Tools are at the intersection of the woodworker and his or her materials. Because woodworking is a subtractive process, practically everything we do with wood involves cutting it or subtracting from it in some way. No wonder power and hand tools are such perennial hot topics on the WoodCentral messageboards. Over the years, I’ve noticed that some woodworkers spend a great deal of time and money on their tools, while others are seemingly more concerned with other aspects of craftsmanship, so I asked the deceptively leading question: “Do tools make the craftsman?”
Opinions ranged from an adamant “No”…
“No amount of fancy state-of-the-art tools will magically enable someone to make as fine a piece of furniture as the person whose heart is in the craft.”
“Better tools may make certain operations easier and quicker, but you still need the love of the craft, the ability to use the tools properly, and the knowledge of how to construct something. The old adage ‘it is a poor craftsman who blames his tools’ speaks volumes.”
“A good craftsman can do fine work with or without good tools. That said, well-tuned tools can ease the craftsman’s labor and speed the work.”
“I have all kinds of nice tools, and i am still a hack. It takes a special person to truly excel. Us slacks just don’t cut it.”
“Craftsmanship is evident in the end product, regardless of the path taken.”
“Good tools make excellent work possible, but it is the hand behind them which makes the possibility a reality.”
“I have seen some outstanding shops with top of the line equipment, and all that comes out of the shop are things like plate racks. Conversely, I have seen shops with the bare necessities, and the guy made beautiful pieces that I could never come close to making. Nicer tools don’t necessarily help the user, but they sure are purty.”
“Time, experience, and some unexplainable quality make a craftsman. You are only as good as your mistakes, and it takes a lot of doing to make the mistakes.”
“Better quality tools are easier to tune and to maintain, but craftsmanship lies in the design and skillful execution of a piece.”
“Tools don’t make or break a craftsman. What makes a craftsman is the dedication to improving the quality and complexity of their work. Putting aside romantic ideas, the hand powered and electric powered tools all have a place where top notch craftsmen will use them.”
“Tools do not make the craftsman. After years of buying tools, I still see lots of projects done by others where fit and finish is superior to mine, and many do not have all the best tools. The one tool that would make me a better craftsman is better eyesight, a tool you can’t just order on. line.”
“You can have a shop full of Delta XSS and turn out crap. Or you can have a Skil saw mounted in plywood as a table saw and make beautiful pieces. A good craftsman makes due with what he has. But it also takes a good craftsman to realize that sometimes, his tools can’t handle what he wants.”
“The desire to learn and improve far outweighs the tools. Good tools and machinery can make things go faster, but they can’t make a good craftsman out of someone who won’t examine their own work and strive to improve.”
“A person can limit themselves with cheap tools or tools that aren’t set up correctly. Some people get convinced that they have to buy the best March-April, 2004 in order to do anything. Our tools are like painter’s brushes, and it takes skill and talent to produce something with them. I don’t long for more tools; I long for the time to learn to use what I have.”
“In my field (puzzle making) tools do not exist for the type of work/do. I must design and construct all my own jigs and clamps. I had to rework my table saw because it cannot do my work in standard configuration. Craftsmen around the world have developed their own custom tools. The craftsman makes the tools, not the other way around.”
…to a qualified “Yes”…
“I think the tools do make the craftsman. I have several sets of tools. Some chisels will come into contact with nails and fasteners in my restoration work, and I have chisels that will never be allowed close to such hazards. But there is a special set of tools that used to belong to my father and his father before him. When I handle those tools, my attitude about my work is reverent. No slip-ups allowed; no shame to the family name. The ownership of good tools does inspire good work. My first set of chisels cost a month’s pay. Believe me, you take better care of tools when they are worth more than the family fortune.”
*Tools do make the craftsman to the extent that the tool needs to be tuned and sharp. A big part of craftsmanship is knowing how to care for whatever tools one chooses to use. It doesn’t matter whether one is a neander or an electron burner; well-tuned, sharp tools are essential for fine craftsmanship.”
“Ultimately, it’s the person’s dedication, attention to detail, and innate talent that makes a craftsman. Good tools help a craftsman at any level to produce a product either faster or better in quality.”
“A hundred years ago, the industry employed ‘beginners’ to prepare rough stock, and the Master would bring the project to life. The tools that we now have make us more efficient, though we have to pay for the floor space they occupy. The craftsman builds, and the tools prepare.”
“The right tools for the job are essential. But, knowing what to do with those tools is a different story. This is where being a craftsman comes into play. I have a long way to go.”
“For a hobbyist like myself, modern tools allow me to create more than I otherwise could. For a professional, sophisticated tools allow more accurate mass production with less skilled labor, or simply increases production in a one-person shop. While I do not consider all-biscuit construction to be very craftsman like, the same biscuit joiner allows me to assemble a better tabletop.”
…to some unusual insights…
“Good craftsmanship, as in any profession, is a positive attitude, period.”
“Are we confusing craftsmanship and design? I know several craftsmen who are so compulsive that they can barely finish a project because of their desire to achieve perfection. Their work is superb, but sometimes the designs are trash. As one boss of mine reminded me years ago as I struggled to achieve nirvana, ‘Hey! These are just storage shelves in the basement.'”
What are your thoughts on this? Add your comments below!