Patrick Leach wrote:
>So, when did it dawn on you that you were given to fits of
>handtool fundamentalism?

[Pavel]
I'm not sure I have. I've always liked making things with my hands.

When I was a kid I used to make those intricate balsa models. I made a 
1/10th scale Bruwster Buffalo that took a year. Many of the parts I custom 
designed and cut. I also did a lot of lapidary as a kid. Cabbing and 
faciting. I also did a little stone carving. It was very 'quite' to make 
things form under my hand.

Then in November of '78 my right arm was off my body for about 30 minutes. 
It was a useless chunk for 2 years. Once it got back to working (My left is 
useless, I can't hardly eat with it.) I had to give up model making and 
lapidary as I didn't have the fine control anymore.

In '80 I joined the SCA and it opened a new field for me. Armoring. I soon 
collected anvils and anvil stakes enough to make pretty good armor. If I 
couldn't find the right too I would have it made. Once more things were 
forming under my hands. And my soul was 'quieted' again.

Then I got a house and started to do repairs around it. I have a large shop 
in the basement. Half for armoring and metal work, half for 'repair' level 
wood working. I got all the tailed demons that I needed. I built stairs and 
bookshelves, repaired floors and built walls. None of this was a good as 
armoring because it was to crude.

In 87 I cut my right hand mostly off (back of wrist and half of joint were 
not severed. All nerves and arteries cut. all but one vein cut.) When it 
was put back on and healed I only can feel my index finger and thumb. Still 
can't use my left though. :) Armoring became a major pain as with only one 
vein to drain the hand, it swells with any extended pounding.

Well, I thought, I have all these woodworking tools, surely I can make 
boxes. I made 4-5 crude boxes and gave them away. They felt good to make 
and didn't hurt me too much. Still wasn't as good as forming the delicate 
things I used too, but not bad.

Then one day, a friend of mine who does lots of woodwork in the SCA came to 
visit. He uses only hand tools. he sharpened my one old plane for me and 
showed me how to use it. It was the feeling I needed to get the 'quite'. I 
have collected a few planes and scrappers with him showing me how to use 
them. I will learn carving this winter. I still use my tailed demons to do 
quick jobs, and never see myself giving them completely up, but like the 
feel of the wood shaping under my hands.

Pavel