I'm not good enough yet!

[coolford]

Needed a cabinet at the youth center to hold a microwave and a coffee pot.  Thought I would try to make all the trim using Stanley planes.  Used a No. 4, a 5 and a 220.  I'm not showing the results of that attempt.  Gave up and used my edge and thickness planers to make the trim and router to make the tracks for the sliding doors.  All the oak trim came from some trees I harvested on the ranch and had cut on a band saw mill.  Here is the finished project.

[Bill Houghton]

This guy goes to a conference in New York City, and arranges to hold over for a couple of days to see the sights.  It's a lot bigger place than his town in Nebraska, but he's determined.  Still, on the last day, he gets kind of turned around, so he stops and asks a passing local, "Listen, I'm a little confused.  Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"

The guy stops, looks him up and down, and says, "Practice, man, practice!"

Hand tools call for practice, but you can do a lot with them.  Maybe don't wait to use them until you're under a deadline.

Nice little cabinet.

[Papaw]

I say GREAT JOB !
Use the tools and the expertise you have and enjoy the results.

[lptools]

Hello, Coolford. Nicely done!!! Regards, Lou

[papadan]

I got into woodworking in 2,000, I started with power tools and stayed with them. I love my hand tools hanging on the wall just fine. It's a hobby, not a job, I don't want to work so hard at it. LOL

[Jim C.]

Hey coolford,

First off, great job on the cabinet!  Well done!  As for using hand tools, particularly planes, well, it takes practice.  I certainly hope that you'll give them another try, and after that, another try.  Every time I use a plane, I get better at it and learn something.  Discovering something that leads to nice results can breed inspiration and more confidence.  Sometimes just a subtle change in technique can make the difference between satisfaction and frustration.  All I can do is urge you to keep trying. 

Jim C.

[Jimmy Joiner]

Gday Coolford, lovely job on your cabinet.
Keep practicing with Hand tools in your downtime though. The satisfaction will quadruple!
Stay Cool.
Jimmy

[johnsironsanctuary]

I have tried, off and on, to make moldings with my Stanley 45 Molding Plane. To date, I am in the failure mode, but not giving up.  Hand in there, Coolford, it will happen.