I read an interesting letter to one of the popular woodworking magazines. The writer stated that with the new joint tools, any one can make perfect joints that are stronger than the ordinary methods. As for carving, select a pattern, insert the wood and push the click on GO. So his question was  "where is the woodworking skill? Is it cheating? I agree with part of it, The new tools and computer controlled devises are making it easy, so easy that it cheapens the work that true wood workers/carvers do. Having said that, I wonder what the old craftsmen thought when the electric tools first came on the scene. Did they feel the same way? Will we be able to put a rough piece of lumber in a tool that we have programmed and have it come out the other side cut and planed to the precise size? On to the next machine that places, glues and secures it in perfect position, I'm sure it will happen. Will we feel that the craftsmanship will be gone or will we feel that it is another great tool for us to use?

My favorite type of "furniture" is the Shaker style. Imagine my surprise to discover that the Shakers embraced (and developed) new technologies to make their work easier and faster. My guess that early crafts persons would have jumped at the chance to make things easier on themselves.

I believe it is today's nostalgic woodworker, looking back, who believes the old ways were better.

Just my 2¢

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

I think you are right Lew. I too love the Shaker furniture and while I was touring one of the Shaker Villages in October I too was amazed at how they embraced and designed many of the tools to make their life and work easier and better. You can also look at even the evolution of their furniture. From square legs to tapered to round with coves and beads. I think as they learned how to use a new feature they embraced it and added it to their collection.

Who knows one day the way we are doing it maybe considered an old way of making things.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

There's a huge difference between machine made and made by a cratsman.

Almost all the time I can spot it in a heartbeat.

If your making it for people who don't care about real wood, they get what they pay for.

But if you are making it for people who care nothing comes close.

Even with a drill press, table saw, lathe, etc etc..you still have to accurately adjust the tools for the cut, make test cuts and there is a good deal of craftsmanship involved. In my mind a C&C machine takes a lot of the craftsmanship out of the process and it's more about programming the computer than the hand physically guiding the tool or the wood to make the cut, during the cut. The C&C takes that aspect away and holds the wood for you while the soulless machine exposes the product. IMHO!

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

I don't prefer the computerized  machinery. For my money it's not about the wood nor the joy of working it when one creates a pattern of some type digitally and then uses  CNC machinery to bring the pattern to the wood.

From my perspective that sort of thing is more appropriate for a vocational set up where one's income  depends on his ability to produce said products in some critical time frame.

I also don't find  the incredible precision of the CNC generated products to be aesthetically pleasing. 

I don't care for Dovetail jigs either. I have a Leigh  and a PC Omnijig and I don't use 'em.   I learned that I don't like the look of joints made in such a rigid manner and I also don't like the look of DTs made with a router cutter.   From my perspective there's a certain  tawdry cheapness to joints made in such a fashion that just offends my eye. 

But that's just me.  There are galoots who think I commit  sacrilege every time I'm burning electrons with one of my tailed devils.

So where  does one draw the line?

Maybe to be true to the craft  one should plant the seed for the tree and then ~ ~ ~ ~

But unless he grew the seed isn't he cheating?

Ron,

To quote Al Bundy "It's only cheating if you get caught".

I saw a CNC machine at a shop where they make custom shot guns. The cheapest version was over $5000.00 .

They would put in a wood blank, and in about 15 minutes a gun stock would appear.

I found it hard to believe that they had a waiting list to place orders.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

i believe that wheather you take a piece of wood and cut it, carve it, sand it and complete it by hand or place it in a cnc machine and hit the button doesn't matter because both people are doing what they enjoy and that's creating something beautiful out of an ordinary piece of wood!  personally i enjoy doing what i can by hand, nothing i've done is anywhere near the craftsman ship of what i've seen on here but i'm still going about the process of learning how to do the things i want to do, and i probably will be till i die, but no matter how it turns out i still enjoy it!

Did ya ever make a post and then after a while you read it again and think " Gee that sounds awfully harsh"

Yes Cliff, I have and I have also written something that I wish I had phrased differently. I try to make it a habit now to write it and let it stay as a draft for an hour or maybe overnight if it is a personal matter. Rereading at a later time can make a world of difference.

Cliff said:

Did ya ever make a post and then after a while you read it again and think " Gee that sounds awfully harsh"