Saving Money on Sandpaper

[mouppe]

I know I have a setup in the bedroom just in case the wife ever decides to turn over.   [wink] [smile]

Neill

Neill, just wheel in the CT with the boom arm and hang the camera from it.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Thanks for the video Richard.  BTW, nice bench - did you make it yourself?

 

[RONWEN]

Both boards are smooth to the touch- as smooth as you could ever hope for. However, the planed board is polished. It actually reflects the light. The sanded board is just as smooth, but is not reflective. Timewise, no comparison. Hand planing requires a long time when you factor in honing the plane blade. That's why it is good for small surfaces, or one-off pieces of fine furniture. But if I have to cover a large area? Rotex every time.

As it happens, my plane blade needed sharpening in the video. When it is sharp, the plane slices across the board like butter. Six or seven passes on a board of that size and you are done. Thirty seconds max and on to the finish.

I need both tools at different times. But for what I do as a hobbyist, I am increasingly reaching for the hand plane and discovering more uses for it. I love its feel, the sound of it, its weight and the its precision. Being able to control it to within thousands of an inch. No one in their right mind would ignore power tools, and Festool make the best ones around, but the hand tools certainly earn their place in the workshop.

Richard.

Nice job Richard!  For an even better finish hand scrapers could be used.  I love my Festools but I find it very relaxing and satisfying to finish the work without electricity.

 

[zapdafish]

thanks for the vid, I also prefer having shavings underfoot than sawdust underfoot, but then with a rotex and dust collection you dont get that.

 

[mouppe]

Yes, I made the bench last year. It was the first piece of furniture that I made to a design I found somewhere on the web. I learned a lot doing it, but I would make it quite differently now.

It has a little groove from a TS55 running across the other end.  [embarassed]

Ron, I use scrapers sometimes when I want to tackle a tiny blemish or small area, but they do not polish like a hand plane. At least not with me. I just never got good results with them. If the plane is sharp enough I go straight to the finish after planing. But there is no one way- just the way that works best for you.

Richard.

 

[RONWEN]

I'm still just learning it all but I seem to do better with the scrapers at getting that soft smooth sheen (than my planes).  Again, I've got lots to learn.

 

[Pyotr]

I have that extremely sleek Veritax dx60 block plane that is simply marvelous, and there is just no greater pleasure (in woodworking) IMO than using a handplane.

The way it glides over wood, leaving a smooth surface. Paper-thin shavings you can almost see through. No to mention the peace and quiet of it all...

While I prefer the look and feel of planed fresh wood over sanded (although I never used finer than P400), I don't think there is much difference once you stain (I think, "beitsen" in Dutch), the wood and sand the result with P400. And a Rotex is faster and you don't risk tearout.

Ontopic: I can confirm that the RTS400 works better with abrasives attached than without  [big grin]

 

[mouppe]

THAT is a nice block plane. I have the standard veritas block plane which I keep with me all the time. I largely agree with you about the stain, but if you use shellac or a varnish, you can still perceive a difference between sanding and a planed finish.

Richard.