I’ve slowly been using more and more hand tools in my woodworking, and discovering that using a properly tuned and sharpened hand tool is actually easier (and more accurate) than using its power counterpart for some operations. Additionally, it tends to be quieter and somewhat safer. Plus, it appeals to my interest in history and old things in general.
As I head down the slippery slope to old-tool user, I found the OldTools email list. This is a great, friendly and informative group of people. I highly recommend joining the group if you enjoy intelligent, moderated discourse about “old tools”…it has rapidly become my favorite on-line woodworking resource. Just be warned, you will need to learn the lingo for the email list. If you are a hand tool user, you will be called a “galoot” (a good thing)….your power tools are “tailed demons” and your hand tools are “untailed”…among other list-isms.
Don’t worry, I’m not giving up my power tools, just adding to the arsenal.
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About mattsanf
Matt Sanfilippo is the Chief Partnership Officer (CPO) for the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Co-Director of its Engineering Research Accelerator. In this role, Matt coordinates and enables strategic and sponsored research opportunities across the college, and stewards the development of proposals for major research opportunities along strategic themes. Additionally, he enables collaboration among the college's research institute/center executive directors, and industrial and government relations personnel in the pursuit of opportunities with industry, federal and state governments. Before becoming CPO for the College, Matt was the Senior Executive Director for Research Initiatives, the Executive Director of CMU's SII (Smart Infrastructure Institute) and ICES (Institute for Complex Engineered Systems), and Associate Director of PITA (Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance) and RAMP (Research for Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania).
Before CMU, Matt was Managing Director of Applied Technology for Michael Baker Corporation, an engineering and energy services firm. Matt managed Baker's technology division including Geographic Information System (GIS), software and web development, multimedia, virtual reality, visualization, Global Positioning System (GPS), mapping and surveying services. Before joining Baker, Matt was an Innovation Director for Redleaf Group, a Venture Capital/Operating Company focused on information security, supply chain and mobility solutions. While at Redleaf, Matt managed technical due diligence for seed-stage investments and coordinated relationships between Redleaf and their partner companies. Prior to Redleaf, Matt was CIO of GZA GeoEnvironmental Technologies, an infrastructure engineering firm, and operations manager for their Internet start-up that focused on web-technologies for health and safety and manufacturing metrics.
Matt is on the board of Larson Design Group (LDG), past Chairman of the Board for the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, current board member of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), current Vice President of the Sewickley Heights Gun Club (SHGC) and former member of the Information Sciences and Technology Advisory Board for the Pennsylvania State University Beaver. Matt is also former Vice President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association of Internet Professionals and former Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Baker Combined Charity of Pennsylvania.
A Learning Adventure in the Workshop 
I love doing installation jobs with hand tools precisely because it is so quiet. The other day a friend came over and watched me installing a bead curtain in my daughter’s doorway. This involved an eggbeater, pencil, and old-fashioned screw driver. He just shook his head and asked if I’d ever heard of power tools. But he missed the point that we could talk while I was doing it!
I agree Karl. I like the “quietude” of hand tools as much as anything else about them.
I enjoyed reading your blog too.