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Ed Weber

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Old School or New School?
Apr 9^th, 2018 at 9:03am

Many new tools and technologies have been seeping into woodworking over the last several years. Some are welcomed and so are not. Many times this division falls along generational lines (how old you are) but not always. Sometimes it's the price of it, you might buy it if it didn't cost so much. There are many reason why and/or when technology or advancements in general enter our lives. Woodturning tools are no exception. Many of these tools have been well received and some are destined to collect dust.
So here are a few examples of what I mean. Do you like the new replaceable tip tools or do you prefer traditional tools that require sharpening? Do you like a "quick-change" jaws or do you favor screws? Do you prefer wooden handled tools or prefer a interchangeable metal handle?

I love my CBN wheels, I think they are a great advancement. I also prefer wooden handled tools.

QOTW
Do you prefer the older, the newer or a combination of the two

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Ralph Fahringer

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Re: Old School or New School?
Reply #1 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 9:56am

I think that as i am into this world at a late date in my life, My view is scewed (...and I HATE scewes!!!)more to whatever makes it work for me. I really have no preference one way or another to new or old technology.
...well, except that i got rid of an old Grizzley lathe as soon as i turned on a Robust at David Ellsworth's class!!
Couldn't afford it so I got a PM.

As soon as i read about the CBN wheels, I switched out the stone ones and never looked back.

I use both "regular" tools as well as the replacable tips ones, have handles that came with the tool, have the interchangeable metal ones and have made some of my own handles to set Cindy Drozda's tool inserts and tools.

Whatever works. My plans for either this year or next is to get one of those setups for monitor/laser guiding the tool tip for wall thickness. I'm a (edited out) for this stuff!! Smiley

A plus for me is that I do not have a wife nor have kids to waste my money so I can afford these toys! Grin

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« Last Edit: Apr 9^th, 2018 at 2:20pm by Ralph Fahringer »

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Glenn Jacobs

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Re: Old School or New School?
Reply #2 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 10:43am

For me it's cost. I learned long ago to buy the best tool for the job that I can justify. To justify, means how many times will I use it? Over and over= more $$. Only once=less $. I bought a lathe to turn things so I make my own handles. Can't justify buying handles I can make. I am getting into stabilizing wood. So this weekend, I explained to my wife why I can buy a toaster over for the shop. Looked around and got the largest for $$ I could justify. (Walmart, $40, 6 slice, Black & Decker). I will be using it quite a lot.

Glenn J.

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Woodworking all my life. Turning since ~93

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Ralph Fahringer WR Addict Offline I'm the "Burly" Man!! Posts: 1,629 Ellsworth Maine USA Gender: PM3520b	Re: Old School or New School? Reply #3 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 2:22pm Can't even remember what word i used that would get edited out!!
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Tony Rozendaal

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Re: Old School or New School?
Reply #4 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 2:59pm

Combination of the two for me - I like the modern steel in Thompson tools and sharpen them on a CBN wheel but I put wooden handles on them. I can't get excited about the modular handles although I confess I have never turned with one. I have never owned a carbide tool but am beginning to consider a Hunter tool (or two) for hollowing.

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Turnin' and learnin'

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Allan Miller Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 90 Eclectic Alabama USA Laguna Revo 18x36	Re: Old School or New School? Reply #5 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 7:05pm Best tool for the job, probably why my carbide tools have begun operating as dust collectors on the back rack. To me the “smarter” the tool gets the more issues can arise.
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Old School or New School? Reply #6 - Apr 9^th, 2018 at 7:24pm You guys didn't have to answer about handles, that was just an example
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Ron Carrabotta Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 450 Dawsonville, ga Georgia USA Gender: Jet 1014 VS Jet 1642 -2EVS Lindow -White Rose Engine	Re: Old School or New School? Reply #7 - Apr 10^th, 2018 at 11:33am I'm pretty much in line with Ralph, whatever works best, for me. Learned to turn in the late 60's and all we had were carbon steel tools. After a 40 yr hiatus, when I got back into it, I tried a little bit of everything and now I use a little bit of everything.
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Ronald Plumley

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Re: Old School or New School?
Reply #8 - Apr 10^th, 2018 at 5:13pm

It seems to me that when new tools are introduced, they're, more often than not, biased towards making something easier or simpler, so they have had the design balance changed towards whatever that something is... Keeping this in mind, I have to put myself in the "Used what works" camp. I have tools that are good all-arounders and I have some that are not good for much of anything... except for that ONE THING.

As for tool handles, the biggest disappointment for me thus far has been the oneway interchangeable handle I bought a couple of years ago. The tool rotates in the plastic sheathing making it next to impossible to keep the hollowing tool for which it was purchased in the right orientation for hollowing.

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Jenny Trice WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 553 St. Paul, MN Minnesota USA Gender:	Re: Old School or New School? Reply #9 - Apr 12^th, 2018 at 7:06pm Interesting question. Probably a mix. Mostly old school, especially when it comes to electronics. I do woodworking to get away from the computer but it is nice to have so much information at my fingertips when learning or preparing to do something new. I don't want the electronics in the shop though.
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Glenn Roberts

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Re: Old School or New School?
Reply #10 - Apr 15^th, 2018 at 7:54am

Ralph, made the Alan Zenreich camera setup with a cctv camera and a 7" monitor. Cost was under 30 bucks if I remember. I don't use it because I don't hollow deep forms yet. Built it to see how it works -- great! I might start using it though, because my bowl depth perception could use improvement! My "O" ring dowel setup works, but not good enough.

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Can't find his original video, but this will do.

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« Last Edit: Apr 15^th, 2018 at 7:55am by Glenn Roberts »

The older I get, the better I was........

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