Comments

1. 
   jalhess | Aug 20, 2009 01:31pm | #1

   Thought this topic sounded vaguely familiar:
   http://tinyurl.com/woodworkingonline-tools

   This guy gives a good argument for a band saw, assuming you had electricity.

2. 
   Beckum | Aug 20, 2009 03:09pm | #2

   What if I were stuck on a deserted island? If it is a deserted island, then you would be talking about getting back to some of the most basic of conditions. Tools of any sort would be at a premium. So true versatility and durability are the only things to consider, in my opinion. And to me, that means that the choices on your list all have major flaws as a one tool only situation. Even though most deserted islands have been touched by man, very few are going to have much of anything that is going to be usable. Nature does tend to take back what man tries to claim as his own. So, assuming the most basic of conditions to find ones self in . . . .

   I would have to go with "other" with a handsaw being third on my list(how to sharpen). My tool of choice would be a double bit axe. With it you can fell a tree, split it into usable rough boards, scrape the boards to a fairly smooth state and cut the vines to lash it all together. And let's not forget that you can use it to make weapons and traps to hunt with. My second choice would be a machete for all of the same reasons.

   .... and could someone get this monkey off my back?

   Bill

3. 
   GaijinDaiku | Aug 20, 2009 07:15pm | #3

   I'd hope for a chisel...a big one.