My apprentice asked why I still use hand planes for final passes

I was showing my 19 year old apprentice how to tune up a cabinet door last Tuesday and he asked me straight up why I bother with a hand plane when we have a drum sander right there. I told him it's about feel and control, but he just looked at me like I was speaking ancient Greek. Then when the sander burned a spot on a test piece, I handed him the plane and let him try. He got this look on his face when he felt the blade catch just right and the shaving came out paper thin. Now every time we hit final pass he asks if he can use the plane instead. Have any of you had a young carpenter question your old school methods and then come around?

2 comments

2 Comments

felixw6818d agoMost Upvoted

I never got it either till I felt a plane cut clean.

rayy8318d ago

So which kind of plane was it @felixw68 that finally made it click?