The main advantage of hand tools over power tools is precision. Fine carving and intricate details are easier to do with hand tools. In addition, you can use hand tools anytime and anywhere, since they don't require a power supply to work. Hand tools are also lighter, quieter, safer and easier to transport.
The use of hand tools is common in all industries. These tools are complementary to electrical tools that make it easier for the user to work. Hand tools have a long history in our civilization. We've developed hand tools to help us make difficult (or sometimes impossible) tasks easier.
To better understand the hand tool industry, it's a good idea to take a look at its history. In the following paragraphs, I have compiled a brief history of how hand tools developed over the years. The main reason I have to use hand tools is that they are easier to maintain, especially their cutting edges. Sharpening them is within the capabilities of any workshop, while most power tool cutters need to be shipped or, at least, replaced more frequently.
Plus, it's more enjoyable and it's a better workout, and I feel like I have more control over the final result. And yes, it's very relaxing and peaceful. Use isolated tools when needed Many jobs require the use of isolated tools. Hand tools are often used in combination with locking tag systems to ensure that circuits are not active.
Most maintenance technicians say they never work “hot”. But what happens when a computer is in the circuit and cannot be turned off, or when medical equipment is connected to the circuit? You never know when a situation will arise where isolated tools are required. Every professional needs to have some isolated tools in their collection. Another advantage of acquiring at least a basic command of hand tools is that it improves the use of power tools.
For example, operating a motor plane without ever having worked with a manual plane is like stumbling in the dark. Why does the tool cut here but not there? The reason is the slight variations in elevation that make brushing a hollow surface completely different from brushing a hump. You can't see these variations, but with a manual plane you can feel them. For skillful brushing, you must also understand the required pressure change from bow to stern as the tool enters and leaves the construction site.
These epiphanies are better understood as tactile experiences than just by sight. Similarly, when a manual airplane becomes opaque, you experience fatigue and decreased performance throughout your body. In the knowledgeable craftsman, this generates a kind of empathy for his power tools. He's motivated to have replacement blades and blades on hand so he can change blunt tools before the motors burn out, the bearings break down and everyone in the workplace goes deaf.
The return of some classic hand tools: Like an old leather tool belt or a worn pair of Carharts with double knees, classic hand tools have a certain romance. Even in modern carpentry practices around the world, techniques and hand tools vary from place to place. Rotary planers and milling machines also produce fewer tears than a manual planer, since they accept small chunks rather than long chips. For me, it's a combination of both.
The machines allow me to spend more time on hand tools, to the Dove glue, to the manual form with rasps, to the milling plane for hinge cuts and so on, radio shaving, etc. This reason does not only refer to the use of hand tools, it is also about encouraging the study of hand tools. Another point worth considering is to examine each hand tool before using it to see if there is any damage. Many Western cabinetmakers are familiar with Japanese handplanes, but go further and research their history or connect online with a traditional user.
Improper or strenuous use of hand tools for a long period of time can cause tendonitis and carpal tunnel development. Working with hand tools, even without a clear project objective, is like drawing figures for a painter or scales for a musician. Hand tools give furniture a look and feel that demonstrates the craftsman's hand and the actions of the tools, which are manifested as more than just precision and precision. Hand tools need blades or teeth with a sharp bevel to minimize power requirements, but power tools have the strength to push blades and saw teeth at more obtuse angles.
But it's interesting to know that, in addition to power tools, metallurgists need a handful of hand tools to properly shape metal. Cultures around the world have hand tools, carpentry stories and unique techniques to learn from. . .
