This afternoon there was a comment by
Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
some combination of power tools could solve most any problem. I don't deny
this . . . . but . . . . .
I'm building two small sleighs for decorations. My wife had one but it was
damage and she asked me to make a new one. Of course, I'm making it from
thicker material (1/4" plywood) and I used the old parts as templates. I
assembled the "base" that consists of a flat platform and the runners. Next
was to assemble the top portion, two sides and a front and back panels.
Easy. Done.
Now you sit the top section over the platform. Well, you do if you allowed
for the thicker material on the panels, otherwise you just say some nasty
words.
OK, how to fix. Router? No way! Too big and awkward for this job.
Tablesaw? Two passes would do in but not with the runners securely in
place. Bandsaw? Maybe the back, but not the sides. I could disassemble
the glued up runners and use either saw. Total time would be about 30
minutes. Things never look quite perfect one taken apart and re-glued
either.
I could disassemble the top and cut new end pieces. Total time 30 to 40
minutes.
Or, I could simply plane the sides and back. Total time was about 10
minutes. Very satisfying in the end. Just something about making them curly
shavings.
While power tools can solve many problems, they are not always the "best"
solution or the fastest. I guess it just proves the old adage of "the right
tool for the job" I'm sure I'll always have a couple of planes in my tool
box.
--
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
> This afternoon there was a comment by
> Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
> some combination of power tools could solve most any problem. I don't deny
> this . . . . but . . . . .
>
snip
To date I've not made a drawer opening with four perfectly square
corners
and I like flush mount drawer faces and dovetails, half blinds on the
front, through dovetails on the back - with wooden drawer guides. I
don't
see how a power tool could get the fit I want - belt sanders make
changes
WAY to quickly. But with a block plane and a minute or two I get the
fit I want - without ear plugs, dangling power cord, dust all over
hell
and subsequent hand sanding to get the 80 grit scratches out. And
chamfering
the edges of the drawer sides and taking just a little out of the
middle
of the top of the back of the drawer is easy using the same tool.
Now it you prefer routed lock joint drawers with metal drawer glides
---
BTW - curlies out of a block plane don't float around in the air for
hours and don't get in your finish later.
charlie b
ps - get your hands on Frank Klausz's "Making a Handcut Dovetailed
Drawer"
and you'll see why power tools do have limitaions.
On 7 Nov 2003 03:19:59 -0800, [email protected] (John) wrote:
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>> This afternoon there was a comment by Trent in a thread about planes. He said >that he rarely needs one because some combination of power tools could solve >most any problem. I don't deny this . . . . but . . . . .
>
>Edwin,
>
>Couldn't agree with you more. I, for one, was inspired to start
>woodworking by watching Norm for years. You quickly find out that a
>blade spinning at 3000 rpm or a bit turning at 10,000 rpm (I'm
>guessing at these speeds) lacks the delicate touch that some things
>need.
>
>I think the thing that turns most people away from planes and scrapers
>is the tuning required. Having used a plane that was well tuned (by
>somebody who knew what they were doing, not me), I can tell you it's
>quite a different experience that using the Buck Brothers plane you
>just bought from Home Depot right out of the box. DAMHIKT!
I just got done stripping a bunch of cabinet doors, John. I used my
RotoMate. A couple of the doors had some pencil notes on them...under
the paint...as we sometimes do.
I was able to feather the paint removal...so that I didn't even take
the pencil scribbling off. After I read the notes...including the
'Joe loves Sandy'..with a heart, no 'loves' lol...I made another pass
and removed the pencil.
BUT...
I did it outside...to avoid the inside mess. And the tool is noisy.
A plane is MUCH better for avoiding mess and noise.
My RotoMate is not the tool for EVERY job...nor is the plane. I
haven't used my plane in probably a couple of years or longer. But I
wouldn't want to give it up...for old times sake, if nothing else.
lol
BTW...the RotoMate spins at 30,000 rpm. It goes so fast that you can
actually see thru the sanding head...so you can see exactly what
material yer takin' off. Quite a nice tool.
Have a nice week...
Trent
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity!
B a r r y B u r k e J r . wrote:
> The difference between a hand planed or scraped surface and a sanded
> surface is huge.
That's a fact! Now that I have a taste for the glassy look, I expect my
belt sander will only be used to re-grind my plane irons from now on. :)
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
andy, do you use a shoulder plane for cleaning up shoulders? does
anything else work nearly as elegantly?
dave
Andy Dingley wrote:
> On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 04:32:06 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>This afternoon there was a comment by
>>Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
>>some combination of power tools could solve most any problem.
>
>
> I can't imagine working without having a block plane always to hand.
> Mine is used _constantly_; a tiny chamfer on the end of a tenon, a
> quick swipe to remove cutter marks. No wonder Lee Valley sell one as
> an "apron plane"
>
> --
> Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This afternoon there was a comment by
> Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
> some combination of power tools could solve most any problem. I don't deny
> this . . . . but . . . . .
I too have a plethora of power tools and enjoy using the non-powered tools.
I like the silence in the "shop" [basement]. And I also like a well tuned
hand tool, it makes the entire job easier.
Jack
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> This afternoon there was a comment by Trent in a thread about planes. He said >that he rarely needs one because some combination of power tools could solve >most any problem. I don't deny this . . . . but . . . . .
Edwin,
Couldn't agree with you more. I, for one, was inspired to start
woodworking by watching Norm for years. You quickly find out that a
blade spinning at 3000 rpm or a bit turning at 10,000 rpm (I'm
guessing at these speeds) lacks the delicate touch that some things
need.
I think the thing that turns most people away from planes and scrapers
is the tuning required. Having used a plane that was well tuned (by
somebody who knew what they were doing, not me), I can tell you it's
quite a different experience that using the Buck Brothers plane you
just bought from Home Depot right out of the box. DAMHIKT!
Jo
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This afternoon there was a comment by
> Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
> some combination of power tools could solve most any problem. I don't deny
> this . . . . but . . . . .
>
<snip>
>
> Or, I could simply plane the sides and back. Total time was about 10
> minutes. Very satisfying in the end. Just something about making them
curly
> shavings.
>
> While power tools can solve many problems, they are not always the "best"
> solution or the fastest. I guess it just proves the old adage of "the
right
> tool for the job" I'm sure I'll always have a couple of planes in my tool
> box.
> --
> Ed
> [email protected]
> http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
>
>
>
I just finished a set of bookshelves that sit on my wife's computer desk.
The computer desk is cheap office store furniture that is made of mdf and a
plastic antique pine laminate. I managed to exactly match the color on the
solid pine shelves I made, but that's another story. The point is,
sandpaper never touched this project. The only power tools were the
tablesaw to cut the basic shapes, and a router to cut the joinery. The
boards were thicknessed, flattened, jointed, and smoothed with a scrub, a
#4, #4 1/2, #5 1/2 and #7. The joinery was fitted with a shoulder plane and
a #65 1/2 rabbet block plane. Edges were softened with a #65 1/2 adjustable
mouth block set for a very fine cut. I sprayed a waterbase finish, so I
used synthetic sanding pads rather than steel wool between coats, but that
was the only abrasive to touch this project. Abrasives never touched bare
wood. The resulting clarity of the wood grain made it well worth the extra
effort, and the quiet relative to the power tools I skipped (jointer and
planer) was wonderful.
Cheers,
Eric
On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 04:32:06 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>While power tools can solve many problems, they are not always the "best"
>solution or the fastest. I guess it just proves the old adage of "the right
>tool for the job" I'm sure I'll always have a couple of planes in my tool
>box.
Onther example is the surface. Power tools can quickly surface and
size a board. Only a plane or scraper can leave a bell-clear surface
to finish.
The difference between a hand planed or scraped surface and a sanded
surface is huge.
Barry
On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 04:32:06 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>This afternoon there was a comment by
>Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
>some combination of power tools could solve most any problem. I don't deny
>this . . . . but . . . . .
>
>I'm building two small sleighs for decorations. My wife had one but it was
>damage and she asked me to make a new one. Of course, I'm making it from
>thicker material (1/4" plywood) and I used the old parts as templates. I
>assembled the "base" that consists of a flat platform and the runners. Next
>was to assemble the top portion, two sides and a front and back panels.
>Easy. Done.
>
>Now you sit the top section over the platform. Well, you do if you allowed
>for the thicker material on the panels, otherwise you just say some nasty
>words.
>
>OK, how to fix. Router? No way! Too big and awkward for this job.
> Tablesaw? Two passes would do in but not with the runners securely in
>place. Bandsaw? Maybe the back, but not the sides. I could disassemble
>the glued up runners and use either saw. Total time would be about 30
>minutes. Things never look quite perfect one taken apart and re-glued
>either.
>
>I could disassemble the top and cut new end pieces. Total time 30 to 40
>minutes.
>
>Or, I could simply plane the sides and back. Total time was about 10
>minutes. Very satisfying in the end. Just something about making them curly
>shavings.
>
>While power tools can solve many problems, they are not always the "best"
>solution or the fastest. I guess it just proves the old adage of "the right
>tool for the job" I'm sure I'll always have a couple of planes in my tool
>box.
Nice post, Ed.
First...to address how I would do it...
I'd use my RotoMate. I could probably do the same job in 1
minute...2, max.
But I think what I get from your post is the PRIDE in doing it with a
plane. Actually, in my way of thinking, there's more pride just in
doing it by HAND...with the plane...rather than using a power
RotoMate.
I guess that's what I was kinda trying to convey to Dave when he asked
about planes...to give him just MY OPINION about top-of-the-line vs.
inexpensive. They really CAN both do the job...as I'm sure we both
know. And there's kinda a hidden pride when doing it with NOT the
most expensive tool out there.
I read Charlie's post, Ed...and I read Conan's. I must
say...Charlie's was much more cordial to read! lol There is no doubt
that either of them have more experience with a plane that I do. I
would hope Dave...or anybody...would take that into account when
reading all the various posts.
And...to be quite honest...the only thing I ever used a plane for was
for removal. But I think there's a lot of folks that only use it for
that purpose also.
I think I've been pounded pretty far into the ground enough for this
week. I'm gonna go git some coffee now! lol
Have a nice weekend, Ed...
Trent
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity!
On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 04:32:06 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>This afternoon there was a comment by
>Trent in a thread about planes. He said that he rarely needs one because
>some combination of power tools could solve most any problem.
I can't imagine working without having a block plane always to hand.
Mine is used _constantly_; a tiny chamfer on the end of a tenon, a
quick swipe to remove cutter marks. No wonder Lee Valley sell one as
an "apron plane"
--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods