Re: Hijack - Q for David
Greg B
>Chuck,
May I offer an amatuer's perspective? David's books are certainly worth having. I've got a pretty substantial library, but it wasn't until reading David's 1st volume that my entire world of woodworking turned around. The lightbulb went on and things began to work as intended. This led to greater predicability and satisfaction in the shop which was sometimes elevated to pure delight. ALL my handtools became allies, rather than occassional adversaries. (In some ways I like volume 2 even better, but this wouldn't be so without the foundation from volume 1.)
The videos complete the path to understanding. While David has a superb teacher's knack for clear explanation, there is nothing like seeing an actual demonstration. To me, the videos are indispensible. They are high-value tools themselves, in my opinion. The demonstrations add a qualitative feel which words alone can't approach. You will be amazed and delighted to see and understand just how easy and quickly your planes can be set and irons sharpened. You may even laugh out loud on taking your first shaving.
As for your cap-iron fettling, the video shows how and why. It makes sense and therefor sticks with you. And it's fast too.
There's a lot written in forums such as this about getting planes to work. Almost as much as the left vs. right tilt debates.... And it's interesting and fun to do so, especially when frustration is turned to delight as the lightbulbs go on and the shavings curl out reliably for the first time. I think videos such as these encourage many bulbs to shed much light. They answer LOTS of questions.
Okay. Biased? No. The definitions of both bias and prejudice contain the word "unreasonable". Not so here.
Cheers,
Greg
(derelict emailer who hopes to return to the shop soon after year-long absence due to day job)