Hand Tool Mythbuster

Yesterday I happened upon a post on a woodworking magazine’s website which discussed new woodworkers starting out with hand tools, and 5 myths surrounding their use. I thought it was an interesting topic and I figured that I would use my blog to give my take on the subject. Before I go any further, my lawyers tell me that I should mention that I am not using this post to attack or insult any one particular person or magazine. I won’t even mention the magazine by name. I am just commenting on a topic that I felt was left open to debate, nothing more. Now I would bet that sooner or later somebody will read this entry and somehow twist it to the point where I am attacking somebody’s character or judgement, or maybe even report me back to the author of the article as a vitriolic slimebag who is doing nothing more than spewing hatred and hurling insults. If that does happen, I don’t care, but just know that I am just giving an opinion. Anyway, I will use the same 5 myths that the author used and present my opinion on each:

Myth 1: Hand tools are slow.
It’s been said that hand tools are not slow, only the people who use them. Hand tools are obviously designed to work as efficiently as possible. Though hand tools aren’t necessarily slow I also wouldn’t call them quick, either. For instance, If I needed to saw a drawer front to length, I would probably grab my carcase saw and get to work. The drawer front will need some final fitting regardless so there is no point setting up a table saw and measuring the cut down the the 1/32 of an inch. But, If I had to saw six table aprons to the same length and eight table legs, I am taking up the time to set up the stop block on my table saw’s miter gauge. The best sawyer in the world is not going to come close to matching the repetitive accuracy of a table saw, at least not nearly as quickly. Speed isn’t everything, I know, but to say that hand tools are as fast as a power tool isn’t always an accurate statement. In any event, if you are a hobbyist like me, you can use whatever tools you enjoy using most. I think that this myth is really only a question that a professional should be concerned with. This myth is Plausible
Myth 2: Hand tools are less precise than power tools.
Again, this myth is both true and false. Whenever this point comes up it’s always mentioned that you can set up hand planes to remove .001 of an inch, and that no machine will be able to do that as accurately. I agree with that statement 100%. But no hand saw is going to be as accurate as a table saw for repetitive cuts. I know I just mentioned this but it bears repeating. There are so many factors when making repetitive hand saw cuts I don’t know where to start: knife/pencil line, minute grain variances, blade kerf differences. A table saw miter gauge with a stop block set fast does not need to factor in those differences. If your pencil or knife line is off by 1/64″ from board to board you will not have identical cuts; I know, it’s happened to me. You could argue that a hand miter box with a stop block could be used. I would say that a hand miter box would be a good choice, but it is also a piece of equipment that is somewhat a cross between a hand tool and a power tool. On another point, no power tool can do the delicate work that good chisel can do, or a well tuned hand plane. So I will call this myth Busted
Myth 3: Hand tools require great skills.
I would say that hand tools do not require great skills, but they do require some skills. There is also a learning curve with power tools. I would say that in the beginning, hand tools require less skill than a power tool because while a power tools is quite fast, it can also ruin your work that much more quickly if your set up isn’t accurate, and they are generally more dangerous to use for beginners. Hand tools seem to be a bit more forgiving when it comes to certain operations such as most joinery. In my opinion it is usually easier to cut a tenon by hand and pare it to fit rather than trying to get it to fit perfectly on the first attempt using a tablesaw and dado stac. Of course there is somewhat of a danger factor when using any hand tool, but it is not as great as the caution needed when it comes to power tool use, especially for a beginner. I would call this myth Plausible, but nearly Busted.
Myth 4: Hand tools aren’t cut out for complex work.
For delicate work I will chose a power tool over a hand tool maybe one time in twenty. While a power tool may have the edge in repetitve accuracy, they are not nearly as good a choice as a well tuned hand tool when it comes to complex cuts. I’ve seen people create complex table saw jigs for cutting dovetails that work, but still need to be refined with hand tools. Why not just cut out the middle man and use the hand tools from the get-go? Try to use a power tool to make a half-blind dovetail, or create subtle chamfer on a table top. You can probably find someway to do it, but a hand tool can do it just as quickly, and just as accurately. Myth Busted.
Myth 5: Hand tools are cheaper than power tools.
This is another subjective myth but I will do my best. Good power tools can certainly be expensive. Good hand tools are definitely expensive. You can outfit a good power tool shop for around $5000. A well equipped hand tool shop is probably going to cost you at least that much if you are purchasing mostly new tools. A good set of hand saws will probably cost around $400-$600. You can get a good quality contractor style table saw for less than $800, and it will be somewhat more versatile. Good hand tools are going to cost you, no exceptions. I think that fact, for more than any other reason, is why beginners often start off using power tools. For around $1000 you can get yourself a decent table saw, a jig saw, and some clamps and you can start making basic furniture. With hand tools, you are probably going to spend around $1500 to get yourself up and running the right way. I would call this myth Confirmed.

When it comes down to it, I think hand tools are probably more versatile and a better choice for a beginner only because of the learning curve factor needed when it comes to operating powered equipment. At the same time I would say that certain powertools are indispensable when it comes to woodworking, namely a table saw and a surface planer. For me, it comes down to two things: what do you like doing and what can you afford? There are certain people out there who would discourage a new woodworker, or any woodworker for that matter, from using power tools. I’m not one of those guys. I would say use whatever you like and whatever you can afford. I don’t like offering advice when it comes down to it, but if I were going to I would tell any new woodworker not to limit himself to one mindset. Use hand tools, use power tools, and use both. Tools are a great thing; it’s fun buying them, owning them, and using them. Why do we need to put a label on our woodworking? If you’re thinking about purchasing some tools you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. Don’t limit yourself, have fun! Isn’t that what woodworking is supposed to be about?