I'm just waiting for some cooler weather to really have at
it.