David/John...."Is est praecessi , non processus"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
David DeCristoforo
Some of the replies to this have given me a good chuckle. But I end up thinking that this is like the age old argument about whether or not using power tools is "cheating" as opposed to doing everything "by hand". My answer to that has always been "Go out into the woods with nothing but your hands. Find a tree. Make something out of it. No, you can't use that rock. That would be cheating." What a ludicrous idea. There is no such thing as "cheating". You use what works for you. I've seen people do amazing things with a bowl gouge. But I've also seen some awesome pieces that were never touched with one. It makes absolutely no difference. If it works for you... do it. Cut it... scrape it... grind it... beat it out with a sledge hammer. Who cares? If someone wants to enjoy mastery of a particular tool or technique, fine. The process is paramount to many. But just as many are driven by the need to manifest the vision of the object and are unconcerned with the details of how that is accomplished.
Translated from Latin..."It is the results, not the process" !!
I love online translation tools. But regardless, David so eloquently put it how we've all been saying. Do what works.... er, correction...
" operor quis officina " :D
The ULTIMATE cheater's tool
So, if the scraper can be considered a cheater's tool, does that make the myriad of carbide cutter tools that are flooding the turning market the ultimate cheater's tool. After all, they promote the ease of turning without the complications of learning to ride the bevel, etc. AND you don't even need to learn to sharpen them. Rotate the cutter until it's dull all around, throw it a way and put a new one on. I could free up quite a bit of workbench space by getting rid of my grinder, let alone the time it free's up by not sharpening.
I don't really think any tool can be considered cheating. But I also think that regardless of what innovative tools come along, there will always be a need for the good old gouges and skews and the skills necessary to use them.
real men/women don't use scrapers, gouges or skews.
I consider anything more than a foot pedal driven lathe is a cheater's tool. Scrapers, gouges and skews are not for real men or real women for that matter !!! I know that when it's about 100 degrees outside, any motor driven tool such as a chainsaw, mower or weedwacker is only for sissies. Inside the house, real men and women don't use air conditioners but rather hand fans.
Now you all excuse me but my wife was cooking a father's day meal -over an open fire of course- and the kitchen drapes are ablaze.
Now in all honesty some of my friends consider sarcasm and facetiousness a cheater's verbal tool
Happy Father's Day ,
Hilel.