Hand tools vs power tools

Channels mentioned in this video:

One of the things beginners discover when starting a woodworking hobby is that there are different types of woodworking. Figuring out what interests you will spare you from spending money on tools and equipment you don’t really need.

In this video, I’ll break down the 4 woodworking approaches to help you determine which style is right for you. Keep in mind, these are broad categories and there can be plenty of overlap between them depending on the individual. Think of these as your general philosophy towards woodworking.

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#handtools #powertools #woodworking

[hali]

It was sooo nice to see Rex Krueger on there, I think he does a great job introducing people to hand tool woodworking without being exclusive and condescending

[LowVoltage_FPV]

Still expect Steve to say "The Gripper" 10 seconds into a video. He should get that sponsorship again, even if it's for nostalgia.

[davipip]

"I am doing it my way and others are doing it their way". Humility and assertiveness. Thumbs up !!

[darrellcurr]

I am very glad you haven’t experienced an injury that changes your life Steve, i wish I could say the same thing, I had a bad accident back in 1993 where I broke my back, after 4 surgeries on my back I was in a wheelchair for 2 years and finally got back to work after 6 years! I walked with a cane for years but I was getting better as time went on and was able not to use the cane for walking. But the last couple of years things started to change again as I am back walking with a cane again and any long walks I have to use a wheelchair again. I’m 63 now and retired on disability and started up my wood shop in my garage. I love working with wood and I’ll do that for as long as I can! It keeps me sane and gives some hope in life that I can still make things that I enjoy!

[mattpickering]

I've been running a woodworking art business for five years that started with this channel, and I've changed my approach at least four times in that interval. I started as a machine driven woodworker, and then did all my art work by hand. I still do that, but three years ago, I discovered CNC to do carving, which I design, then hand paint and ink. In reading through the comments, I was waiting for the "CNC isn't real woodworking" comments. Everything I make is out of hardwood, so I still have to be able to make blanks (cutting, planing, jointing, glueups), and in order to machine wood correctly, you still need to understand grain direction, cutting feed rates and rotation expansion/contraction, wood density and moisture; basically all the stuff you "real woodworkers" know, except I also can expand to be able to program a robot (which isn't a push-button understanding - there's a learning curve, and it's steep) to augment the work. Things still have to ne sanded, edge-profiled, joined and finished except I used a piece of technology (that takes skill, experience and wood working know-how to use) to achieve the desired result. I've done things with that machine that I could never dream of by hand, but the robot doesn't *do* the work. I do.

[Maxid]

Steve, you only missed one discipline: Those who buy all the tools, sometimes many duplicates, but seldom or never use any of them....

[TheMrWoodsman]

As a woodworker for the last 30 years this is the best explained video I have ever seen of my hobby. I would recommend everyone that is considering woodworking as a hobby to watch this video with great interest. Thank you Steve.

[bnj_]

Man, I am mostly hand tools and you are one of the few power tool woodworkers I follow, but is funny because you just showed my three most influences on hand tool woodworking on this video. It is very nice to see this enviroment where even with massive differences on how to do woodworking people are sharing they way to do stuff very politely instead of saying "this is the only way to do this".
Nice talk Steve.

[boatworkstoday]

Blended Woodworking I think is the approach most folks take eventually, there's a guy I know of that really focuses on this but he calls it Hybrid Woodworking... Semantics I guess, but in the end whatever plants the bug or Whispers to you and gets you involved in the hobby is what's important ;-) There's a lot of great content creators online regardless of what your interest is; just jump in and get started

[VDHandcrafted]

I started with a jigsaw, drill and a sander and built my first laundry basket 6 years ago. Then discovered this channel and got a few more power tools (and Kreg pocket hole jig 😃) when I felt like I needed them for a project. Then I got a cheap crappy hand plane and planed some pallet wood with it. That’s when I remembered how I used a wooden hand plane at my grandparents many years ago and how much I enjoyed the feeling and process of shavings just coming off nicely. Since then I discovered Paul Seller’s channel from which I learned everything I know about hand tool woodworking which I enjoy a lot now. Like you say it is about the process and the satisfaction from the final result. Most recently I thought how I can give something back to this community so I have started filming my greatest hand tool project yet and posting it on my profile. It is a sun lounger designed based on one I found on the net for over £2, 000. Have a look if you have a moment. The videos are getting better although still very amateur. Haha. Cheers.

[propertystuff]

This made me smile in so many ways. The safety message, plugging of my 3 favorite hand tool woodworkers, the 80s synth for opening the digital segment!

[johnsonhoang]

Love the Rex Kreuger shout out. My favorite hand tool woodworker.

[linsen]

I think this is the first video those that want to get into woodworking should watch. It clarifies all of the different approaches to woodworking so well. Another video (or series of videos) I would like to see is one focusing on the different kinds of woodworking that people do: furniture making, power carving, hand carving, etc. There are so many beautiful and/or functional things that people like to make, and it would be great to take a look at some of them, and then go into the tools that are needed and the techniques and skills that need to be developed to be successful. Thanks for this great content, Steve!

[PilatomahawK]

if woodworking were a sport, you would be the best coach anyone could have. I love the way you explain things

[daveturnbull]

When I get stressed or depressed I grab a lump of wood and a hand plane. I don't tend to make much apart from large amounts of shavings but I do get enormous satisfaction and can really feel my mood improving. I tend to follow Paul Sellers approach that there is nothing wrong with using power tools but that the most enjoyment comes from using hand tools.

My approach is greatly influenced by the fact that my work area is tiny {about 4ft x 5ft) so any power tool usage has to be outside and given that I'm in Scotland I have to take the rain/midges into account.

All of the channels you linked to are great and I get loads of inspiration from them. Another woodworker I like is David Picciuto (Make Something). One comment he makes quite often in his videos (which are almost entirely power tool based) is that you don't need all his fancy equipment to make the same things. A bit of thought and you can work out how to do it all with hand tools. That is also a very enjoyable way to spend some time.

Great video and hopefully it will help others to find the fun to be had by manipulating lumps of tree!

[OBryanWoodWorks]

I cut my teeth learning woodworking from Paul Sellers. I think starting with handtools will really help with joint construction and acurate layout. I'm now a blended woodworker much like Andy Rawles who happen to study under Paul.

[fernandomunoz]

Thank God this was not another podcast or short video! I have been missing this kind of content for a long time now.

Cheers!

[מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

You have included in the video all the woodworker that are influencing my woodworking: You - you were the first one who gave me the courage to atart ny woodworking jurny and your philosophy that opened my mind to try different things...so Rex's was the first one journey with the same philosophy like you from the hand tools side..than i was introduced to Paul Sellers and... James from Wood by Wright and Rob Cosman. I must include James from Stumpy Nubbs because he also influence me ( using both hand tools and power tools). But you are my

[bilal]

<3 the term Blended Woodworking! Really stick it to the guy who took what woodworkers had been doing for decades, slapped the word "hybrid" on it, and subtlety implied (imho) it was a whole new paradigm of his own inception.

[michaelprozonic]

What a great video to make us all feel like one big community no matter what approach we take as an individual.