Old fashioned wood planes verses router

Nov 23, 2017 21 Replies

My reference point is journeymen 18th century tradesman... my former co-workers. ;~) None of their work was crude. I wasn?t even considering the rough work that may have been done by non-professionals at home...

I recall a visit from master engraver Lynton McKenzie. This guy was world renowned (now deceased) and I was dumb struck when he praised Wallace Gusler's engraving skill. This because Wallace used what Lynton described as a sharpened nail to do his work whereas he himself used the finest hand engraving tools and fixtures available. The notion that tools were a limitation to quality and fineness quickly faded away as I watched journeymen work and saw the fineness of their work. I learned a lot from them...

One of Wallace's guns... hand forged and filed barrel, lock, etc.

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Stunningly beautiful. In Paris I went through the armory wherein were many weapons of every type available. Including the suits of armor. It was all amazing, from the prototype canons (working) to the full sized and no lathes to turn them. The engravings, etc.

No, I don't shun any of them for any reason, wood workers, etc. The speed with which they could do what they could shows me their experienced skill and craftsmanship.

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