Serious question, whatever happened to the dignity of a hand-planed edge in woodworking?

I mean, idk, maybe it's just me, but seeing all these router jigs and pre-milled boards feels like cheating. Back when I started, you learned to respect the grain by working it yourself, not by outsourcing the skill to a machine.

3 comments

3 Comments

flores.jade7d ago

Felt the same way for years, insisting that true craftsmanship died with power tools. What changed my mind was tackling a large oak desk project with only hand planes, and it took forever with inconsistent results. Borrowed a friend's router to clean up the edges, and the precision freed me to focus on perfecting the joinery and finish by hand. Now I view machines as allies that handle the tedious parts so I can invest more care where it matters. Ever notice how blending methods can actually deepen your respect for the material?

rayl375d ago

Right? Tools are just tools. In my experience, getting hung up on only using hand tools made me hate big projects. Like when I built a bookshelf, I used a table saw to rip the boards straight, but then I shaped the edges with a hand plane for a soft feel. The machine did the boring part fast, so I could spend hours getting the finish just right. It let me connect with the wood more, not less. Your mileage may vary, but for me, mixing methods keeps the joy in the work.

masonwilson7d ago

So is it about purity or the end result?