[Drachenfire]

As woodworkers, I think we all sometimes dream of having the Norm Abrams shop with its plethora of specialty (and often expensive) tools.

This video can serve to remind us of what can be accomplished with basic woodworking tools and a little ingenuity.

 

[huesmann]

Impressive. Not all of us have long pieces of square tube stock though! :tongue_smilie:

IDK why she was using a jigsaw to cut those boards though—she obviously has a circular saw!

 

[XSleeper]

If I could have a do over, I'd want to marry an Asian chick. LOL

 

[lenaitch]

Good quality woodwork with hand tools requires quality tools and skill. I lack the skill, so use power tools to compensate (ok, partially compensate - I'm still not all that good). The one problem with power tools is they allow you to make big mistakes really quickly.

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

Try doing woodwork sometime with only hand tool, no electric power tools. You will actually produce higher quality products. You can actually build an entire house structure, roof and walls with only a handsaw and a hammer, pencil and string are a given. It will only take you longer. But practice it sometime on something small. Just to get a feel for how things used to be.

 

[Bud9051]

The introduction of power tools does not mean the quality has to be thrown out the window, one can be just a meticulous with power as they could be without. Much of the difference is the time it takes to complete a job, try ripping some 16' 2x6 into 2 or 3 narrower boards with a hand saw. First you will want a ripping saw rather than a crosscut but then you will need arms like Lou Ferrigno.

I know I'm getting old, but power tools are keeping me busy and productive without the body builder arms.

Bud

 

[de-nagorg]

Impressive. Not all of us have long pieces of square tube stock though! :tongue_smilie:

IDK why she was using a jigsaw to cut those boards though—she obviously has a circular saw!

I have a commercial made aluminum straight edge guide for that, so don't need square tube.

Did anyone else see that she was anchoring it with plastic inserts into drywall?

Not in my build would you.

Those things are not secure.

She hammers like a girl. :vs_laugh:


ED

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Impressive.

IDK why she was using a jigsaw to cut those boards though—she obviously has a circular saw!

Because that's tool she felt comfortable using for those cuts.

 

[Drachenfire]

Impressive. Not all of us have long pieces of square tube stock though! :tongue_smilie:

IDK why she was using a jigsaw to cut those boards though—she obviously has a circular saw!

Perhaps she knows someone in metal work who scored it for her.

As for the jigsaw, I can see why she used it. Those were small pieces she was cutting. Being a small framed woman, doing it with the circular saw was probably unwieldy for her. She was being safe which I applaud.

Did anyone else see that she was anchoring it with plastic inserts into drywall?

ED

Considering my penchant for overbuilding, I too would have likely secured the wardrobe into wall studs.

However, she did anchor both the back and side. Since the overwhelming majority of the load on the wardrobe would be pressing down, I think the anchors are just a precaution against possible tipping. It is the same principle as anchoring a freestanding bookshelf to a wall.

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

Electric power tools are not making people create better quality products. It is allowing most to create products that would have never had the courage to try with simple hand tools. The more dangerous the tool, the more inexperienced folk want to use the the tool. Hand someone a cross cut hand saw today, or a hammer and nail. See who can use them and who cannot.

How long does the average new house last before it has issues? Pretty much immediately if you look at the punch list. There is a list of items that are wrong or need attention before it is completed being built. That is just sad. The builders are all proud when they can complete an average house in say 120 days. There is even a tv show that has them building a house in less than 100 days. I would not want it. I cannot imagine they things that were misses, skipped and just over looked because someone did not want to pay for the labor.

This house I am sitting in right now and a couple others that I own, took more than 5 years each to build. I am lucky to have the original blueprints that were used. This house is not the oldest or the youngest that I own. This house is 130 years old this year. There were no inspections and delays for permits. The men who built the structures then knew exactly what could be done and what could not. No one of that time tried to cut corners, cheat the time or skip any step. They ensured that every mortise and tenon that was cut, fit perfectly. If it didn't they worked until it did. Craftsmen took great pride in their work. Everything was built with all natural products. They did not care how long it to complete. They wanted to ensure that the home owner knew they did top quality work. That is why these houses and other like them are still standing today. No cheap products either. When electric powered hand tools came along, the builders began cheating. "Oh that cut is straight enough", or "it does not have to be perfect, the sheetrock will hide it". That is just plain sad and lazy of folks.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

She hammers like a girl. :vs_laugh:


ED

I wanna watch you compete with her in a hammer strikes / minute contest.:vs_laugh:






EDIT: EDIT:

 

[de-nagorg]

I wanna watch you compete with her in a hammer strikes / minute contest.:vs_laugh:






EDIT: EDIT:

But I don't need 10 strikes to set a 2" nail.

2 at the most.:wink2:

I have been wondering, what is with the Double EDIT, at the end of your posts lately?


ED

 

[Drachenfire]

Electric power tools are not making people create better quality products. It is allowing most to create products that would have never had the courage to try with simple hand tools. The more dangerous the tool, the more inexperienced folk want to use the the tool. Hand someone a cross cut hand saw today, or a hammer and nail. See who can use them and who cannot.

I partially blame this on television shows and YouTube videos that feature these tools. On YouTube for instance, a person starts out doing videos with whatever tools they have on hand which most DIYers can relate to.

As their popularity grows, they get sponsors who often donate fancy new tools, which they now have to feature and promote if they want to keep those sponsors. A number of channels I watched went this route (with the exception of Paul Sellers who specializes in hand tooled projects).

We could probably do a whole topic on YouTube woodworkers who “lost the faith”.

This house I am sitting in right now and a couple others that I own, took more than 5 years each to build.

While I agree, today’s houses are often built as fast and cheaply as possible and it often shows, I do not think when a house was built or the length of time it takes to build it necessarily dictates its quality.

I have seen good and bad construction on new and old houses.

The trick to getting a good house built is often just vigilance.
Musicians have a saying. When you make it big, the first thing you do is hire a good lawyer. Then you hire a second lawyer to keep an eye on the first lawyer.

A similar adage applies to having a house built. First, you hire a reputable contractor, then like the second lawyer, you keep an eye on that contractor. This means educating yourself, visiting the site as often as possible and not being afraid to ask questions about the quality of the work or how it is being performed.

Yes, it is a pain but that vigilance will save you from more severe and costly pain down the road.

 

[ron45]

This is a great example of needing a bigger hammer.

And since she has a building channel she needs to start building things right. No pass just because she is a girl.

With that said, I think she is a pretty young woman with a great potential.