Simple Living

As a woodworker myself, I can sympathise. My personal take is, if it can be done with hand tools but it takes more time, I'm willing to take the extra time. I love hand tools!

I'm not into woodworking but I believe you reach a point between is just one job and the point you have to do it constantly. If you see yourself doing it over and over and a tool will save you so much time I see the value in that tool.

Going down the woodworking rabbit hole led me to discover Mortise and Tenon magazine, which is focused on using hand tools. One of their main points is that when using a table saw for instance, we have to incorporate all these extra tools to keep us safe from the machine. (Hearing protection, push sticks and other jigs) If you use a hand saw, none of these extras matter and the effective use is completely in your hands.

It does require more skill building but for me that’s the fun part.

Also consider that with a properly adjusted hand plane or card scraper, you can completely replace sand paper. So on one hand you have a device that only needs occasional sharpening but on the other hand you are constantly rebuying supplies.

This is a great question. My approach, when I think I need to buy a new tool, is to give it a year (if possible). Watch pricing, research quality/value and pricing cycle for the best possible price. Throughout that year I track how often I would’ve used said tool as well. The year-long evaluation also gives me time to save money for the purchase.

As a self-professed tool addict, this system has slowed my impulse purchases down to near zero. By the end of the evaluation year it is usually clear whether I really needed the new tool or not. A little over 50% of the time I don’t make the purchase.

I can't make anything, with tools or without tools. But I think if the tools allow you to create something useful, then I don't see a problem. Gifting someone something that you've made with your own hands is an amazing feeling, both for the giver and the receiver. If you want to balance out the amount of tools, make sure that your life is tidy and minimalist in other areas. Just my two cents.