Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level
>....I guess I do have a smidgeon of philosophy.... (for what it's worth)

James makes some comments, especially about safety. Anyone's first introduction to woodworking should be focussed on safety.

However, in the big scheme of life I think that the fruits of our labor is all that really matters. Whatever we endeavor to make, if we are happy with the results then it really doesn't matter how we got there. New tools, old tools, cheap tools, expensive tools, formal education, self taught, hand tools, power tools...none of that really matters.

It only matters if you think it matters. If you feel it is important to work only with old hand tools in traditional methods then that's cool. If you want to burn up electrons, then that's cool too.

We all take different paths on the journey called "woodworking". In the end, all that matters is that we enjoyed the experience along the way and like appreciate the fruits that our journeys bear.

Tom