I am currently employing my #6 Stanley as my fulltime jointer, as I have no access to an electric model. I just finish jointing 4, 48″x4″ spruce. My arms now feel like rubber. My thoughts go out to those folks that had to do this day in a day out. They must have had some serious popeye arms. Anyone else out there like me? It is actually a good lesson in worksmanship. You come to appreciate a board that is near straight when it is rough, and stock selection becomes a lot more important.
Derek
Replies
Wecome to the slippery slope!
Bruce
wanta find a bunch of kinsmen? try here: http://woodcentral.com/newforum/handtools.shtml
also try: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/forumdisplay.php?f=4
Edited 11/28/2005 4:51 pm by oldwing
I agree, although I have an electric jointer and planer going about it by hand plane I find much more satisfaction. As the shavings pile up there's a feeling of "Yea, I did something today", and that feels good.
pk
Anyone else out there like me?
ummmmm..... that'd be me...??
can't say I've put plane to softwood... least, not since I was a wee lad... thesedays its all hardwoods, and trust me, I know from having rubber arms... ;)
If its any consolation, the more you do the easier it gets... until you stop for a while that is..
<currently discovering a whole new vocabulary describing knots in oak and their affect on a scrub plane...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
derek
My grandfather was a jointer. He's been dead for almost 40 years, but one of the few memories I have of him was his strong looking arms. According to my mom, he had an entire tool chest of planes that he built himself for his trade over the years. Unfortunately, after he passed away, my uncle sold the tool chest full of his tools before I became old enough to wish I had them. What I wouldn't pay to get them back!! I have 4 beading planes that he made, and that's it. I found them in my grandmothers basement.
Jeff
yeah, i'm just like you, for now at least. my shop is only 200 or so sq. feet and i have no room for a jointer or a planer. i have been hand planing boards for about ten years. i have plans soon to move into a new shop, and to expand my machines, but i think my skills are much better than they would be if i had not had to "get by" .i think planing and using spoke shaves and drawknives are some of the most enjoyable moments, but if you have a ton of planing to do, you do long for a little mechanical help.sharp blades and a little topcote work wonders at reducing your efforts. good luck and keep those shavings coming! with every stroke, a lesson learned!!! gs
You're not alone.
I've been renovating an old house (~100 yrs) for the past couple of years. I use power tools when I can, but also make much use of planes, chisels and other hand tools for fitting trim, wood floors and such, especially in transition areas.
I get most pleasure when tearing up some old finish work (trim, built-ins and wood floors) and find how all of it was hand cut, relieved with chisels and planes. And the fit is still perfect, a century later...
I find myself thinking often that if a young person asked me how to begin the process of learning woodworking, I would recommend the use of nothing but hand tools to begin with. Learn to select, flatten, and joint a piece of wood. Learn to saw to a line.
Did I start that way 50 years ago? Of course not. I was too smart.
I would recommend the use of nothing but hand tools to begin with.
If there's a better way to learn how to "read" the grain in a board, I've yet to hear of it... Handraulics.... canna beat 'em... ;)Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
I have a 'LETRIC' plane.. I finish off with my old Stanley!
I am working on a trestle table for a customer. The top is maple finihed to 4/4 and it is 34" wide and 7" long. The top is 6 boards and my tool of choice to joint the edges.. an ECE wooden jointer, an Ulmia fore plane and an antique wooden bodied jointer. I have one jointer set for one heavy cut and the other set for a fine cut. I do have an electric jointer but for some reason, for a project like this with long boards, it seems easier to move the blade and not the work.
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
I too get a great deal of satisfaction out of preparing rough lumber with hand tools. One of the side benefits is that you do not need to heat your shop so much in the cold months. When I am doing a lot of hand planning, 50 degrees farenheit is plenty warm.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled