I cut one of these feet by hand while working at The Steppingstone Museum using a turning saw. I cut the other 3 by band saw using a 1/4″ skip tooth blade. One took 4 hours with visitor interruptions and burned a lot of calories in 95 degree heat. The other 3 took 15 minutes and came with musical accompaniment by The Grateful Dead in a cool shop with a Golden Retriever coaching me
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Feet rough cut and ready to carve
A case could be made for each as to which is the best tool for the job. Without a deadline and a yearning to understand how it used to be done you could say the turning saw is the best tool for the job. If you are on the clock then the band saw method is definitely the best tool. Ultimately I think you need to figure out what you personally enjoy about your woodworking and decide from there. I enjoy working with old tools to see how they work but I’m not a big fan of drudgery. Cutting one of these feet was enough for me to get my fix and continuing to do so with the turning saw would have become tedious. What I am really looking forward to is the carving aspect of these feet and I am anxious to get there quickly so in this case I think the band saw was really the best tool for the job.
What’s my point? Woodworking is subjective and we each derive our joy from it in different ways. The best tool for the job is the tool that makes you smile the most. ’nuff said!
Now who can guess which foot was cut by hand?
Shannon,
I’ll say the one on the left.
Regarding tools, I’m with you. Evaluate your needs (speed vs. results vs. process) and let the best tool win.
Personally, if I did it, then I’m proud of it regardless of what type of tool or method I used. That usually leads me to power tools, though I do appreciate hand tools when they are quicker or easier. As I have so little time to devote to woodworking, I’m rarely attracted to a classic method that takes longer. I have to aim for results.
Pragmatism?!? On the INTERNET?!?
Actually, I find it quite refreshing, especially when it comes to a subject as polarizing as galoots vs normites. Sweat versus electrons – does it really matter as long as you create sawdust?
And I guess #3.
I agree completely, Shannon. My criteria is quiet, mess and risk when choosing tools. Bandsaws rate pretty well on those criteria, nearly as well as hand tools. For me, speed is way down the list but it’s still on the list (grin).
I think the important thing in your post, though, is your last question. You can ask it because you can do it either way. Choices are good in woodworking.
Cheers — Larry “aka Woodnbits”
I’m going with #1. What do I win???
You had me at “Grateful Dead”… and I’m also going with #1…
Yes it is the first one of the left, I guess it isn’t really that hard when you look at the tool marks. Kari, you win a 120 lb Golden Retriever. He keeps laying down right behind my feet so I trip over him as I step away from the bench. I’m sure Alex and Rosie will get along fine.
hey Shannon!
yeah, picked the first one, but still looks good, consistent tight tool marks. Not bad.
I have this same feeling when ever I go to resaw… I love the idea of hand tools… and I start with the hand tools… but then I want to get it finished and move on.
Thanks for the post.
Dan, I actually had a hard time remembering which foot was cut by hand. The turning saw I was using leaves a clean cut and was so smooth that I think I actually emulated the consistency of a band saw. You can see the irregularities in the tightest part of the curve but beyond that it looks like my Woodslicer band saw blade.