Ideally, I want a tool which has received
the same care in its making as I intend to
apply during its use. Modern tools rarely
have this quality. As with saws, the older
planes, try squares, draw knives, chisels,
etc. are often much better and can still
sometimes be found at a fraction of the
cost of the inferior new versions.
Some tools, such as wooden spokeshaves,
moulding planes, and travishers, are no
longer manufactured, so we have no choice
but to find antiques or make our own.
With so many electrically powered tools
available, the importance and virtues of
the traditional woodwork tools is being
forgotten. Skill is being lost. A hand tool
is useless if one does not know how to
use it.
It is often assumed that power tools are
essential, but the old hand tools can often
do many operations faster and better, and
can do some jobs that no power tool can.
Power tools tend to be noisy, dangerous,
and expensive to purchase, run and maintain.
Their manufacture and use causes various
forms of pollution, and manufacture and use
rely upon non-renewable energy. Every time
you buy such a machine, you harm the
planet a little more, and get locked into
corporate industry, which makes certain that
you have to buy additional expensive extra
proprietary bits and pieces.
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