Thread: what is a darksider?

One who chooses traditional methods and hand tools over powertool, machines and jigs.

The more bloody-minded about it the darker!!!

regards

Or to put it more expansively:
Someone who prefers to use user-powered tools rather than electric/air powered tools. Some of these go the whole hog and won't use outside power at all (and do it in the dark). Most just have a preference for hand tools that means that possibly >50% of their work is done by hand using planes, chisels, hand saws and brace and bit rather than router, drill press and jointer/thicknesser and electric saw.

Most people on these forums end up being a mixture - eg:

• I use a drill press, but rarely an electric hand drill or electric screwdriver;
• I often joint and thickness using planes, but if I have a heap to do to the same thickness and width, I will use the Triton in table saw mode and go to the FIL to thickness the resulting planks;
• I often cut wood using a hand saw (Western or Japanese) but I also use the Triton for some things, especially if there is a lot of repetitive work.

For me it is often what I think of first or what comes first to hand.

From Star Wars.......... "Beware of the Dark side of the Force my son"

perhaps?

In brief: "Joooin Us!"

I'm not a complete darksider, because I like to rough square the raw stock with a table saw (and maybe with a power planer, too , it depends on the wood). That happens in a different location than my actual workshop, but since the pile of stock is prepared, there is mainly hand tools in use.

An exception there is power hand drill, the usage percent is about the same as it is with drill braces and faster egg-beater drill. The other exception is powered bench grinder with hard felt wheels I use extensively for final polishing of edges.

I admit I am not very productive in amounts of finished wooden items, because this is all fun and no work to me. In that sense I am a (happy) tinkerer. But because I am a total wood freak, there is also a higher reason for all this, which is that I have found that hand tools just make better looking, more organic result at the same time when they are also make high quality items. I really can't tell the difference between the concept of fine art and the beauty of nature, both are kicking me in the same soft spot.

The other big reason is that I must keep an eye on my previous exposure of fine wood dust. There is generally no such quantities of fine dust at all when working with hand tools. It is healthier this way, and more comfortable, too, because there is generally no need to wear respiratory protection, hearing protection, protective gloves etc. which are quite a must when working with powered tools.

kippis,

sumu

a. Derek
b. Wongo?
c. Many of us to some extent.
d. All of the above.
??????????????
This has potential as one of those poll threads.
Shame I'm too technophobic to work out how to do it.

If a darksider is one who uses traditional tools and methods, what do you call someone who makes darkside tools, or someone who makes darkside tools darkside?

dark darksider, darker darsider, darkest darksider, or how about in setheffrican "a dorksider" , or in eyetie "darkasider"

To up the angst quotient a bit, here in the States they are called Neanderthals.

I had the same query. You should do a search. I am unable to give you earlier references, but there are many.

Bottom line.....as a matter of logic,I do not accept this is an appropriate epithetit for them to use.
If we consider "Star Wars", their title is contrary to the notion of the Force being with them.
Similarly, to me the idea of "dark side" connotes dark forces, aka evil. Remember the phrase, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." That also suggests "bad" dark siders.
Even the idea of "being in the dark" suggests unenlightened, lacking the vision or brightness.
Of course, I am level-headed in all matters, being left-handed and living with all those connotations.

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

To up the angst quotient a bit, here in the States they are called Neanderthals.

uggg......hmmmmm......where's me woman !..... where's me meat !.....ugggg, good.......where's me club...I mean....me plane. arggggghhh ! ...sorry, just trying to be funny.

..ugg ugg uga... dove gone.. tail left... uga uga gug gug ... me club chisel now (thwack thwack thwack thwack thwack )... me well developed now...

There is no reason to act funny! This is very serious business! Uga!



kippis,

sumu

A Darksider is someone who likes to make primitive furniture

I think I would be one if i could use a smoothing plane
astrid

Originally Posted by astrid

I think I would be one if i could use a smoothing plane
astrid

You know that's an invitation to all of the darkside woodnuts to offer to give you personal tuition

OK lads, who's going to help Astrid out learning the mysteries of the smoother?

Well if any of you more experienced darksiders are planning on giving planing lessons you can count me in thats for sure.

I cant see myself ever becoming a true 100% darksider on account of the fact that i'm not yet 30, have a full time job that requires a fair bit of time and I would love to be productive with the precious little shed time i get. if i had the time to dedicate to a darkside project (ie all day every day for a while) i would love to.. but i hate the idea of having a project sitting there for months or years on end...

Having said that.. there is certainly an air of mystery and wonderment that surrounds the old school tools. I have recently gotten into hand planes and i think i have them tuned quite well. However, i'd love to learn from someone who has a good collection of hand tools and knows how to use them..

Simple things like chiselling technique, hand plane use... the different types of hand plane, spoke shaves etc...

well if there anyone that feels inclined to teach a young up and coming woodworker feel free to PM me