Just Some Thoughts and Such
I looked down the list of people that keep up with us on Facebook yesterday evening following a post I posted 3 days ago. It had 41,000 look-ins and 1.2k likes. At one time, even say just 2 years ago, most of the views would have been from two continents and mostly two countries. Today, that’s changed markedly. Of course it’s not just Facebook. Add as many thousands to my blog and then YouTube too and the picture gets ever bigger. An arrow drops every second or even part second on all five continents around the world now and it continues to grow steadily. The amazing thing to me is that what we do defies everything that might limit the training we pass on to others around the world simply because of our advocacy in the use of hand tools. Beyond that too, what everyone seems to say is that they like the genuineness of what we’ve been accomplishing. There is no gimmicky razzmatazz, no advertising from us and no sponsoring links to tie us down. Whereas we do support our work with online membership for some of our training, the bigger percentage of what we share is free. Not following the path of advertising and sponsored links has been well supported by everyone and this brings me to the point of this article.
I read the comment below which was sent as a private message. I have copied it in here but left ID out because it’s not intended to harm or offend any individual. It does help me to make a point though and it may help everyone to understand better just how we are reaching the countries and the continents around the world:
“We cut them [hand cut dovetails] occasionally but more frequently order the boxes pre made from Richeleau. The Summerville Jig and a great Triton router and table and i can do a great job almost straight out of the box. We have hand tools and use them frequently and correctly for 30 years now, but I also have a truck full of Festools, Makitas, and more, and they’re what I earn my living with. I could no more afford to build a high end house full of built ins and custom designed features with only hand tools any more than I could park my truck and drive a horse and buggy to the jobs. And yes, I find the work to be creative, peaceful, Zen ful, and relaxing. Also profitable enough to have raised a family, saved a bit for my last days, and even bought a great sailboat. I’m sure you can do about anything that can be done with wood with a few simple hand tools and I can do quite a bit myself, but most of the guys who fawn over hand woodworking have never even finished a complete piece, where I finish many in a single week.”
I receive such comments fairly frequently and I know that they usually don’t understand the point of what we do. Here’s the thing. My blog is important to me. Because I do promote hand tool woodworking as an important part of life that brings great reward does not mean I am knocking those who make their livings reliant on machine-only methods. There is really no need for anyone to defend their methods because our audience is not necessarily the professional at all. Anyway, I have aways enjoyed writing my blog even though I am not really a writer. I write because of the burden I often feel that most people are not looking for a truck load of power tools nor a mass making business but a period of regeneration in their home workshop using methods that give brilliant results. Also, I write because I know that in some countries machine work has replaced what I have called real woodworking. This led to great criticism from many quarters at one time, but, being experienced for decades in both realms, I concluded for myself that the two realms were really distinctly different methods of working and far from one and the same. I know, you all know that. When I pick up a book or a magazine it seems that for the main part editors have had small imagination. Basically they seem always intent on showing comparisons between the same range of power equipment or offer options as though the two separate areas of hand and power woodworking are just different sides of the same coin. The side that gets the greater press has always been the machine side, but we have caused the editors to change course in recent years, even if just a little. Today, they give a little more than the token nod to hand tools that they did in the past. Wahey! Good for us! Try to remember that, unlike our work, their work is generally continent-specific. They don’t think or reach very far beyond their borders because, well, a machine made for one country often will not work in another or more likely is just not available there. I have worked in Mexico and the USA and traveled to other countries too. Chalk and cheese, night and day differences separate them. So our outreach reaching the five continents and then principalities too makes a hugely different outreach for us. Try to imagine our teaching handwork to people watching from a smart phone in say for instance Estonia or Japan. It makes a huge difference to the recipients in many ways. For instance too, some in some east European countries have let me know that they have never seen an all-metal plane to work with. That they have no electricity where they live and that a bandsaw people buy say in Canada or the USA or the UK would never happen for them. Look too to the continent of Africa. The same issues in some parts. What we buy and sell by the thousands in a week via eBay doesn’t happen for everyone. Many of their questions looking for a solution come in via email, regular mail, Facebook messages and so on. They all get answered and usually within a few hours or at most a few days. Of course this has increased a thousand fold in four years, to such a degree that we have needed to extend the work of those working with us to help me out. We have had to take on additional staff to ease the load and keep pace with the developments.
I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I am in the changed work that I am adapting to. All the time I have been filming the rocking chair series the guys interact with one another striving to help people through the comments sections of different areas. I want everyone to know that these guys never complain, are never scathing and are always seeking to be a genuine solution to every question that comes up. THEY AMAZE ME!!! They are always kind to me especially and then with one another too. Nothing is too much trouble for them and I just wish I could record the conversations they have when I overhear them trying to resolve the wide range of problems they deal with to make it all happen as smoothly as possible for all. Considering that most of the questions come in from what we give for free I think that, again, THEY ARE AMAZING!!!
Does this help? I suppose what I am saying is that woodworking on five continents and in 195 countries means different strokes for different folks. I try to recommend what people can get their hands on and sometimes that means comparing a £12 plane with £300 plane without dissing the one over the other. Perhaps even making tools like planes and chisels. Sometimes I will work with one tool for six months to make sure that what I suggest as an option will definitely work and then hold up for them. Bow saws made from wood with a hacksaw or bandsaw blade dehardened and retempered takes time to practice but I do it because someone in Somaliland or in a region of China can’t get their hands on some things that we take for granted every day; something as ubiquitous as a western or Asian handsaw, perhaps a plane or a chisel for instance.
The Real Woodworking Campaign
The real woodworking campaign has been ongoing for me for almost three decades. In recent years, through the internet, teaching, traveling and meeting with groups wanting to understand and make change happen, I have been able to to disabuse people on some continents of assumptions that everyone can afford expensive hand tools or that everyone owns a bandsaw or at least can get their hands on one. On the other hand it’s been just as much work to disabuse people of the idea that they even need such equipment or that they cannot work with wood without machines, a massive workshop or whatever. If you must split wood with an ax for table legs and then shape them with the same ax then you can enjoy that just as much as if you shape them on a lathe. Both methods will give enjoyment I think. On masterclasses it is the same. We have made this as affordable as possible and it is working for everyone easily. It’s easy to stop for a few weeks and it’s easy to reengage. No penalties, just a quick click and you are in or out and then back in whenever you want. I love that they did this.
I know that this was a long post but I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU! for all of you that have supported this work through the decades. Our outreach keeps expanding because of you and the people I work with. What a gift!
Hi paul.
I’m sure I’ve already said this before but an enormous thank you to you and your staff. You’ve opened my eyes and broadened the way I think about projects. I know I’m going to be taking full advantage of all the teachings in the videos for as long as it’s available. … hopefully a very long time. 🙂
It’s me who must say THANK YOU to you sir and your team, you taught me “how to fish my own fish”!
A very hearty thank you to all that contribute their time and skill to making it happen. I hope to continue to happily contribute for masterclasses as long as I am able, thank you for keepng it commercial free.
BrianJ
I recently sold my large table saw to make more space in my small workshop. I still have my small jobsite saw to use. A friend couldn’t believe I got rid of it and told me that you can’t build furniture like I build without it. I reminded him that some of the greatest pieces of furniture were built before electricity came along, what about that? I have so enjoyed the hand tool methods taught by you and I appreciate all that you do and I really think this power mindset is changing. Now my collection of hand tools are priceless and my new knowledge of them ageless. Thank you!
Paul I came across your YouTube channel only within six months ago and as each day passed I found myself stopping in to watch your videos more often. Then this blog and woodworking master classes within the past few weeks. Your words, thoughts, ideas, teachings and passion have resonated with me greatly. And for the better. In all honesty, before I came across your YouTube channel, I would’ve had zero Intrest in the saws I come across at antique stores and yard sales. Now I almost always pick them up and sight down the length, inspect the teeth, and ask myself if the saw is something to be saved. My heart aches at the thought of a hand tool being scrapped or discarded. Especially when I can see it’s potential. I buy tools when I can, even if it’s something I already have and don’t necessarily need. I rather enjoy taking apart tools and cleaning them up to the best of my ability. But more importantly, I enjoy using them more than I ever did before because of your efforts to get people woodworking. So my biggest thanks to you and everyone that makes their best efforts to help teach and educate people with the best and most honest approach I’ve ever seen. Thank you kindly for all the hard work and dedication that is given to teach and inform all of us.
Mr. Sellers, I would like to echo the sentiment expressed by everyone who posted before me: it is to us to give you thanks for the knowledge you have been sharing with everyone.
I am particularly grateful because you reminded me how much more comfortable it is to work with hand tools and, as I progressed, for giving me the opportunity to share with the kids what I have learnt from you. The joy of my daughter finishing a little toy carriage was one of the most wonderful moments this year. Plus the time we spent together working on it.
Thank you from a veteran here in the US!!! You have no idea the peace this brings me in a world so tumultuous. It is the thing that allows me to clear my mind. I too am grateful for your work. Thank you.
Thanks for doing what you do Paul! I and 46 and took quite a bit of woodshop in High School (1980s). I remember my teacher (Mr. Canning) tried to get us to use hand tools, but we could never get over the shiny power tools and wanted to use them. I was in the advanced class and took quote a bit. One of the tasks we did in the advanced class was sharpen the tools, and I learned to do it pretty good.
Fast forward to this year.. I have always had a spot in my heard for woodworking, but never had room or money for a proper shop (with power tools). One day I saw a post on reddit.com that showed someone’s failed attempt to make your mallet. The title was something like “Forgive me Paul Sellers”. This prompted me to look you and your mallet up. I found your youtube channel and was instantly hooked. Your channel showed me that with some simple tools and a lot of practice, I could make some awesome things.
Fast forward to today.. I have made your mallet from a chunk of firewood using a cheap set of Harbor Freight chilsels sharpened razor sharp, and some “hand me down” hand planes from my father and grandfathers. I have also built a “saw bench” with dovetail joints (they would not make you proud, but I did them myself with hand tools). I plan to use the saw bench to build a proper workbench in my basement later this year (after a bit of cleaning/re-organizing).
Thank you for this new/old hobby. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
ps: My wife is out of work and I have a lot of expenses with 3 kids (cars, college, etc) but I hope to join your masterclasses site to help support your effort.
Facebook reminded me yesterday that exactly one year ago I completed my Paul Sellers bench, customized for a tall lefty. I have received more pleasure and satisfaction from my hand work in the last year than the previous ten years combined. The letter writer fails to mention that those who “fawn over hand working and never complete a single piece” are the same ones that previously fawned over machine work and never completed a single piece.
Thank you for sharing the joy.
Some people work to live and others live to work.
All I know is when I used to make kitchen cabinets with power tools for some side money it wasn’t fun anymore, it was work. Now when I build something it’s so engaging that time flies by. Yes power tools are useful, they are good for doing the bull work. Hand tools I have found actually can save you time you would have otherwise spent on setups.
As to finishing projects, how would that person know who finishes a project or not?
I know that some people with a lot of power tools don’t always finish a project it’s more about enjoying what you do isn’t it?
Good point on finishing projects. He was just offended by nothing really. Most woodworkers I know always finish their projects.
Hey Paul,
Over the past couple years I’ve read a few of those post where somebody has taken your meaning out of text. It seems like most of them are basing there information after reading maybe one or two of your blog Post. And then trying to defend their or anilize there reason for there day to day need for machines.
I think it’s important to actually watch your videos and then you can get the true message if what you have been trying to accomplish in your teachings .
I know for myself when I first saw your videos and Blog Post I was using machines for 98% of my work and I couldn’t even imagine using hand tools for for 98% of my woodworking. But because of you that’s the case now. Just last night I flattened both sides parallel with rack other using Mahogany. I’m building a Pedastal Table for my Daughter. This Mahogany is highly figured and has been the most challenging wood I’ve ever had to plane.
But you have taught me how to deal with this situation from your videos. I doubt very seriously that anybody has watched your videos as much as I have. That’s how dedicated I am to learning this trade using hand tools . Your Welcome for being a member and subscriber for so long and if you think about it it does take both of us in order for you to accomplish your goals but it’s your unselfishness hard work that has given me the opratunity to learn from you. You are definitely unique and one of a kind no doubt. I live in Pensacola, Fl so if there’s anything you ever need don’t hesitate to ask, maybe like a jar of sand from the beach . You could spread it in your back yard so you can say the Gulf of Mexico is in your back yard. Lol
Thanks for everything Paul.
Paul,
I couldn’t but smile while reading that private message. The author is a de facto follower of your work, but clearly has missed the obvious (it’s written on your business card even) philosophical system it is grounded in.
The ‘Amateur’ woodworker wherever they are can use your methods and instruction to produce work to a craftsman standard, with just a fairly basic set of hand tools.
You have also discussed how such a person can use this skillset and equipment to earn a living albeit with a number of stated caveats (as well as a Unique and saleable product ).
I struggle to understand why ‘Professionals’ such as this follower feel the need to defend their work practices. He/She has some struggle themselves about whether powertool methods are seen in someway Inferior to hand tool (“We have hand tools and use them frequently and correctly”). As you have many times said there is no overlap between production machine methods (however ‘High End’ the product is) and hand tool crafting of a similar piece).
It’s always disappointing to see an Ad Hominem attack in this kind of debate – Does the writer know more than a few of the millions of Handtool woodworkers to offer his opinion on each ones ability to produce finished work?
Finally it is worth pointing out that the writer is indeed correct in his assertion that
“I could no more afford to build a high end house full of built ins and custom designed features with only hand tools any more than I could park my truck and drive a horse and buggy to the jobs”.
One of the most important caveats you stressed is that you have to tailor your lifestyle to your earning capacity if you wanted to succeed with Handtool woodworking in business — This actually gave me the smile — The continual cost of hardware, upkeep and mooring of a “Great Sailboat” would tax the income of a Surgeon or an Attorney/Lawyer, nevermind a lifestyle Woodworker 😉
I don’t get too many of these any more but they do make me chuckle because they defend as if attacked and yet no one actually challenged them The very worst ones are indeed the so called professional ones. I have reached a point in my life where were I to be called a professional I would feel very sad because I too would have missed the important points.
That’s the best part about hand work making beautiful, functional pieces with only a few tools. Love it love it love it! Thankyou Paul and team
Mr Sellers.
if there is any battle, it seems to be more like the way we live in such a trade world which is most of the time connected with some circumstances usually with marketing and money, and more important – far away from our true needs and wishes. I have to say, Your labor is far beyond borders of choise between which method or tool we have to use. This is as You say “The real legacy”, showing what Man can and how we should understand our work and what we can give to others (as we used to say – what will stay after us).
Thank You Mr. Sellers for the faith and hope!
P.s. Sorry about my English
There is another aspect to all of this. Many professional woodworkers, carpenters, kitchen fitters etc. I have known over many years are loathe to admit that they have very limited real knowledge of older hand tools and how tune and use them properly. Most all (in business) are highly competent with setting up their machinery and cranking out product, I did it too for many years. To handle volume machines are fine. But, how many ‘machine pros’ will actually admit their own actual lack of ability with hand methods and hand tools. Many can’t easily dance between hand tools and machines because they’ve never learned or cared to have the advantage of both skill sets. Next time you encounter this argument challenge the machine guy to hand cutting dovetails with you. Notice the ‘deer in the headlights’ stare he gives you with no machine router and jigs to rely on. Prior,.. make a large wager on your behalf.
Most “professional” woodworkers I know have hand tools but hardly use them and most can’t use them in my experience.
Remember there Is No Overlap between each method of work.
And in the spirit of balanced discussion, A fairer contest between power tool and hand tool would consist of Two rounds — Dovetails by Hand then Dovetails by machine — Most likely a draw with neither contestant happy with his non-standard joint (Maybe the above image of the machine cut dovetails with all the extra filler was Paul’s weaker round!!)
Anyway — what’s wrong with filler – I use it in my modest workshop!! (less now since I signed up here)
I’ve never understood those who feel the need to demean others who make different choices. In this case, the author of the message is obviously insecure about some aspect of his craft, but I don’t know why; he made a choice, and it works for him. No problem (or at least it shouldn’t be).
He also displays that all too common disease of thinking that the only measurement of success is the things that you buy. I came back to woodworking after seemingly the hundredth time of hiring someone like the message’s author, and after seeing the quality of work I got, thinking “I might as well have done it myself.” So now I do. Am I less successful because I make instead of buy? I don’t think so.
I do use hand tools; I’m just not interested in a garage full of power tools. I know some are, and that’s fine. Does it take me longer to do things? Sometimes, although I’m frequently surprised at how small the hand-tool time penalty can be. But I’m in no hurry. I’m just doing my thing, the way I enjoy doing it. Why must someone be threatened by that?
use what you got. A sharp rock or a Festool. The wood doesn’t care.
Here in Estonia hand tool woodworking has largely died out. There are a few enthusiasts but If something is advertised as being handmade, then it is actually made with a chopsaw and lot’s of screws. There are few handtools also. Most wooden handplanes have been kept in moist conditions and are beyond repair. Metal planes are hard to find, they are mostly soviet made and lack the quality, I personaly sold all my soviet planes after i got my first stanley no4 from ebay, because the difference was huge.
I am currently trying to make a living with hand tools. I do have a planer and table saw and few other machines to dimension the wood but i like to cut joinery and to finish by hand. Sometimes when i go to a fair, i bring some tools with me to show how things are made and i have got comments like: “You can’t make a living with a handsaw!” And it is mostly true, because it is really hard to compete with machine made cheap products, but i think it’s really not about the competition, because there are always some people who want quality over quantity.
p.s. I’m currently not writing this from a smartphone but my laptop, but this phrase made me comment.
p.p.s sorry for the english, I haven’t written anything in english for a couple of years
These are just jerks, Arno. Jerks! Who are they? what do they know? They don’t even know you. I just made a whole rocking chair utterly by hand because I wanted to. It took me a five-day week. I could have saved a day by machining my wood but in the US this chair sells for me from between ¢1500-2000. Personally I can live comfortably on that. If I made 50 rockers in a year I would clear $85,000 working in an 8 x 15′ space. No traveling to work, no wasted time in traffic. Yes, there is other overhead but, you know, don’t listen to these naysayers who never risked anything except a few dollars in a fruit machine. They could no more develop their skills than fly to the moon. It’s all about attitude.
I know Estonia is not the US but the attitude can be the same. When someone says something like that tell them to walk on as you are waiting for your next customer to come by.
Hi Arno,
You MUST not make the mistake of trying to compete with mass produced machine made products – you will loose your heart and fail.
One of the reasons that Paul can sell as many rocking Chairs at his chosen price is that except for stock preparation, chair making is not simple using mass manufacture techniques. You must choose a ‘Market’ first then make a desirable and Unique product that is not readily available as a mass produced alternative. For example in children’s toys, vintage type cars and trucks are simple to make from offcuts and plans are even readily available to buy . For household cabinets, Craftsman style (Stickley or Greene&Greene with a simple Inlay added give it that ‘Bespoke’ (A word that is over used these days) look which attract interest and sales as people like to say they have ‘Unique’ or ‘Bespoke’ this or that. (By the way, do a search for Frank-Lloyd Wright – Make it from offcuts and sells for up the $500 in the US/UK).
Look to make an Unique and Saleable item and secondary items from your offcuts, Advertise with images of the work process and make a point of the manhours to produce it.
I hope no-one minds that this is a bit off topic, but it’s really elaborating on the idea that there is no overlap between machine/Massproduced and Handtool woodworking Craftsmanship.
I meant to say ‘Frank-Lloyd Wright Print Stand’
To Paul:
Thank you Paul for all the articles and videos. It really has helped my start of hand tool woodworking journey. They mostly taught woodworking with machines in vocational school, so its like starting all over again and it’s great to see fellow estonian here.
Greetings from Estonia!
To Arno:
Tere,
tore näha kaasmaalasest entusiasti. Loodan samuti oma tegemistes muuta inimeste arvamust puutöösse. Ka mina üritan elatist teenida käsitööriistadega.
Hello Mr Sellers,
Just wondering about your opinion on hybrid woodworking?
Personally I’m just another weekend traditional woodworker started few months ago. Made some beginner stuffs and its a fun hobby especially when you swooshed your hand plane from one end to the other, making hand joinery and seeing the finished item.
But I’m starting to get tired at this one part of the project and that is squaring the wood. Wood from my lumberyard in my area are all terribly not square and got all of those wood warping you can read in Wikipedia. I’m thinking of buying a vintage no 5 plane to help my problem but oh god just the shipping from eBay to my country can go up to the 100$.
So that’s why I’m thinking of buying an electric hand plane which is cheaper, I’m hope it might help but I also hope it’s not too loud. And do you really square all your wood for every project you’ve done?
I see this term crop up from time to time but the name implies something new when it’s just what we’ve done for centuries. We do use machines and battery or electric driven power tools to speed up some work and I see nothing wrong with that. What I also see though is that people give up on mastering skill and that’s where the problem lies for me. I just made a complete rocking chair in oak and cut the parts with a handsaw. Some parts were 2″ thick oak and others 1″. I also cut 42 mortise and tenons by hand too. It takes me no effort to square my stock because I have done it thousands of times. This gives me freedom but it cost me great effort. Now I have it. I own this skill and I paid for it. You can side step this and always be dependent on the machine. This is just a matter of individual choice. You will never know what I know and that is the difference. Hybrid woodworking is just yet another name but it’s nothing new at all. Oh, and the plane. It cost me a week’s wage to buy my first hand plane. Is that what this #5 will cost you? A week’s wage. Even if it does, it will last a lifetime. The electric plane will not.
Did a short research (didnt find a lot) and unfortunately electric hand plane is not the answer I was looking for. The process of squaring a wood stock is still the same as using a normal hand plane except with less sweat. Identifying the warp, removing the high spot and so on. The power tools that I was looking for were the jointer box and thickness planer. Kinda overkill for someone working in a ~10sqm room.
As for the no 5, I-I’ll try my luck on eBay. Just hope my hard earn cash won’t go to a dud. I know theres a site to identify the good plane but man wish there were pictures not flowchart.
Hi Ali,
in which country do you live?
It might be possible that I could give you advice on the most economic method
If you are a member of Paul’s woodworkingmaster community, why don’t you seek advice/help there.
I work mostly in the same square metre space as you. I have bought maybe 150 planes as well as other tools on eBay and only has one or two duds that came in useful for the parts. You can’t really go too far wrong as long as there are good pictures. Practice and self analysis will get you a long way in a day or two. You gotta put the time in.
I am greatly disappointed that this hand tool revival has short lived, personally I don’t care if people use machinery or not but what I don’t appreciate is people constantly rubbing it in our noses that you can’t make money from hand tools. Whether this statement is true or not there’s just no need for it and unfortunately these comments are on the increase. Are we the instigators of this backlash by mentioning far too many times of the importance of hand skilled work. Do they feel somewhat lesser woodworkers that they choose to use machinery? Most probably they do so they over exaggerate how much more money they earn and water ski behind several yachts.
I am a living testimony that I supported 7 of us by using only hand tools for the last 18years, just my saws, chisels and planes at my own home. You are a testimony of this as well and just how many more out there are also a testimony to this fact.
Paul,
I love your woodworking philosophy, the sharing of your craft to those that want to learn. It does bother me that someone who knows you teach hand tool woodworking would make negative comments. I suspect an American, as I am. Many here just want to berate those who do not agree with them rather than accept it as an option to do the same thing. Your style is insulting to many here as they lack the ability but call themselves craftsmen.
I love working with wood, trying to work with a material that can have a mind of it’s own is very trying and rewarding for an engineer. I heard someone say once, not sure who, but that woodworkers should be cautious as to who the make furniture for. The reason, it took God 100 years to grow the tree and man 5 years to decide it is out of style and throw it in the dump. I see this all to often here. The though is, if you can afford real wood, you are not going to have a yard sale so the piece can find a new home.
Sorry for my venting,
joe
Hi Paul,
I like this post. It speaks to my own heart and my self imposed apprenticeship. I was one of those machine woodworkers, with a shop full of expensive equipment, which I had to constantly move because my shop is so small. I recently sold 90% of my power tools ( to my brother) and work almost exclusively with hand tool. I kept my band saw as I find it very useful in many ways. On speaking with a good friend who is a woodworker turned photographer, he broached the subject of the self imposing of a training regiment. I shared my frustrations at having to re-learn joinery and woodworking methods. I also shared another of your blog posts, in which you talk of the way workmen used to tackle jobs; quietly working and enjoying their work. I don’t think I every really enjoyed woodworking with power tools. I hate the noise and the dust. Having to wear protective hearing and dust masks is not my idea of a good time. So, to your point; I don’t think some people will get it. The rest of us are converts for life, which I think is more important.
Thanks Bryan. Often I feel like the lone fish scaling the heights and I gave up trying to persuade wood machinists a long time ago. You either want this or you don’t. The problem is no one wants to admit they don’t know something, especially when qualified by some official body be that college or state or then again peers. Fact is a wood machinist is a wood machinist of which I am also one. The difference is I mastered hand skills too. I could master machine skills in a week but hand skills took me many hears and I am still in the process of discovering new skills and new techniques. I am glad you saw the difference. My life has been sooo rich and rewarding and I cannot begin to explain how much.
I just love your honesty, your integrity and humility. Well done and said.
I wonder if his “great sailboat” is glass or wood. I cannot imagine machine methods to be faster for fitting planks to a hull. By the way, wooden boat building is a great example of “hybrid woodworking” that has been around for a long time without the use of the term.
It’s funny how we use terms like hybrid woodworking for what’s been with is for over a century isn’t it? Like it was invented or something. As you say, using machines and hand tools side by side has been common duality and we take pride in somehow naming it as though we invented the whole process rather than merely giving it a new buzz name. Sadlt, it will likely stick.
That’s what the Marketing department is for —
Re-Packaging and Re-Naming the familiar to add extra Profit in the market
Your work has inspired me to be better in both my hand work and my machine work. I have recently completed a small project and can cleanly state “no electricity was consumed here”. Thank you so much for your passion and teaching