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
@@davidhawley1132 agreed. Even just by reaching into a cabinet with ten $300+ saws and pulling the perfect one for the exact cut can make it seem harder to achieve than it has to be.
Well, there was a Gripper right there... meaning Steve actually uses it, which is actually a better advertising/testimonial (in my mind) than paid sponsorship.
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!
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.
@@davidhawley1132 like I said, I still have to cut, plane, joint, shape, sand, and hand-finish all my pieces. Plus every one is hand-painted and inked. My hands are on those pieces constantly, so I don't feel any disconnect- and if I do, I can always sweep up the sawdust from the CNC. Doesn't get much more tactile than that!
@@mattpickering2372 Some people talk about the shape emerging as they interact with the material, which I think reflects the 'imperfection' (= not matching a simple model) of real world blanks . That is perhaps what I was trying to get at. At the end, It's all compromises, isn't it.
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I can hear some people decades before screaming "real woodworkers don't use table saws".
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.
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
I consider myself a blended woodworker, hybrid would suggest you only combine two types into one? I love + follow all the channels Steve suggests, so definitely several styles appeal to me, although a CNC is still out of reach (i.e. out of budget 😄).
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Thank you for this honest overview. While you clearly have chosen path No. 1 for yourself, you did not fail to mention a lot of good points for the other styles. TH-cam often creates the impression that you have to chose 1, 2 or 3 while you really can mix them however you want. Additional point: Hand tools have almost no setup time. Setting up a router or a stack of dado blades takes way more time than it looks like in a cut TH-cam video. Drawing a line and grabbing a hand saw does not. A power tool on the other hand makes perfectly straight cuts with no learning time needed once it is correctly set up, but you mentioned that already.
One advantage of a mostly hand-tool workshop is that it takes up a lot less space. Machine tools such as table saws, jointers and thicknessers not only take up lots of room in a small workshop, but require room for infeed and outfeed. With hand tools, you put the piece of wood on the bench and take the tool to the wood. That said, I have a variety of cordless tools such as drills and saws. My cordless circular saw is great for certain jobs that used to belong to big 26" hand saws.
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!
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 first!!!!!
I'm a mixture of all of them. I use whatever tool is either best for the job or at hand. But mostly it's about what I know. I don't have a lot of experience with tools yet, but have 2 right hands and a hunger to learn. So I use everything and anything at my disposal. In the end to me it's about using the tools, working on the project and having fun :-)
I started out with hand tools, I foraged car boot fairs, flea markets etc getting basic half decent hand tools together. Over time I started acquiring power tools which as you say Steve added new skills and crucially opened up more possibilities. Power tools I treat as an efficient means to an end where making something entirely with hand tools is not so much a journey as a form of therapy. If I had the room I'd embrace digital CNC type stuff in a heartbeat.
"car boot fairs" - I'm guessing that you are on the other side of the 'pond'. I did the same with yard sales over the years (just bought a used table saw at at community sale a few weeks back). It's nice to see that woodworking is a universal hobby.
TBH, simple laser cutting doesn't really require a lot of room. Obviously won't make anything too large with it, but plenty of space to be creative already.
@@ernstseider Haha yes I'm from blighty, Car Boot Fairs are our equivalent to yard sales I suppose. I've picked up a few absolute bargains mainly jack planes as I tend to hunt them out, from a 1931 Stanley No4 Made in USA for £2 ($3-ish) to a mint like new condition Stanley brace (1940-s) also for £2. I have to stop 'rescuing' old hand planes my collection is getting out of hand now
@@louisvictor3473 My workshop is a small single garage (16ft x 9ft-ish) which unfortunately also has to house outboard engines, pedal bikes and my wood store even my pillar drill might need to be relegated to bringing out when I need it, but then I don't have anywhere to put it to bring it out from :)
@@JerGoes That is the thing, the ones I was talking about like Dremel 40W (or from what I see most 40w) fits on a regular work table, and its entirely safe to have it inside the house (and probably better, you don't want saw dust or dirt getting into it). And then youtube ads reminded me that also there is a new toy these days, hand held CNC routers (i know, doesn't sound right, but it works). Size is basically that of a regular router, so you can store it anywhere you'd a router. Check some videos about them here on YT, they might pick your interest.
Your comment in the blended woodworking segment about using the tool that best gets the job done hits the nail on the head. I started with three small power tools from Monkey Ward's and have spent the last 39 years upgrading and modernizing with both power and hand tools. Someday I hope to learn how to use one of them.
You really painted very accurate picture of woodworking. The four categories you defined were right on. I have been woodworking for sixty years, not professionally. I believe interest in home workshop woodworking is declining rapidly. I hope this video inspires some new woodworkers.
Loved seeing you recommending Rex Kruger. He does a great job of explaining hand tool woodworking. Funnily enough, he was a power tool guy when I started watching him, but got on his “Woodworking for Humans” series (sadly, for him, you’d already taken the best name) and his lost himself in the world of hand tools, despite one of his earliest videos poking fun of James Wright’s hand tool method for flattening something. Pretty sure he’s going to move to all hatchet and pocket knife woodworking soon…
Nice vid! I'm middle aged but new to wood crafting & trying to balance machines and hand tools. It's tough, tho soooo satisfying when I finally get it right. Thx for helping us mere mortals! CHEERS!!
Glad to see that you made this video. It certainly puts your previous take on the more traditional approaches in its right humorous perspective! One of the best woodworking places on YT your channel.
Regardless of your method, please don't be critical of others. I.e....if you a hand tool only guy, there's no need to criticize the power tool guy. We're all makers. Let's build each other up 😎
I think most people go hybrid/blended. The most relevant diference I see is actually between "fine" and "rough" woodworking. Some people just want to use some 2x4s, pine, some MDFs and put together something functional and most of time large in size. Some people prefer to work with hardwoods, collect exotic material which comes in small quantities, make small fine objects full of details, a piece of furniture, etc. Somewhere in between you will have the cabinet makers, which will be pragmatic with the use of plywood, pocket screws, etc but at same time spend energy doing nice face frames, drawers, nice tops, etc.
I was wondering what your categories would be. I've found there is a special category that most people wouldn't realize until they experience it: wood turning on the lathe. This may not sound like a big category, but it actually is. Most of the time when you're doing any of the woodworking styles you mention in your video you are doing "engineering" - you plan out a project and try to implement your plan as precisely as possible. I certainly do and enjoy this type of woodworking. But then there's wood turning. Here's a case where you approach a fallen log with a chainsaw, cut off a piece and do some basic prep, then put it on the lathe and make "art". Almost no measuring can be involved, you just grab a gouge and maybe start off with an idea, but see where the wood takes you. I've been an engineering type all my life, but when I'm wood turning it makes me feel like an artist and that's something I didn't expect. Note that I am not AT ALL saying that other forms of woodworking aren't art, they certainly are, just that wood turning is it's own category.
It definitely is. I would say scroll sawing and fret work and other intricate forms are also their own category. Much different than power tools like table saws and other tools that perhaps a contractor would use.
Never thought too much about this, but it makes sense. I definitely fall into the traditional power tool category. I'd love to get my hands on a CNC someday, though.
Dunno if I will ever be interested in a CNC, just because I'm a little bit too...analog to have patience to learn the technology of it all, and because part of the enjoyment of woodworking for me is figuring out how to do accomplish certain tasks with my own two hands. But, I can see the appeal, and I'm pretty tempted by one of those glowforge machines.
I’m sorry but no one is going to convince me CNC or laser is woodworking. With both hand or power tools either you guide the material through the tool or you guide the tool through the material. CNC or laser you write a computer program and do none of the actual woodwork yourself. Yes, there is assembly later, but if that counts as woodworking then does assembling a table from IKEA count as woodworking?
@@sammathis That’s fine if you want to play with one, and that’s not even what I’m getting at. I’m just saying writing a set of plans for a computer to follow isn’t woodworking, it’s computer programming.
@@Arbbal Its certainly more than programming, as you have to understand material properties, feeds and speeds, work holding, etc. etc. But the one thing you definitely miss is your body's interaction with the material.
I started out with the cheap power tool shop because that's what I could affort, but over the last 15 or so years I've become the guy who has a little bit of everything. I love restoring and using old tools but I'm also the guy who made a replica 6th century lyre (instrument) starting with a laser-cut prototype, followed up with one mostly made with hand tools, and then designed a version in in CAD to cut on my CNC ... only to go back and finish it with some old timey hand tools. After all, properly tuned planes and spokeshaves are some of the most enjoyable tools to use (though a Festool Domino comes surprisingly close).
I like to follow yourself and Paul Sellers as I'm interested in both power and hand tool joinery. My grandfather was a carpenter and helped to fit out RMS Queen Mary, and he left me his tools. Keep up the good work 💪
Kinda new to your channel. Found you a while back, but was busy with life stuff. NOW, I AM SO ENJOYING AND LEARNING SO MUCH! Love how you explain things. And straight to the point, while covering all important facts. You do an awesome job! I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!!!
I'm a game designer/developer with over 17 years of experience. I've built my little "woodworking shed" this summer and started doing some garden furniture. I certainly can confirm the "escape from all the screens" factor :).
Awesome points. I started with building a Maslow CNC kit (early-ish kickstarter) and slowly built up a shop of power tools. The CNC is great for some things, but the rest of the shop is where most of the action happens.
This is a great video! It's something I'm realizing about myself lately. I definitely fall into the category of conceiving a project and wanting to see that project realized. I think it's incredible what people can do with hand tools, and enjoy watching the channels that you mentioned, but I'm realizing I'm much more focused on accomplishing the project then the journey that it took to get there. I think someday I might try some hand cut dovetails to experience it but probably not anytime soon :) thanks for all your amazing content!
Good video. I've been heading down the hand tool woodworking route lately. The three hand tool focused TH-cam channels you mentioned (Rex Kruger, James Wright, & Paul Sellers) have all been very valuable in helping me with this. I would love to see any (or all) of them on your Woodworking Talk Show.
Steve, good video. When I saw your video title, I guessed the 4 styles of woodworking would be (1) Making fine furniture like finialed Queen Ann Highboys (2) Wood turning to make bowls and turned table legs and such (3) Quick furniture making to crank out bookcases, cabinets, etc. (4) Rustic woodworking You fooled me by slicing the craft four other different ways.
I guess I would count as blended. I'm handtools - don't even own a table saw - but I do have a bandsaw for resawing. Got proficient at it and then said I don't like doing it so got a powered apprentice to do it for me. I do have power tools for home handy-man type things, like a circular saw to cut up sheet goods, but I consider that just normal chores which I would need to do anyway vs. woodworking. When woodworking, even if it involves cutting down a bunch of 2x4 from the store, I'll still use the handsaw. It really is about the process. I would suggest that anyone who wants to get into the digital side of things might want to start with a cheap 3D printer. Besides being a handy device the process should be very similar, but with a lower cost of entry. I'd imagine if someone doesn't dig 3D printing they would feel the same about CNC or other automated woodworking.
While I do love my table saw and all the other things that plug in or connect to a battery. That was before I got a Stanley no5 plane off eBay. I love that thing. I got it for around $25. And it’s not uncommon for me to walk to the garage just to shave a board for a few seconds and then come back inside. I’ve used electric planers and clearly I’ve used sanders. But a hand plane. Is possibly my favorite tool. But I can see how hand planes can get away from me. A good Lie Neilsen cost just as much as a table saw.
Aye - some power tools are more or less enjoyable to use than others. Table and mitre saws, drills and drivers are fine. However, electric planers and routers are a disgusting experience. They scream at incredible volume, and fight you every step of the way. I'll use them for client jobs where time equals money, but if the project is for me, or a gift for a friend, I'll use my beautiful old hand planes and hand routers every time.
And you can always flow from one style to another as you go. Started with hand me down construction hand tools. Then as I got better and more space I was able to pick up power tools and use those. But now that I have kids in the shop with me the loud tools scare them off so we’ve been learning how to use more hand tools so we can work on stuff together
My dad was trained in joinery in the 1950s, I remember when he got his first Black & Decker power drill, he showed me how to properly use hand tools and although I’m not a professional I can turn out some really good stuff, I’ve still got most of his original tools. I guess I’ve managed to marry up traditional & power tools, good video Steve 👍🏴
I love this acknowledgement of the spectrum. I use power tools for something and hand tools for others and learn so much from this channel as well as Paul Sellers and Johnathan Katz-Moses and Rex Krueger and so many others. If you're working with wood and doing it safely you're doing it right!
You saved my bacon many times with your videos. I'm the wood working type who bites off more than she can chew and writes 'Should have started with a bird house!' on the drawer before glueing a drawer front on. 😂
I do woodworking that pays. These days its finish carpentry. I didn't start out woodworking with this intention but, as a painter I would fix something to paint it then gets asked to fix something else then "hey can you??" and it snowballed from there
Nice breakdown of the craft! I always thought there were two kinds of woodworking, flat work and in the round. But I think your way of describing it is much more thorough! I suppose turners fall in to the power category, unless you're Rex and make a foot powered lathe..
I can really only do any woodwork at night, after the kids are in bed. So I use that time to develop my hand tool skills. But the milling. Oh the milling. I made my wife a ladder desk to work from home and so much time was spent with a hand plane that could’ve been removed by having a table saw and planer thicknesser. Or by needing to grab half an hour to rip a board using a circular saw and straight edge…. I’ve now bought a track saw and built your router table. There is pleasure to be gained from cutting a dovetail, but not from handsawing a 6’ rip and planing it true. In my opinion.
Yes, the milling. I have a bandsaw to do rips. I'm adding a jointer to get a face & edge square. Then I can saw it to parallel and a few swipes with the hand plane gets is smooth.
I always enjoy watching your videos and I learn things from your videos, I have a 42” TV in my wood shop so I can watch all of the videos in there as I’m working sometimes!
Let's go guys! Let's give a big thumbs up to Steve. I'm sure like many others when I started woodworking Steve's youtube channel was my go to place. Thanks for your always awesome videos 👍👍
“New skills to learn.” And old skills to practice and master. No matter how many machines or tools, it comes down to patience, practice, and attention to detail.
A bit of all of em hear. I love planeing and hate sanding, if i only need a couple rabbets then ill do it with a plane, if i need more ill set up the router. I plan everything out in illustrator in real size. Id love to get a cnc machine to cut out mdf templates for me and then take over after that. Just not a priority to spend that money there. Power tools, ooooohhhh maaannn i looooovvvveee operating at the table saw. just love it. the bandsaw is special also. And milling up wood in like 5 minutes, from the jointer, to the planer, and then to the table saw, i dont know of to many things as rewarding. i grew up in my grandfathers wood shop and then had no access to one until i got my own place in my earl 40's and its like something that was missing is back again.
I started watching Paul Sellers and Wood By Wright, so I have hand planes, hand saws, etc. But it's kind of a pain to flatten and dimension 8 ft long boards, so I bought a planer and table saw. When I feel like relaxing and enjoying woodworking, i pull out my hand tools. Otherwise, i usually stick with power tools. The noise and dust suck, but whatever.
I split the difference between traditional power tool and hand tool woodworking. I mostly saw with power tools since it saves time and I haven’t mastered the hand saw yet. I like to bounce back and forth to keep things interesting.
“Mixed media” is another approach. I tend to build things with various materials and techniques and not necessarily with wood. Plastics, fiberglass, resins, metal and wood are fair game. Blended on steroids. I like learning more and more processes.
@@louisvictor3473 I’m reminded AvE views the ways of dead tree carcass wranglers as the path to the unnatural, but often uses tree carcasses in his attempts to yeet machinery.
Can't believe you didn't give Marc Spagnuolo a shout-out in your final woodworking description. His book, Hybrid Woodworking is an incredible resource on the subject.
I would suggest you add Rob Cosman to your list of references. Rob has hand tool skills up at the level of Paul Sellers, but he also uses power tools for preparing stock. Cosman’s work style is a modern, pragmatic approach to high quality furniture making.
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
Who is exclusive and condescending?
@@tom120ali there are some hand tool woodworkers or even just creators who give off that vibe because they have the greatest Stanley plane or whatnot
@@hali22996 Like who? All the main ones are very open and welcoming and willing to share their knowledge and experience for free.
@@tom120ali There definitely is a difference in approachability, whether intended or not.
@@davidhawley1132 agreed. Even just by reaching into a cabinet with ten $300+ saws and pulling the perfect one for the exact cut can make it seem harder to achieve than it has to be.
Still expect Steve to say "The Gripper" 10 seconds into a video. He should get that sponsorship again, even if it's for nostalgia.
Well, there was a Gripper right there... meaning Steve actually uses it, which is actually a better advertising/testimonial (in my mind) than paid sponsorship.
"I am doing it my way and others are doing it their way". Humility and assertiveness. Thumbs up !!
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!
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.
I agree. But you do miss the tactile interaction with the work, so I think it is a little alienating in a sense.
@@davidhawley1132 like I said, I still have to cut, plane, joint, shape, sand, and hand-finish all my pieces. Plus every one is hand-painted and inked. My hands are on those pieces constantly, so I don't feel any disconnect- and if I do, I can always sweep up the sawdust from the CNC. Doesn't get much more tactile than that!
@@mattpickering2372 Some people talk about the shape emerging as they interact with the material, which I think reflects the 'imperfection' (= not matching a simple model) of real world blanks . That is perhaps what I was trying to get at.
At the end, It's all compromises, isn't it.
I can hear some people decades before screaming "real woodworkers don't use table saws".
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.
Love the Rex Kreuger shout out. My favorite hand tool woodworker.
Steve, you only missed one discipline: Those who buy all the tools, sometimes many duplicates, but seldom or never use any of them....
Guilty
I have tools I seldom use but, when I need them......
You describe a different hobby altogether - tool collector.
The Collector!
That's me, but with guitars.
@@jerryjc101 if you're not playing them it is.
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
I consider myself a blended woodworker, hybrid would suggest you only combine two types into one?
I love + follow all the channels Steve suggests, so definitely several styles appeal to me, although a CNC is still out of reach (i.e. out of budget 😄).
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!
I missed the 80s synth and i had to look it up again. Ur right it does add a futuristic electronic vibe while sounding great at the same time
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.
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.
if woodworking were a sport, you would be the best coach anyone could have. I love the way you explain things
Thank God this was not another podcast or short video! I have been missing this kind of content for a long time now.
Cheers!
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.
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!
Thank you for this honest overview. While you clearly have chosen path No. 1 for yourself, you did not fail to mention a lot of good points for the other styles. TH-cam often creates the impression that you have to chose 1, 2 or 3 while you really can mix them however you want.
Additional point: Hand tools have almost no setup time. Setting up a router or a stack of dado blades takes way more time than it looks like in a cut TH-cam video. Drawing a line and grabbing a hand saw does not. A power tool on the other hand makes perfectly straight cuts with no learning time needed once it is correctly set up, but you mentioned that already.
One advantage of a mostly hand-tool workshop is that it takes up a lot less space. Machine tools such as table saws, jointers and thicknessers not only take up lots of room in a small workshop, but require room for infeed and outfeed. With hand tools, you put the piece of wood on the bench and take the tool to the wood.
That said, I have a variety of cordless tools such as drills and saws. My cordless circular saw is great for certain jobs that used to belong to big 26" hand saws.
What a great video to make us all feel like one big community no matter what approach we take as an individual.
You’re openness to all types of woodworking is why I started the craft!
Your
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!
This may be one of your best "non-project" videos. Well done!!!
Rob Cosman is another TH-cam channel with great hand tool skills videos.
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 first!!!!!
I need to start watching this video again because all I can focus on is that amazing cabinet/desk in the upper right corner of the screen.
I'm a mixture of all of them. I use whatever tool is either best for the job or at hand. But mostly it's about what I know. I don't have a lot of experience with tools yet, but have 2 right hands and a hunger to learn. So I use everything and anything at my disposal.
In the end to me it's about using the tools, working on the project and having fun :-)
"Butchery" counts as a style, right? That's totally me.
My style is "What the hell is that supposed to be?"
Also known as, "why doesn't mine look like that!!??"
@@troywalker8078 Right there with you!!! 😆
With you mate. Let's do a collab.
Mine is "put that shit away YOURE JUST MAKING A MESS!" From my fiancée that is.
2:50 REX! Love the collaboration between you guys! I am so glad to have both of you available to get the jobs done around the house.
Thanks for shouting out Paul Sellers!
@2:41 You *NAILED* the intro music for hand tools aficionados! 😁
I started out with hand tools, I foraged car boot fairs, flea markets etc getting basic half decent hand tools together.
Over time I started acquiring power tools which as you say Steve added new skills and crucially opened up more possibilities.
Power tools I treat as an efficient means to an end where making something entirely with hand tools is not so much a journey as a form of therapy.
If I had the room I'd embrace digital CNC type stuff in a heartbeat.
"car boot fairs" - I'm guessing that you are on the other side of the 'pond'. I did the same with yard sales over the years (just bought a used table saw at at community sale a few weeks back). It's nice to see that woodworking is a universal hobby.
TBH, simple laser cutting doesn't really require a lot of room. Obviously won't make anything too large with it, but plenty of space to be creative already.
@@ernstseider Haha yes I'm from blighty, Car Boot Fairs are our equivalent to yard sales I suppose.
I've picked up a few absolute bargains mainly jack planes as I tend to hunt them out, from a 1931 Stanley No4 Made in USA for £2 ($3-ish) to a mint like new condition Stanley brace (1940-s) also for £2.
I have to stop 'rescuing' old hand planes my collection is getting out of hand now
@@louisvictor3473 My workshop is a small single garage (16ft x 9ft-ish) which unfortunately also has to house outboard engines, pedal bikes and my wood store even my pillar drill might need to be relegated to bringing out when I need it, but then I don't have anywhere to put it to bring it out from :)
@@JerGoes That is the thing, the ones I was talking about like Dremel 40W (or from what I see most 40w) fits on a regular work table, and its entirely safe to have it inside the house (and probably better, you don't want saw dust or dirt getting into it). And then youtube ads reminded me that also there is a new toy these days, hand held CNC routers (i know, doesn't sound right, but it works). Size is basically that of a regular router, so you can store it anywhere you'd a router. Check some videos about them here on YT, they might pick your interest.
Your comment in the blended woodworking segment about using the tool that best gets the job done hits the nail on the head. I started with three small power tools from Monkey Ward's and have spent the last 39 years upgrading and modernizing with both power and hand tools. Someday I hope to learn how to use one of them.
You really painted very accurate picture of woodworking. The four categories you defined were right on. I have been woodworking for sixty years, not professionally. I believe interest in home workshop woodworking is declining rapidly. I hope this video inspires some new woodworkers.
Loved seeing you recommending Rex Kruger. He does a great job of explaining hand tool woodworking. Funnily enough, he was a power tool guy when I started watching him, but got on his “Woodworking for Humans” series (sadly, for him, you’d already taken the best name) and his lost himself in the world of hand tools, despite one of his earliest videos poking fun of James Wright’s hand tool method for flattening something. Pretty sure he’s going to move to all hatchet and pocket knife woodworking soon…
Nice vid! I'm middle aged but new to wood crafting & trying to balance machines and hand tools. It's tough, tho soooo satisfying when I finally get it right. Thx for helping us mere mortals! CHEERS!!
Glad to see that you made this video. It certainly puts your previous take on the more traditional approaches in its right humorous perspective! One of the best woodworking places on YT your channel.
Wow...40 years in woodworking and you can still put yourself in different perspectives on how to approach woodworking?!
Compliments!!!
Regardless of your method, please don't be critical of others. I.e....if you a hand tool only guy, there's no need to criticize the power tool guy. We're all makers. Let's build each other up 😎
Well said.
And safety police need to stfu!
I enjoyed this presentation. Your balanced coverage of the types of woodworking was refreshing and exposed the reality of my sawdust environment.
Glad to see a "normal" format video again.
Great segment Steve. As woodworking is becoming more and more popular, this is great information for many.
I think most people go hybrid/blended. The most relevant diference I see is actually between "fine" and "rough" woodworking. Some people just want to use some 2x4s, pine, some MDFs and put together something functional and most of time large in size. Some people prefer to work with hardwoods, collect exotic material which comes in small quantities, make small fine objects full of details, a piece of furniture, etc. Somewhere in between you will have the cabinet makers, which will be pragmatic with the use of plywood, pocket screws, etc but at same time spend energy doing nice face frames, drawers, nice tops, etc.
Nicely and effectively explained. Simply put. I love all kinds of woodworking.
I was wondering what your categories would be. I've found there is a special category that most people wouldn't realize until they experience it: wood turning on the lathe. This may not sound like a big category, but it actually is. Most of the time when you're doing any of the woodworking styles you mention in your video you are doing "engineering" - you plan out a project and try to implement your plan as precisely as possible. I certainly do and enjoy this type of woodworking. But then there's wood turning. Here's a case where you approach a fallen log with a chainsaw, cut off a piece and do some basic prep, then put it on the lathe and make "art". Almost no measuring can be involved, you just grab a gouge and maybe start off with an idea, but see where the wood takes you. I've been an engineering type all my life, but when I'm wood turning it makes me feel like an artist and that's something I didn't expect. Note that I am not AT ALL saying that other forms of woodworking aren't art, they certainly are, just that wood turning is it's own category.
It definitely is. I would say scroll sawing and fret work and other intricate forms are also their own category. Much different than power tools like table saws and other tools that perhaps a contractor would use.
Never thought too much about this, but it makes sense. I definitely fall into the traditional power tool category. I'd love to get my hands on a CNC someday, though.
Dunno if I will ever be interested in a CNC, just because I'm a little bit too...analog to have patience to learn the technology of it all, and because part of the enjoyment of woodworking for me is figuring out how to do accomplish certain tasks with my own two hands. But, I can see the appeal, and I'm pretty tempted by one of those glowforge machines.
I’m sorry but no one is going to convince me CNC or laser is woodworking. With both hand or power tools either you guide the material through the tool or you guide the tool through the material. CNC or laser you write a computer program and do none of the actual woodwork yourself. Yes, there is assembly later, but if that counts as woodworking then does assembling a table from IKEA count as woodworking?
@@Arbbal I don't really care if it's considered woodworking or not, I still want to use one.
@@sammathis That’s fine if you want to play with one, and that’s not even what I’m getting at. I’m just saying writing a set of plans for a computer to follow isn’t woodworking, it’s computer programming.
@@Arbbal Its certainly more than programming, as you have to understand material properties, feeds and speeds, work holding, etc. etc. But the one thing you definitely miss is your body's interaction with the material.
I started out with the cheap power tool shop because that's what I could affort, but over the last 15 or so years I've become the guy who has a little bit of everything. I love restoring and using old tools but I'm also the guy who made a replica 6th century lyre (instrument) starting with a laser-cut prototype, followed up with one mostly made with hand tools, and then designed a version in in CAD to cut on my CNC ... only to go back and finish it with some old timey hand tools. After all, properly tuned planes and spokeshaves are some of the most enjoyable tools to use (though a Festool Domino comes surprisingly close).
I like to follow yourself and Paul Sellers as I'm interested in both power and hand tool joinery. My grandfather was a carpenter and helped to fit out RMS Queen Mary, and he left me his tools. Keep up the good work 💪
Kinda new to your channel. Found you a while back, but was busy with life stuff. NOW, I AM SO ENJOYING AND LEARNING SO MUCH! Love how you explain things. And straight to the point, while covering all important facts. You do an awesome job! I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!!!
I'm a game designer/developer with over 17 years of experience. I've built my little "woodworking shed" this summer and started doing some garden furniture. I certainly can confirm the "escape from all the screens" factor :).
"Tools that you don't really need." Good one Steve.
🤣🤣
"I'd rather have a tool and not need it than need a tool and not have it." - Jimmy Diresta.
Awesome points. I started with building a Maslow CNC kit (early-ish kickstarter) and slowly built up a shop of power tools. The CNC is great for some things, but the rest of the shop is where most of the action happens.
This is a great video! It's something I'm realizing about myself lately. I definitely fall into the category of conceiving a project and wanting to see that project realized. I think it's incredible what people can do with hand tools, and enjoy watching the channels that you mentioned, but I'm realizing I'm much more focused on accomplishing the project then the journey that it took to get there. I think someday I might try some hand cut dovetails to experience it but probably not anytime soon :) thanks for all your amazing content!
Good video. I've been heading down the hand tool woodworking route lately. The three hand tool focused TH-cam channels you mentioned (Rex Kruger, James Wright, & Paul Sellers) have all been very valuable in helping me with this. I would love to see any (or all) of them on your Woodworking Talk Show.
Nice contribution Mr. Ramsey. You’ve put it all together very well.
Excellent video! Loved all the shout-outs and I don’t recall you ever covering this topic.
Great video! I'm hand tool and hand held power tools blended. I have a tiny shop so taking the tools to the work I most efficient for me.
Great vid! You didn't offer up any TH-camrs for the "Blended," category, but Matthias Wandel jumps out to me.
I was thinking Frank Howarth.
The wood whisperer literally has a book called Hybrid Woodworking, shouldn't forget to mention him!
Also Marius Hornberger, for a very smart design and engineering approach to woodworking.
I thought of Matt Estlea, really fine detail work with hand tools, but uses power tools for all of the bulk work.
Stumpy Nubs!
As a mostly power tool oriented woodworker, I do supplement with hand tools quite often. A block and smoothing plane can be a real time saver.
Excellent video Steve. Very thoughtful and well written. Nice work!
Steve, good video. When I saw your video title, I guessed the 4 styles of woodworking would be (1) Making fine furniture like finialed Queen Ann Highboys (2) Wood turning to make bowls and turned table legs and such (3) Quick furniture making to crank out bookcases, cabinets, etc. (4) Rustic woodworking You fooled me by slicing the craft four other different ways.
You missed out live edge resin river tables!
@@chriswoods7452 Definitely worth missing out!
I guess I would count as blended. I'm handtools - don't even own a table saw - but I do have a bandsaw for resawing. Got proficient at it and then said I don't like doing it so got a powered apprentice to do it for me. I do have power tools for home handy-man type things, like a circular saw to cut up sheet goods, but I consider that just normal chores which I would need to do anyway vs. woodworking. When woodworking, even if it involves cutting down a bunch of 2x4 from the store, I'll still use the handsaw. It really is about the process.
I would suggest that anyone who wants to get into the digital side of things might want to start with a cheap 3D printer. Besides being a handy device the process should be very similar, but with a lower cost of entry. I'd imagine if someone doesn't dig 3D printing they would feel the same about CNC or other automated woodworking.
Nice presentation! Thank you for reminding us that Our style isn’t the only one, and we can always learn new things from each other.
You should do whatever makes you enjoy the process....that is my way of seeing it.
While I do love my table saw and all the other things that plug in or connect to a battery.
That was before I got a Stanley no5 plane off eBay. I love that thing. I got it for around $25. And it’s not uncommon for me to walk to the garage just to shave a board for a few seconds and then come back inside. I’ve used electric planers and clearly I’ve used sanders. But a hand plane. Is possibly my favorite tool.
But I can see how hand planes can get away from me. A good Lie Neilsen cost just as much as a table saw.
Aye - some power tools are more or less enjoyable to use than others. Table and mitre saws, drills and drivers are fine. However, electric planers and routers are a disgusting experience. They scream at incredible volume, and fight you every step of the way. I'll use them for client jobs where time equals money, but if the project is for me, or a gift for a friend, I'll use my beautiful old hand planes and hand routers every time.
@@-Benedict I use an electric planer to rough shape chunks of chainsawed wood before they hit the jointer or tablesaw. Agree that routers are a pain.
And you can always flow from one style to another as you go. Started with hand me down construction hand tools. Then as I got better and more space I was able to pick up power tools and use those. But now that I have kids in the shop with me the loud tools scare them off so we’ve been learning how to use more hand tools so we can work on stuff together
I'm definitely the blended one. I have cnc and laser cutter as well as most common power tools.
My dad was trained in joinery in the 1950s, I remember when he got his first Black & Decker power drill, he showed me how to properly use hand tools and although I’m not a professional I can turn out some really good stuff, I’ve still got most of his original tools. I guess I’ve managed to marry up traditional & power tools, good video Steve 👍🏴
I love this acknowledgement of the spectrum. I use power tools for something and hand tools for others and learn so much from this channel as well as Paul Sellers and Johnathan Katz-Moses and Rex Krueger and so many others. If you're working with wood and doing it safely you're doing it right!
I think I'm a combination of all of these on my channel. Thanks for the video! Great explanation!
You saved my bacon many times with your videos. I'm the wood working type who bites off more than she can chew and writes 'Should have started with a bird house!' on the drawer before glueing a drawer front on. 😂
Excellent video! Concise, informative, easy going. Thanks.
So incredibly unbiased. Thank you!
I do woodworking that pays. These days its finish carpentry. I didn't start out woodworking with this intention but, as a painter I would fix something to paint it then gets asked to fix something else then "hey can you??" and it snowballed from there
Nice breakdown of the craft! I always thought there were two kinds of woodworking, flat work and in the round. But I think your way of describing it is much more thorough! I suppose turners fall in to the power category, unless you're Rex and make a foot powered lathe..
I mostly power tool, but there's something really soothing about using a plane.
Great video. Concise and helpful to those taking up a new hobby.
I can really only do any woodwork at night, after the kids are in bed. So I use that time to develop my hand tool skills. But the milling. Oh the milling. I made my wife a ladder desk to work from home and so much time was spent with a hand plane that could’ve been removed by having a table saw and planer thicknesser. Or by needing to grab half an hour to rip a board using a circular saw and straight edge…. I’ve now bought a track saw and built your router table. There is pleasure to be gained from cutting a dovetail, but not from handsawing a 6’ rip and planing it true. In my opinion.
Yes, the milling. I have a bandsaw to do rips. I'm adding a jointer to get a face & edge square. Then I can saw it to parallel and a few swipes with the hand plane gets is smooth.
Love your selection of hand tool wood workers.
I always enjoy watching your videos and I learn things from your videos, I have a 42” TV in my wood shop so I can watch all of the videos in there as I’m working sometimes!
That was really helpful. Much more than listing the types indeed. ..
Nice call out for Rex!
Steve one of your best Insightful videos! Really needed! Wish I would have thought this thru at the beginning. Thank you
So good to see a video from you! Missed you.
I would add one more area, that is, hybrid woodworking and metal working. April Wilkerson and Pask Makes come to mind.
My wood working is a mix of everything and I include my lathe, resin and recently lichtenberg figures (with extreme safety measures mind you).
The type of woodworking you enjoy is the one you saw first!
I started out with traditional power tools and migrated to over 90% hand tools(power drill, sander, and lathe) in my first year
I saw that
Let's go guys! Let's give a big thumbs up to Steve. I'm sure like many others when I started woodworking Steve's youtube channel was my go to place. Thanks for your always awesome videos 👍👍
“New skills to learn.” And old skills to practice and master. No matter how many
machines or tools, it comes down to patience, practice, and attention to detail.
I have watched videos by all the woodworkers mentioned, and then some
A bit of all of em hear. I love planeing and hate sanding, if i only need a couple rabbets then ill do it with a plane, if i need more ill set up the router. I plan everything out in illustrator in real size. Id love to get a cnc machine to cut out mdf templates for me and then take over after that. Just not a priority to spend that money there. Power tools, ooooohhhh maaannn i looooovvvveee operating at the table saw. just love it. the bandsaw is special also. And milling up wood in like 5 minutes, from the jointer, to the planer, and then to the table saw, i dont know of to many things as rewarding. i grew up in my grandfathers wood shop and then had no access to one until i got my own place in my earl 40's and its like something that was missing is back again.
I started watching Paul Sellers and Wood By Wright, so I have hand planes, hand saws, etc. But it's kind of a pain to flatten and dimension 8 ft long boards, so I bought a planer and table saw.
When I feel like relaxing and enjoying woodworking, i pull out my hand tools. Otherwise, i usually stick with power tools. The noise and dust suck, but whatever.
another great thought provoking video. Thank you Steve!
Lookin great, Steve! Keep up the good work!
I split the difference between traditional power tool and hand tool woodworking. I mostly saw with power tools since it saves time and I haven’t mastered the hand saw yet. I like to bounce back and forth to keep things interesting.
“Mixed media” is another approach. I tend to build things with various materials and techniques and not necessarily with wood. Plastics, fiberglass, resins, metal and wood are fair game. Blended on steroids. I like learning more and more processes.
The Savage Way of the Maker, if you will. Now, excuse me, I have some marketing ideas to try to sell to a certain Adam.
@@louisvictor3473 I’m reminded AvE views the ways of dead tree carcass wranglers as the path to the unnatural, but often uses tree carcasses in his attempts to yeet machinery.
Great story and so true from a blended guy.
Awesome video, Steve! 😊
Thanks a lot!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Can't believe you didn't give Marc Spagnuolo a shout-out in your final woodworking description. His book, Hybrid Woodworking is an incredible resource on the subject.
I would suggest you add Rob Cosman to your list of references. Rob has hand tool skills up at the level of Paul Sellers, but he also uses power tools for preparing stock. Cosman’s work style is a modern, pragmatic approach to high quality furniture making.
Turning, for some, is a fifth style. That's all they really care to do much of. Great stuff, thanks!