Yes, and John just had the services of an electrician. Now his domicile is running smoothly.

I have tried to build things using hand tools. That's why I now have a few power tools. If it weren't for power tools, my woodworking would likely have never developed beyond the occasional handyman repair.

Anyone ever used rosewood to make anything? Hardest wood I can recall ever using.

Edited May 27, 20196 yr by Al B

2 hours ago, Al B said:

If it weren't for power tools, my woodworking would likely have never developed beyond the occasional handyman repair.

I'm the same way Al, if all I had were hand tools in the beginning I would have lost interest quickly, it's taken me years to develop my taste for hand tools. Like many of you I've been woodworking since my early teens or before, can't remember, but well over 40 yrs, Dad got me interested with his new at the time Craftsmen machinery and Home Shop RAS, and I was hooked, it's only been the last 5 years I've started taken a deep interest in using hand tools beyond the occasional chisel work. I am hooked now, I can't get enough information, enough books, and there's not enough YouTube videos on the subject right now for me, I just love it all now. Thank goodness for the internet, or I wouldn't have any teachers to show me how to do things with hand tools.

One thing is for sure, John. Your excellent posts have sparked some interest. Whirring blades will never be replaced in my shop but, my chisels and planes just might lose some of their dust. Thanks to you. 

 

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

Your excellent posts have sparked some interest. Whirring blades will never be replaced in my shop

Mine either, handplanes do not agree with the pins in my wrist and arm.  BUT, I did buy a card scraper.  Baby steps.....

On 5/25/2019 at 9:48 PM, hatuffej said:

I understand your perspective but that's not how I do it. I use all my machines after I have carefully laid out the wood, looking for its best appearance, and listening to it speak to me as I move along. When I built my dining table, it took me 3 days of looking and listening to decide how to arrange the pieces for the top. I do the same when I make jewelry boxes. The wood will direct me where to cut and how to match pieces; the tool does not matter.   

I love to look for the best appearance and will spend the time when I can. This is an island top I did from Jatoba. This was one board and had to be cut and use three boards in the glue up. I did work this after the glue up with a hand plane and a scraper. 

 

 

I just love wood!

Working with mesquite, I seldom hear it talking...it mostly just laughs. Especially when I try to match the grain. 

As promised, I finally finished the hickory stool I was working on, and here are some pictures.  Obviously has a slide out step, here opened and closed.

 

 

My phone changed the lighting on the above pictures.  The one on the left is more accurate for color.

 

The stool has a stop system to prevent the lower step from pushing in too far or pulling out too far.  Here are the pegs that catch those stops.  And the front stops.

 

 

 

This is the groove in the back of the bottom step that holds the rear stop.  The stop has not been installed at this point.

 

 

This is the stop, laying on top of the step, ready to be installed.  No glue, just a couple of screws in case I need to partially disassemble the stool for some reason.

 

Here, the bottom step has been slid into the dadoes in the sides of the base, and the back step installed.  The stool is upside down in this photo.

 

 

The stool is finished with 5 coats of wipe-on poly, except for the tops of the steps.  There, I stopped at 3 coats, and applied two coats of brush on full strength poly.  Now, time to clean house.

7 minutes ago, PostalTom said:

in case I need to partially disassemble the stool for some reason

I use same method, because ya never know.....

 

Looks great, the attention to details like a stop both in and out is excellent.  A well thought through quality build.  NICE!!!

That’s a beautiful stool.

I probably should have mentioned before, just to give credit where it is due, that the design isn't mine.  Plans are from an older Woodsmith issue.  But thanks for the compliments on the build.

Great job, well constructed and a beautiful piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well built and a great looking piece

Great job on the great looking stool!!!

Thanks all.  I learned a lot from this project, and gained some confidence in hand tool use, which was the leading concept of this thread.

5 hours ago, PostalTom said:

As promised, I finally finished the hickory stool I was working on, and here are some pictures.  Obviously has a slide out step, here opened and closed.

 

Tom that is a really nice job . I like that design . Did you draw it up?

19 hours ago, Gerald said:

Tom that is a really nice job . I like that design . Did you draw it up?

No Gerald, sad to say, I am not that talented.  The plans came from Woodsmith magazine #111, June 1997.  The only change I made to the plans shows in the picture below.  The tenons on the lower step had to be trimmed flush with the sides because there wasn't much room between the outer side of the lower step and the inner side of the base, or upper step.  The upper step sides plans called for the same treatment, trimming flush, but I decided to leave them proud of the sides and chamfer the edges, just for visual effect.  

 

 

Well, the whole picture didn't show, but you get the idea.