Woodworking with Hand Tools
Author Roy Underhill takes us from forest to furniture with historical woodworking techniques.
Oct. 16, 2008
By Troy Griepentrog
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Roy Underhill is an expert in historical woodworking methods.
RACHELL UNDERHILL
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More than 25 years ago, Roy Underhill adopted the word “woodwright” when he developed the concept for his PBS television show, “The Woodwright’s Shop.” Since then, he’s been known as the woodwright — the expert on historical woodworking methods and proponent of hand tools.
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How did you become interested in woodworking?
Just like all kids, I enjoyed making things. My sister worked at the Smithsonian when she was in college; early America was her area. That might have been a big influence.
But a lot of it was being a product of the times — getting out of college in the early ’70s during a deep recession and time of unemployment. This was the time of a strong back-to-the-land movement. That grew into the beginning of environmental awareness, and I jumped into that wave with both feet.
What’s your philosophy on using power tools?
I learned woodworking using power tools and later realized the errors of my ways, like the song says, “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” Nobody understood that our actions had the kinds of consequences that we’re seeing now. Working with hand tools is a much more eco-friendly way to work. It’s a deep part of the human experience, working with that blade and the wood. It’s much like when Obi-Wan Kenobi gave Luke Skywalker the lightsaber and said, “This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” The ancestral simplicity of the blade is a great thing.
If you’re not a professional and this is something you’re doing for yourself, it might as well be an ethical endeavor. I think working with hand tools is the ethical choice for those who are not trying to make a living in woodworking. And if you are manufacturing items for sale, maybe you need a water wheel or some alternate source of power. The real human experience is the process, not the product.
What would say to encourage readers to try working with hand tools?
When you make stuff with your hands and the wood and iron and steel, you’re connecting with something deep in the human experience.
If people are accustomed to using modern tools and want to try a project with hand tools, what advice would you give them?
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