Power tool or Hand Tool?

[jasonB]

Saw this in the latest F&C and thought you would all like to rush out & buy The latest offering from Spear & Jackson :wink:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kxAqur7SKoQ

Next thing you know they will be making them with built in fans to blow the sawdust away :?

Jason

 

[whoops!]

That's just silly... :-s

 

[whoops!]

actually, now I come to think about it, that's not a bad idea that....

The laser is still silly though!!

Decklan

 

[wizer]

honestly, people will buy anything

 

[Karl]

Yeah, I saw that in F&C. I would guess it is a marketing gimick towards the DIY'er. But sounds more like an April Fools joke!

Cheers

Karl

 

[jasonB]

The pic in F&C shows someone holding the saw with all four fingers around the grip, if they had been taught to put their index finger along the sife of the handle they probably would have no need for the lazer :wink:

Jason

 

[Smudger]

Looks like a Rob Lee Special!

 

[jhwbigley]

i wounder how many of these saws they have sold? all the diy gadget merchants will have then! people will buy anything!

 

[joiner_sim]

I can't see how the laser would make it easier in anyway for someone for cut timber straight. Cutting timber square is an art in itself, even though it is the basics!

 

[OPJ]

I saw this in The Woodworker as well. Sure, it might help you keep your cut square on the horizontal but what's to stop you going on the skew vertically?

Best piece of advice I was taught, with index finger pointing forwards, is to angle the work so you can see the two lines as if they were one straight line, if that makes sense... :? :wink:

 

[jasonB]

The idea is to also mark the back of the wood so the lazer also shines on that to help keep the cut vertical.

Jason

 

[TheTiddles]

That's a joke right? Even if you line it up with the laser by the time you move your hand to start cutting you will be off-line again, learn to do it properly!

Aidan

 

[stef]

oops.. before i read the comments, i thought it was a good idea, especially to cut 45deg on both sides..
just shows how green i am !

 

[kenneth cooke]

For me power tools just do not have any soul. Hand tools on the other hand are a link to our ancestors. Having said that I do not condemn anyone who uses them for their work, I guess I would do the same if time were money but as a retired fuddy duddy I can take as long as it takes. I am very lucky

 

[woodbloke]

Hand tools on the other hand are a link to our ancestors.

On the other hand though, if our ancestors had access to the power tools that we take for granted today, I wonder if they'd still prefer to use their hand tools...I think not :wink: - Rob

 

[Rich]

I'm not retired and contrary to my name, I'm not rich either, but I derive great pleasure from cutting an accurate tenon with nothing more than a cheap Irwin tenon saw.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[dennis]

Yes power tools are great for making things faster and easier, but some people nowadays are so reliant on them that they cannot do a job, if for some reason they cannot use them.

Dennis

 

[woodbloke]

Yes power tools are great for making things faster and easier, but some people nowadays are so reliant on them that they cannot do a job, if for some reason they cannot use them.

Dennis

Dennis - I think you're spot on there. I think most of us obviously see the advantage in power tool usage but prefer to do the finer work with the hand tools. Not being a Normite and never having seen the progs (clips of his 'shop only), it seems to me that he leans heavily towards the power tool end of the spectrum. I wonder also if the majority of 'Murrican woodworkers are inclined this way as well? - Rob

 

[BradNaylor]

Not being a Normite and never having seen the progs (clips of his 'shop only), it seems to me that he leans heavily towards the power tool end of the spectrum. I wonder also if the majority of 'Murrican woodworkers are inclined this way as well? - Rob

I read an interview with Norm a while ago and he explained that 'New Yankee Workshop' was developed specifically to showcase power tool techniques, as existing woodworking programmes majored on hand tool use.

By attempting to fill a hole in the market it seems that he has inadvertently given his name to a philosophy of woodworking that uses power tools over hand tools wherever possible.

The appeal of his programme to non-woodworkers seems to centre around the aquisition of lots of 'toys' and having a woman-free 'den' in which to play with them. Rarely a week goes by without some bloke or other commenting enviously that my workshop is 'just like Norm's!'

The signed photo of him on the wall helps, too! This despite him not being on the telly any more.

The realty is that when you are being paid to make a piece of furniture you go for the easiest and quickest option so long as the job is completed satisfactorily.

Which 9 times out of 10 means a power tool or machine.

At home though, I use a lot more hand tools. I kinda prefer it!

Cheers
Dan

 

[kenneth cooke]

Hand tools on the other hand are a link to our ancestors.

On the other hand though, if our ancestors had access to the power tools that we take for granted today, I wonder if they'd still prefer to use their hand tools...I think not :wink: - Rob

By the same token you have access to Ikea so why bother making furniture?