Better detail?

[Daydreamer1]

I have seen some awesome decorative woodwork created with power tools, but a cousin says better detail, for trims and such, can be realized when using hand tools.

Which is better?

 

[Moondance]

It probably depend on the skill of the craftsman or hobbyist. My grandfather used hand tools even after he was given power tools as a gift. He preferred the leasurely nature of doing his woodworking by hand.

I bet it was good therapy for him.

 

[heretoday]

Just so, not to ever knock power tools because they are very useful, but there is something "organic" in the feel of using hand tools, don't you think?

 

[Taggart]

I think I know what you mean, heretoday.

And I think that you could ultimately get more detail from hand tools. For example, I'm thinking of a kind of woodworking... I think it was called wood cutting where images are cut into the wood to complete pictures. Maybe I don't have the right term, but I think it was a popular art form before photography.

Do you know the process I'm talking about?

 

[WoodWrangler]

I've been a powertool junkie since getting into woodworking about 5 years ago ... but have recently seen the light & "power" in handtools. I don't think I want to go to the extreme of handtools-only, but they have their place in the shop and probably moreso than I had originally thought.

Though both the powertool and handtool would probably do a fine job, I can see how the handtool would good for this purpose & enjoyable to use (assuming you don't have to do 10,000 linear feet!)

 

[unique1]

It probably depend on the skill of the craftsman or hobbyist. My grandfather used hand tools even after he was given power tools as a gift. He preferred the leasurely nature of doing his woodworking by hand.

I bet it was good therapy for him.

I agree.

It does depend highly on the craftsman. Some people are very skilled at hand work. However, many people can't do hand work to save their lives. I personally, like power tools over hand tools any day.

 

[woodpecker]

I think hand tools will produce a better effect, especially in the case of a woodworker who loves his/her job. Using hand tools to create furniture is somehow more "artistic" than using power tools.

 

[Wood Gnome]

I love the detail that a good craftsman can get from a hand tool. However, at best I would consider myself an amateur. However, I continue to practice with hand tools, hoping one day to be as good as my father was.

 

[Woodyoumind?]

I don't think I would attempt hand tools for that type of detail as I am a rank ameteur. I will have to practice quite a bit before I ever consider myself good enough to even have a go at it.

 

[oldnamvet]

The crispness of the detail you get from a well sharpened hand tool can't be easily matched by a power tool. At first glance you won't see the difference but when you look at it closely and feel it, you will be able to tell the difference. Just like a surface smoothed by a hand plane will look better somehow than one smoothed by sandpaper.