Sunday, October 11, 2009
Hand Tool Rambling
No pictures this time, just rambling. It has come to my attention that we are in need of a new dining room table. The one we have is functional, not beautiful. It does nothing for me, or anyone else that sees it for that matter. Jen wants me to build a trestle table we saw at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. But first, the tools to do it with.
I have always been fascinated by traditional woodworking. I love doing things by hand. Every project I do I move farther away from a plugged in shop to one utilizing only hand tools. It is absolutely amazing what can be accomplished using 100-200 year old (design, not age) tools. I have several tools that I use regularly that were my great-grandfather's. You can still see his initials stamped in some of them. And they work great! Take a look at these Woodwright's Shop videos. You'll see simple tools, wielded by masters, making incredible things. I love the "bible box" form that Peter Follansbee works on.
http://flash.unctv.org/woodwrightss/2800/wws_2812.html
http://flash.unctv.org/woodwrightss/wws_2701.html
As my regression (or is it progression?) continues I realize that my tool needs, while simple, are not complete. So it looks like I need to get a hewing axe, some gouges, and take up blacksmithing. I'll settle for the axe first. Jen will kill me if I take up another hobby.
M
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7 comments:
Let me know if and when you want to sign up for a blacksmith course. I would love to take it with you.
Oh yeah, I would love to do that. Spring is a much better time for us.
You could go to Tillers. Learn blacksmithing, how to milk a cow, build a ox drawn plow. Maybe you could start bleeding your children with leeches when they're sick.
Jen said that wasn't the most appropriate response so I deleted it. You can go fly a kite instead.
Wimp!
This is a family friendly blog. And yes, I am.
It was Mom asking "are you mad at Mark?" wasn't it?
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