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View Full Version : which hand tool are you most skillfull with?



ryanarcher
29th October 2005, 04:06 PM
I'm chisel guy to the core, pretty good at using a hand plane, and still need a lot of work with hand saws. you? feel free to expound.

-Ryan

Sturdee
29th October 2005, 05:03 PM
I think it would have to be a pencil. :D learned to sharpen it when I was about 4 or 5.

Closely followed by a hammer. :D ( although now I prefer a nailgun. :D


Peter.

craigb
29th October 2005, 05:28 PM
Pretty crap with all of them really. :D

Waldo
29th October 2005, 05:38 PM
G'day,

I fit into the same category as Craigb.

I spent my childhood and youth helping my Dad in the shed, now he's passed away and my interest in w/work has only really kicked in earnest - so it's all trial by error for me as I have no one to teach me the stuff I want to know - the forums here help out and Gumby has helped a bit.

Didn't pick any - I want to be proficent in them all. Got no idea what a slick or scorp is.

Right now among others I'm wanting to get in some darkside stuff. I have a $17 piece of carp plane from India I bought at Bunnies (needed one for something at the time and my wallet was pretty bare), a real nice tiny rabbit plane (something like that) that shaves oh so nice. So to try and find some you'll see me at garage sales on Saturday mornings trying to find planes etc.

echnidna
29th October 2005, 05:53 PM
I said chisel but I'm really a hammer man.
If it don't fit use a bigger hammer :D

Rocker
29th October 2005, 05:54 PM
Chisels are the only hand-tools that I use much; I use planes, and compass planes, and sometimes rasps for rough shaping, fairing, and smoothing, but I produce smooth surfaces with a ROS. I was happy to see that an article in the current FW concludes that surfaces produced by planing, scraping, and sanding are virtually indistinguishable, when the finish has been applied. So I no longer need to feel guilty that I have not spent years honing my planing and scraping skills.

Rocker

DavidG
29th October 2005, 06:53 PM
Wrecking bar? :rolleyes:

Hobbyhorse
29th October 2005, 07:17 PM
Chisels work for me!
Rhys H.

Auld Bassoon
29th October 2005, 07:42 PM
G'day Ryan!


I answered handplanes - because I like them so much; they really can be a pleasure. However, I have to admit a love chiselling away too.

I used to be a dab jand with a spokeshave, but I really need more practice with them to get back into the groove, so to speak.

Ok with handsaws for little cuts, such as in cabinet work, but spectacularly lousy with a big handsaw http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

Cheers!

Andy Mac
29th October 2005, 07:53 PM
I think I prefer tools that produce a curve..... cutting to a straight or square line has never been my forte! 0.3mm my bum!

However, I could spend hours with a drawknife and spokeshave, and do best with a rasp and a range of files.

Good question Ryan:D

Cheers,

ozwinner
29th October 2005, 08:06 PM
Hand trolley for me.


Al :D

Harry72
29th October 2005, 08:30 PM
The humble pencil and ruler, always been good at drawing/designing objects... art, maths, tech studies were the only subjects at school I got "A+" on.

Wild Dingo
29th October 2005, 08:44 PM
I went drawknife although ive only recently begun using it and man do I love it... but also love using my spokeshaves... cant abide my planes will become proficient when I start to remember to sharpen the bleedin things and learn to set the buggars properly... love my new jap Kabota saw for trimming the ends from the canoe strips nothing better... hammers well hammers are hammers but if you had have said mallets well thats a whole different kettle of fishes! I love my mallets simply cause I made them Tuart handles with Jarrah heads different sizes and faces for different uses right weight and heft handles turned by spokeshave and block plane to fit my hand... beutiful to use... I use chisels constantly and am gathering quite a few to me must have a magnetic thing happenin! ;)
I really should have bought one of those ships planes when I was shopping but well at over 300 snapperoos for one I decided I had other ways to achieve the same result
Gotta get into scraping to get that mirror smooth finish Im searching for! :cool:

JDarvall
29th October 2005, 09:20 PM
Hand tool most skillful using ????

ummm,,,,me old fella. Just ask the lady's :D ,,,,, well, at least my wife, well,,,,, actually, don't ask her.

Handplanes.

Driver
29th October 2005, 09:22 PM
I wouldn't claim to be truly proficient with any of them - despite a good deal of practice. However, in trying to be objective, I have to say I find it relatively easy to cut a straight line with a decent handsaw. I think this is a purely personal thing. Cutting a straight line with either a Western backsaw or a Japanese saw was something I managed to achieve quite quickly.

I'm still working on my chiseling and planing skills and I've only very recently got my hands on a couple of spokeshaves (great little tools!).

NewLou
29th October 2005, 09:25 PM
Gidday:D:D:D

For me just has to be a Cardscraper.......................Although I love a well made n set up Handplane A well tuned Hand Scraper with a good turned Bur is a Joy to use.....................Its simplicity belies its grace and effectiveness!!!

REgards Lou:)

Skew ChiDAMN!!
29th October 2005, 09:55 PM
I've Scot blood. I make a great chiseller! :D

I'd prefer to answer spokeshave as that is the handtool I'm best with but some danged fool lumped 'em in with handplanes, which is my worst...

Bodgy
29th October 2005, 10:18 PM
Pretty narrow list Ryan. I'd have to answer - none of the above.

Not bad with a cricket bat or kitchen knife tho.

As a piece of totally irrelevant trivia, I'm hunting for the best value Nip waterstones currently. Never to let a chance go by, I stopped in at a Chefs supplies place, thinking they use waterstones for their knives (I have a set of v expensive Nip knives at home).

We should all rest easy in our beds tonight. A 1200 waterstone was around double what we pay at the usual suspects. Positively Festool, I thought.

Forgive me, I do get distracted..............

Iain
30th October 2005, 07:47 AM
1# Chisels
2# Switch on the power tools which was not on the list

46150
30th October 2005, 08:57 AM
.....broom....?

Iain
30th October 2005, 11:10 AM
.....broom....?
Isn't that a thing in Harry Potter movies, has no place here :p

doug the slug
30th October 2005, 01:53 PM
well ive done some of my finest work with a large smooth rock the fits nicely into the palms of the handhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

Cliff Rogers
30th October 2005, 02:03 PM
80grit sandpaper?

echnidna
30th October 2005, 02:23 PM
80grit sandpaper?

n' I thought yer wer gunna say keyboard Cliff :D :D

Gra
30th October 2005, 05:10 PM
does a mouse count :-)

doug the slug
30th October 2005, 08:07 PM
does a mouse count :-)

only if its a woodrathttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

Clinton1
30th October 2005, 08:22 PM
"Which hand, Tool, are you most skillful with?"


My right. And I object to being called a tool. :mad:



:D

Auld Bassoon
30th October 2005, 08:24 PM
only if its a woodrathttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

Hi Doug!

Do I detect a certain 'leaning' here? Made up your mind on the W/R Q: then?

Cheers!

doug the slug
30th October 2005, 08:35 PM
Hi Doug!

Do I detect a certain 'leaning' here? Made up your mind on the W/R Q: then?

Cheers!

still looking steve, lots of things to consider. if i hadnt recently bought the triton router the 'rat would be looking better. a lot of the dovetail jigs have a lot to recommend them too. mind you i might just consider mounting the old makita in a 'rat and selling the triton router and table along with the finger jointer. but im still researchinghttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon7.gif

journeyman Mick
30th October 2005, 11:48 PM
Estwing hammer :o

Mick

Wongo
31st October 2005, 09:46 AM
I'd love to vote but I am still pretty bad with hand tool. Yes honestly. :o

bitingmidge
31st October 2005, 10:06 AM
Pencil for me too, although in recent times I've found that I get better results using a fat Nikko marker. With the wider line, drawing accuracy is the same, and I get a better chance of cutting on it.

Cheers,

P
:D

John Saxton
1st November 2005, 09:09 PM
I gotta give the spokeshave a plug here,I get a lotta satisfaction outta using my cliftons ..wouldn't say I'M PROFICIENT just like feelin' 'em runnin' over wood with smoothness.
Like a card scraper too at times moreover with curly or awkward grain.

Auld Bassoon
1st November 2005, 09:13 PM
Wongo Mate!

After having seen what you have made, I have trouble believing thathttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

I wish I had your skill!

Cheers!

Auld Bassoon
1st November 2005, 09:15 PM
G'day BM!

I'd send you a greenie for that, but the BB denizens won't let me...

Hmm: I wonder about doing my marking with a 10mm brush...

Cheers

DanP
2nd November 2005, 10:37 AM
FBH for me ;)

Wood Borer
2nd November 2005, 10:52 AM
I'm Ok with chisels and saws but slightly better with hand planes so that category got my vote.

Good thread Ryan - makes you think about areas of improvement and or new tools. :D

Wongo
2nd November 2005, 11:44 AM
Wongo Mate!

After having seen what you have made, I have trouble believing thathttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

I wish I had your skill!

Cheers!

I am proud of my humility. :p

Studley 2436
2nd November 2005, 12:29 PM
Pretty narrow list Ryan. I'd have to answer - none of the above.

Not bad with a cricket bat or kitchen knife tho.

As a piece of totally irrelevant trivia, I'm hunting for the best value Nip waterstones currently. Never to let a chance go by, I stopped in at a Chefs supplies place, thinking they use waterstones for their knives (I have a set of v expensive Nip knives at home).

We should all rest easy in our beds tonight. A 1200 waterstone was around double what we pay at the usual suspects. Positively Festool, I thought.

Forgive me, I do get distracted..............

When I was cheffing I used to get my stones from hardware stores. I did have a nice one that was Silcone Carbide on one side and Aluminium Oxide on the other which was really nice. Later I got a diamond Eze Lap stone which I still have and use but Chefs shops are always expensive. That is because the only people that go there are apprentices who don't know better. They drop out of the trade like flies, ever seen an old chef? Then new bunnies come along and buy more gear.

Studley

TEEJAY
2nd November 2005, 01:14 PM
0.3mm 2H pencil - makes a beautiful fine line. Can't cut along it though.


0.5mm 2B pencil - a lot clearer and easier to cut along - I still can't cut along it though.

Not great with saws but love a good sharp chissel and a big mallet.

Cheers

Bodgy
2nd November 2005, 02:17 PM
When I was cheffing I used to get my stones from hardware stores. I did have a nice one that was Silcone Carbide on one side and Aluminium Oxide on the other which was really nice. Later I got a diamond Eze Lap stone which I still have and use but Chefs shops are always expensive. That is because the only people that go there are apprentices who don't know better. They drop out of the trade like flies, ever seen an old chef? Then new bunnies come along and buy more gear.

StudleyThere are exceptions to all rules. Just bought a 1000/6000 Nip waterstone from Everten Online for $39 as opposed to $75+ from all the WW emporia or $120 for 800/2000 at local chefs supplies in Hornsby

Next day delivery too.

corbs
3rd November 2005, 12:19 AM
Most people who know me think I'm a bit of a w@nker ;), so you can guess my specialisation :D.

Corbs

2817741
3rd November 2005, 02:08 AM
Best hand-tooling experience is a sharp drawknife through a quality english willow cleft! A Drawknife for me thanks!

echnidna
3rd November 2005, 03:18 AM
Best hand-tooling experience is a sharp drawknife through a quality english willow cleft! A Drawknife for me thanks!

They are nice to use!! :) :)

Termite
3rd November 2005, 10:11 AM
My favourite tool has to be a stuffituperer. I have no idea what it looks like but I seem to use it on every project that I do, because on every job there is usually one stuffup. :D

JDarvall
3rd November 2005, 11:46 PM
My favourite tool has to be a stuffituperer. I have no idea what it looks like but I seem to use it on every project that I do, because on every job there is usually one stuffup. :D

yeh, I've got one of those. But, its not my favorite :confused: Its called a 'hammer'. And it doesn't seem to like nail heads.

scottyk
5th November 2005, 02:33 AM
I like a good sharp chisel, but...........in modern times one would be lost with out a Belt Sander, I know it runs on jibbers but its still my favourite!

HoutBok
10th November 2005, 06:07 AM
I used to think my favourite was clamps - then I broke most of them. http://www.ubeaut.biz/ahgee.gifWho'd have thought a bean-counter would be a gorilla?http://www.ubeaut.biz/scowl.gif