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Hi Filippo,
I think you missed my point, though perhaps it wasn't well stated. Like eating a large number of hot dogs in a short amount of time, making ultra fine shavings with a hand plane neglects the work in favor of the artifact.


"Well, sort of. We could continue that argument and say that factories make guitars so there is no reason to know how to make one. And certainly CNC obliviates the need to know how to, say, carve a neck. Yes I know you didn't take the conversation that far - those are my words - but it is to make a point."
How fine a shaving can you take off of a straw man?

I've built a number of bamboo fly rods and hand planing is the essence of the craft. One needs to be able to plane six identical 60 degree splines from 3-4 feet long. It must be in a single long stroke and even though you use a steel planing form its easy to veer off. After experimenting I've found 1/2 a thousandth is fine to get invisible joints. Anything more and there is a visible seam. Typically I have to sharpen the blade every 2-3 strokes to get a single shaving the full length and am not sure I could get thinner on bamboo. After visiting Japan for over 6 weeks numerous times, studying traditional architecture, knife making and bonsai I feel that its the spirit of the competition thats more important than the results. Follow the path grasshopper!
Tim

I've built a number of bamboo fly rods and hand planing is the essence of the craft. One needs to be able to plane six identical 60 degree splines from 3-4 feet long. It must be in a single long stroke and even though you use a steel planing form its easy to veer off. After experimenting I've found 1/2 a thousandth is fine to get invisible joints. Anything more and there is a visible seam. Typically I have to sharpen the blade every 2-3 strokes to get a single shaving the full length and am not sure I could get thinner on bamboo. After visiting Japan for over 6 weeks numerous times, studying traditional architecture, knife making and bonsai I feel that its the spirit of the competition thats more important than the results. Follow the path grasshopper!
Tim

holy smokes! 9µ = 0.00035433in

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Pat

I happened to notice Brian Newell's name pop up at the end of that video. I know he studied and lived in Japan for a while and it sure didn't hurt his woodworking chops.

http://briannewellfurniture.com/

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May be so... may be not so...

http://www.solomonrossfurniture.com/