When I was learning woodworking, I lived 18 miles downriver from town, and 16 miles from the nearest electricity. Unless I could do something with a chain saw, there was no "cheating" for me.
It was hand tools or do without.
I didn't know anyone nearby who made much of anything from wood except log cabins and such, so I had to figure it all out for myself.
I do use power tools now. But my hand tools are right there and are the first consideration.
If I need to do it once, hand.
If I need to do it 30 times, power.
Its faster for single parts to use hand tools, but slower for multiples, by hand.
I have never owned a working joiner btw.
I do have one. But it needs to be totally restored. Its a miniature Delta from the 1940's. Only 4" wide, but it is exactly like a big one in all other ways. Sooo cute!! Toy joiner!
But meanwhile, my Bedrock 608 comes off the shelf 10 times a week, at least.
yours Scott
Yeah, I had a feeling you had some "cute tool" in your back pocket!!!!! Just kidding, I don't know why I said that... just sounded funny! I had a different woodworking background from you............ COMPLETELY different accept for one thing: I didn't know a single person on earth who was a "woodworker." I had to figure it out for myself. So, sounds like we had a weird similar experience. You knew persons who built log cabins.
I imagine at about the age that you were, I was stuck in Houston, Texas. Which, take it from me, Texas is not the best place to be. Actually, I take that back!!!!!! I'm sure Texas is a great place, but, not in downtown Houston if you have the sudden completely unexplainable urge to be a woodworker. I learned how to work with wood via "Fine Woodworker." (I still can't figure out how to underline a title.... so, I'll settle for pretending I'm citing an article."
I practiced cutting dovetails, and read more and more.... I practiced some more.... and, I became a semi-decent woodworker. It wasn't what I hoped for--- I had hoped to be a GREAT woodworker. ... hasn't happened. But, I'll keep working on it..... and, power tools do not tend to "further my education."
But, it's true, if I have to repeatably do anything, power tools become useful. But, if there is something you need to do just once, use the hand tools. Anyone that's ever used a hand tool knows that the gratification of holding a tool in your hand that may have been around for a hundred years. 100 YEARS!!!!! ...Just imagine the hands, colonies, countries, ships, and different sociology spectrum's that tool could have gone through.
My friends and family genuinely ask me, "Why have you become obsessed with old tools?"
"Well, it's the same reason I've always been obsessed with history, accept that now history is tangible."
I guess that's the best way I can explain it--- history is now tangible. Who would have thought I could avoid being an archeologist, and have hundreds of "artifacts" in my office?
Well, that's all for now, folks
cheers,
bird.