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The week my dad's old chisel set beat my new power tools on a built-in shelf job
Last month I built a built-in bookshelf for my sister's place in Boise and it turned into the strangest week of woodworking I've had. Monday through Wednesday I had a rough go with my router, tore out a chunk of oak on a shelf edge and spent $38 on a replacement board because I rushed the grain direction. Thursday I got fed up and dug out my dad's old Marples chisels, the ones with the taped handles he left me. I cut the last three shelf dados by hand in about 90 minutes and every one fit snug on the first try, no tear out at all. My neighbor who does finish work came by Saturday and looked at the joints for a while before he said 'that's cleaner than what most guys get with a jig.' Made me think about how quick I am to grab a power tool now instead of just slowing down with a sharp edge. Now I'm second guessing whether I should even bother saving for that router lift I've had my eye on. Anyone here made the switch back to hand tools for joinery, or do you just keep both around depending on the day?
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