Machines you still might use…
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Hi all!
I know it’s a little heretical around here, and I’m fully converted to hand tool use by Paul’s wonderful presence on the internet (which stretches far beyond these masterclasses and I can only hope will inspire generations yet to come) but a recent blog post of his made me think of a question. I thought I’d ask you people which machines you still use/are likely to still use in the future.
As for me, I was very lucky in that before my recent woodworking re-awakening I had a (long unused but decent) table saw and drill press. If I hadn’t had either I wouldn’t buy them now, but I am sure I will still come in very handy for cutting lots of thin strips of ply (biscuit joints for board jointing that I’m planning). Having said that, for solid wood or a normal amount of cutting ply, I’ll just grab a handsaw now. For that, I’m greatly indebted to Paul.
As for the drill press – I never used it much, but when I need large holes at precisely 90 degrees (I sometimes work on boxes for electronics projects and the like) a forstner bit and a drill press are the only game in town as far as I’m concerned.
If I had a planer and a thicknesser I’m sure I’d use it. Heck, Paul Sellers himself uses them on occasion, that should be a hint.
OTOH, I pulled out my jigsaw recently to cut an irregular hole in the middle of a large ply board because I don’t have a scroll saw (the hand powered or the electric version) and I HATED it. It will be too soon if I never use it again, and it used to be one of my favourite tools.
As for orbital sanders…I no longer understand what they are for.
I’d like to know other people’s point of view on this…how much are we leaving power tools behind? I mean, if we get that far into woodworking (I’m not), bandsaws are still useful, right? Paul has one of them in his workshop too, doesn’t he?
No doubt a planer and a thicknesser are great tools if you buy rough woods and want to start with the joinery immediately.
Before I decided to do everything by hand I was looking for one and found that it’s one of the machines that are not available (new) for consumers for a reasonable price unless you are lucky to find an old professional one for not too much. The ones I considered to buy were of such poor built quality that I’m happy to have resisted.
I enjoy working wood in Germany.
John-Paul,
Paul doesn’t talk about machines much for some of the following reasons: a) that’s not where the skill and craftsmanship enter into woodworking, contrary to much of the woodworking press, 2) they already get the lion’s share of the press, 3) using them makes it difficult to impossible to host and teach children in the shop, 4) requiring machines can greatly increase the cost of startup.
On the other hand, machines can be very good for making a board flat, straight, and square. Most of Paul’s teaching projects on here and elsewhere start with flat, square machined stock to make it easier for us trainees.
There’s a previous thread on the forums here about this very question, and as I remember, many people supported the idea of getting or keeping a bandsaw and a thicknesser planer. For some reason, I can’t find that thread right now to post a link, maybe someone else can do so.
Just moved to NE Ohio
Fun topic.
I have an Inca jointer/planer for stock prep. I have little interest in doing all my stock prep by hand, except for wide boards. I love that little machine.
I use a bandsaw for ripping long or thick stock.
I may never have a table saw. I might use one for crosscuts if I had one, but crosscutting by hand and using the shooting board to touch up is just fine.
I also have a vintage drill press that I have in case I need precision alignment, but I have not even used it yet. I also have a new cordless drill that I have no qualms using. My hand braces are always available for anything else.
I haven’t yet warmed up to using the egg-beater (Miller Falls) drill. I am not a fan of how spinning the drill causes the body to torque a bit on axis. Does no harm, but it does not feel right to me. A different handle design would probably solve that issue.
-Scott Los Angeles
Hi John-Paul,
This question was asked awhile ago and my response is as it was then. I don’t own any machines right now however if there is one machine that I will eventually purchase it will be a bandsaw for resawing boards. A small drill press may be added to my list for precise drilling at 90 degrees but even then I am sure the craftsmen of old had ways of doing this accurately with just a hand brace.
As far as thickness and jointing goes, I will endeavour to do this by hand or utilize my local lumber stores machining services.
-Canada
I missed that thread. I suppose if I were to add another machine, it would be a bigger bandsaw. No hurry though…
-Scott
-Scott Los Angeles
Thanks, Ken. That was just the thread I was talking about above.
Just moved to NE Ohio
This is a good question that I have thought about from time to time. Before I worked with hand tools I thought that the table saw was the most important tool. followed by the jointer, planer and bandsaw. Now to be honest I could get by with the band saw. I do like to turn so the lathe will always be in my shop. And a good drill press is essential as well. So the 3 I would want would be the band saw, lathe and drill press. Very different from when I was power tools only. A thickness planer of course would be very useful on a large project but I mostly tackle smaller projects and a scrub gets me there. Oddly my jointer is currently for sale so that goes to show it is the least needed in my mind. A #8 is a better tool once you learn it….
Band saw and thickness planer are the two I’d really hate to give up. Band saw for long rips and curves and thickness planer for thicknessing rough boards. I haven’t used my 6″ jointer in sometime. I can joint edges and flatten enough to run through thickness planer with planes.
I’m also keeping my table saw for as long as I foresee working with sheet goods. That won’t be long given my age and health. I can’t deal with sheet goods like I once could. Besides my table saw’s extension table is now my sharpening station.
I guess that it depends on the type of work that you are doing.If you making small stuff like boxes I don’t think machines are necessary.I am more than happy to rip down a board of a couple of feet, anything larger then a bandsaw or table saw would be handy.The other option is to buy your timber cut near enough to size and work from there.Here are some photo’s of some 2″ mahogany i decided to rip down into three pieces to make small boxes.
Hehe – thanks for the replies guys, and thanks for the link to the other thread, Ken. Good views on that one too!
I am in a peculiar situation I guess. Just moved into a new house and I decided to re-engage with woodwork and instead of buying kitchen furniture I’m making it. I bought a whole trailer-load of poplar.
I decided to do this a month before discovering Paul and hand woodworking. I was planning on blatting through with a surfeit of screws and router jigs, but thanks to Paul I’ve re-evaluated and I now have plans for pretty much the whole thing to be hand-powered…
I’ve done a quick estimate, and I think I’ll be done within a year.
I have a very forgiving wife.
I think that’s why I started the thread. Even with this much to do that ‘has to be done’, Im reluctant to power up. Many, many thanks to Paul for that. He’s kinda changed my life, and I’ve never even met the man!
Jean-Paul-
My garage only has one dedicated 110v circuit, and only one outlet in the middle of the garage ceiling! :0 Our electrical panels are maxed out, so it would cost me a bundle to rewire the garage for machinery if I wanted any more machines in my woodworking. So you see, hand tools are not only a joy to use, they are far more practical for my situation.
-Scott Los Angeles
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