'Splain yourself Chris SChwarz

I'm not Chris but...........

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Hi, Todd. Speaking for myself, as a novice, I would have been very happy with Chris's response. My journey in woodworking has been from power to partial power mixed w/hand tools. If Chris had suggested to me that I get a #8 and begin learning to join 200 bf of hard maple, I would have taken his advice, lost a contract, and developed a deep disdain for hand planes (not to mention evil thought of Chris), etc. ;>)!!

I guess it all depends on what the person wants to do; hobby, small job, or large job. I can't imagine hand planing the hundreds of bf of mixed hardwood I've planed/joined this year. However, I have found great satisfaction using a variety of hand planes for smaller roughing/finishing jobs.

Re: I'm not Chris but...........

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Frank,

That is the one caveat to this "story". The guy asking the question did indicate that he was a beginner, and nothing more. no indication was giving as to weather he was planning to remain a weekend Warrior, or try to make some $$$ in the future with some woodworking projects.

--I'm guessing* that he is a weekend warrior and intends to stay as such. Coarse, it is possible that info was given in the original letter to Chris, but got edited in the magazine version.

* I was going to say "assuming", but we all the dangers of that. ;~)

Re: 'Splain yourself Chris SChwarz

alan womack

>I disagree with a vintage bailey.. Unless the guy is lucky enough to get one already fettled, he will waste a huge amount of time just figuring out how to use it. They don't come with instruction manuals.

My own no 8 went to Rob Cosman's hand tool class in canada. I had worked the plane a bit, but not enough. It now sports a LN blade, a LN chipbreaker that needs the notch moved, and the need to remove a bump on the sole about where the rear tote boss is.

It makes nice <.002 shavings, but no beginner will figure those out for a fair amount of time.

I saw a LV plane come in with a 3 though bump at the throat, that is no better than the Groz block plane I've not tuned up yet. All the LN planes bought were perfect and with a quick micro-bevel were working.

Alan

Completely selfish reasons

Gerry Doll

>Todd,

I completely agree with Chris S. response. Why lead another poor soul astray? Do we not have enough lost brothers, huddling over workbenches covered in antiquated tools, muttering bizarre phrases like "bedrock", "electrolysis", "frog", "drawbore", etc.

I know misery loves company, but intentionally leading the uninformed to the slippery slope cannot be considered a Christian act.

Besides, the less rust hunters out there, the less competition.....

Gerry,

Running madly into the dark, waving a number 8 in each hand,laughing like a madman.

Re: 'Splain yourself Chris SChwarz

J Hoffman

>Yeah, I think the point Chris was making is a beginner needs to get some success. As a relative beginner myself I would not be able to joint board with a handplane without a lot of practice and help. I am able to do it on a jointer which means I get things done and don't turn the air blue and quit a great hobby.

Hand tools are great as long as you know what you are doing or can get such a person to show you.

Regards

JH

Re: 'Splain yourself Chris SChwarz

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I haven't read the letter; but perhaps better advice would be to take a woodworking class or two at the local Woodcraft, community college, or whatever before making any expensive, in terms of body parts and/or money, decisions.

Pam

Good thought, Pam

Neal (San Jose)

>

Heresy

Christopher Schwarz

>Todd,

I am unpure.

I love my Powermatic 8" jointer as much as I love my No. 8. I would not want to work without either. Each has a different function in my shop.

In fact, here are the other power tools I wouldn't live without (in rank order):

1. A 14" band saw

2. The aforementioned highly offensive jointer

3. A power planer

4. A table saw

Sorry if I let you down.

Chris

Let Down?

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Heck no Chris, you haven't let me down none, I was just busting your chops a little. Some good points where brought up tho. Wood working classes, find a local WW club (for the experianced person suggestion)

I might also add to the suggestestion list to recommend some good books on handtools. Garrett Hacks "Handplanes" springs right to mind.

Got to agree with Gerry alittle, don't go blabbing about vintage tools in your mag, rust hunting is getting hard enough as it is. ;~)

'tron eaters that I use

14" Delta Bandsaw,

1950's contractors tablesaw (re-hired after being fired for two months, plus with a plywood cover it doubles as a work surface/junk collector)

floor model Jet drill press,

makita jigsaw,

corded screw-gun.

Todd O.

Stop Gerry, STOP!!

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Didn't St. Roy ever tell you not to run madly about in the dark with #8's in your hands?!!! Good gosh man, you might run right into the river, than where you gona be? Now, calmly go back to your van and flatten the backs of 5 blades on your silk PJ's! That'll learn ya!

Todd O.

So you're the one...

James Watriss

>You actually bought a Groz?

And admit to it?

Well, I guess as long as we're confessing our deepest and dirtiest, there was this one night I spent with both the farmer's daughter and his cattle...

Re: So you're the one... *LINK*

mikew

>I've tuned them up. No worse to tune than most of the vintage planes I done over the years.

People just starting out, or just in need of yet another slip down the slope, do not need to spend an excess of money in order to get acceptable results.

Half the battle is sharpening. Here's pic and a link to the remainder of the pics for a Handyman my wife was recently given. The picture here is of the dial caliper's reading after just sharpening the blade, but prior to cleaning and tuning. The link goes to another forum where the remainder of the pics are.

The blade, which is the original, was only sharpened on a 2000 grit stone.




Handyman message link

Ways to the slope....

Gerry Doll

>My path to the slippery slope started by taking a woodworking class at the local community college. Took the class for personal interest, had done usual high school shop and some minor home owners carpentry in the past.

So took the class, held at a local high school's woodshop, full complement of power tools. Bunch of old timers in the class. Found out that some of them had taken the class repeatedly, for a night out and access to the various tools.

Anyway, became intrigued by the tools some of these old farts were using. I had over cut a piece for a project, and was trying to set up the rip fence on the TS to take off < 1/4". Older gent asked me what I was doing, took the board from me, slapped it in a vise, and ran a plane across it. Was quicker and cleaner than trying to set up the TS. Watched a couple of these guys hand cut dovetails, M&Ts, etc. Saw the magic of a card scraper.

My work shop was limited to a small portion of my garage. A TS, plywood/2x4 workbench, not enough room for a full complement of power tools. I thought, go the handtool route, cheaper and won't eat up as much space. (Stop laughing!!!!!)

NOW, can't fit either car in the garage, hunks of rusted metal sitting on every available surface, kids college funds depleted, wife asking if there's a 12 step program for rust junkies, haven't completed a woodworking project in months (unless you include cleaning saw, chisel and plane handles), joined MWTCA (wife refers to as Useless tool collectors), became friends with some serious rust junkies and PUSHERS, ad nauseaum..

Funny thing is, just enrolled in same community college woodshop class. Need access to the planer and joiner, taking a shot at Chris' Roubo bench.

Gerry

PS Todd, What size van do you think will hold the bench? At 8', I could probably throw a futon on it and use it a bed.

Gee Gerry,

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Sounds to me like you feel off the Slippery CLIFF Good on ya'! ;~)

At the rate you're going I suggest trading the van in for a 18 wheeler with piggy-back trailers. Just make sure to stay up on the high ground as if you get that 18 wheeler stuck in the mud, brother you're gotta beHATEING IT!

Todd O.