Compliments and thanks to The Essential Craftsman for introducing me to your channel. Years ago, my father taught me how to spot the little details that set a craftsman apart from an average man. Seeing your attention to the smallest of details, like clocking screws or nuts shows that every detail matter to the craftsman. Our culture needs more men like you. Or at least more mentors like you.
Good evening from Maine, Dave. Thanks again for sharing your project with us. To all the armchair woodworkers out there, the right tool for the job is the one you are most comfortable with that gets the job done, and the most versatile craftsmen are those who are the least limited by their tools. One problem with routers is that the profile they cut is the same from one end to the other, but sometimes the radius or profile needs to vary along the edge of the piece. For that, you can't beat a rasp. A rasp will also work like a plane to remove high spots, even on a bull-nosed edge, and the roughness of the cut can diminished by simply making lighter passes, and you have more of a "feel" for what you are doing. Besides all that, power tools are noisier and make a bigger mess. I know - I do it every day! I once had a shop teacher who challenged his students to find [safe] alternative ways to get their projects done, because there was only one of each power tool in the shop. We watched each other and we all learned more than we otherwise would have.
The first farrier I knew found out I was a woodworker and gave me one of his old "dull" rasps to use. Over 20 years later I'm still using that rasp. In between I learned to trim my own horses hooves to save money. I am currently without horses (hopefully temporary) but still have several of the rasps and they get used when appropriate. Also, anyone who doubts that a rasp is a woodworker's tool should look up the name "Auriou." Keep up the good work and the great content - I know I'm going to continue watching.
You know I love you a little more each time I watch you Mr. Engels, but not in a romantic way. Just the things you do remind me of things my late grand father use to do. And considering my grand father built houses, barns, and wagons before he went to driving a model T, and used a rasp I would say he was a real wood worker. My dad also used a rasp to do wood working, as do I and sometimes I even used a rasp to do autobody work. And I have built barn's, headboards and lots of stuff with wood. A rasp is a good tool to have, even if it is a hoof rasp as there are some seriously hard woods out there that are hard to work with without a rasp. Iron Wood comes to mind.
Don't worry about the little things. When it's done...….. it's done. All good things come to he who waits. It will be perfect or you won't present it. That's just the way you are, and I love that ethic.
Always enjoy watching you work both in wood and metal. Turning a piece of flat stock into a multi curved one using fire and hammers blows my mind. Don't listen to what people say about you using tools for other than their intended use, use what works for you when you need it.
After passing 80, I was reminded this morning watching your video, of when we had horses and I did my own ferrier work. I got up many mornings stiff and sore but that happened when I was soldering as well. You bring a much needed joy to my heart watching these up lifting videos. Thank you.
You sir should never (not that I would ever tell you what you can or cannot do!) apologize for either your work ethic or the amount of work you accomplish! You go well above and beyond most!
A woodworker uses every tool and skill in his armoury, yes there are times I have seen you do a process where I would choose a different tool, that does not make your choice wrong, it just means we are different, getting the job done to specification is the art and you sir are a true woodworking artist, your attention to detail is truly astounding, rasp on sir, rasp on.
A copel of things Mr. Dave, I enjoy your use of all your OLD tools and wish they could talk so that they could tell us all the things that they have helped build. This tool is for this and that tool is for that, and what is NEET is that you have them all. Next is how much do one of your sanding belts cost on that BIG belt sander ?? I TOTALY enjoy watching you work and I learn just what they (the old tools )are and HOW they are used.! And by the way, when you turn around to fast some times and it feels that you BUMPED in to something.... that's just ME helping you out making sure that you are doing it right. Thanks as always Mr. Dave.
Dear old world Artisan, My apprenticeship was served under a fourth generation Boston cabinet maker turned antique restorer. Even in his grandfather's shop; he, his Dad and Grandpa considered themselves apprentices. The man and his daughter that trained me would never call themselves master craftsmen. At 55 I am and forever will be an apprentice wood worker because there is always more to learn. As for your use of the rasp, it comforts me because I too use one for many fitment and finish shaping tasks. I enjoy watching such an accomplished craftsman working, Thank You. Enjoy Montana until I can return, you are in my prayers Hoka Hey
No better feeling than finding exactly what you need in the scrap pile! One it saves you money and two it justifies saving it in the first place. Too bad my scrap pile is too small, I usually go raid my fathers, but I always replace pound for pound out of guilt. Make sure that trip he makes to scrap yard every few years evens out.
Inspired entirely by your wonderful forging, Dave, I have just made and installed some forged curtain brackets.....my first ever attempt at the skill. I made my own forge out of a halved compressor tank, a piece of scaffold tube as an air duct, and a hot-air electric paint stripper "gun" as the bellows (well, air source). I did it all at a friends place because they have a small farriers anvil concreted into the ground as a door stop for a shed. I managed to inadvertently weld a couple of the pieces together by placing them too close to each other in the forge, and I burnt right through another, but I made a pretty decent job of the 7 I needed........and it was brilliant fun. Far and away the most difficult thing was making them the right shape, and the same shape. With a 1/2" radius 180 degree curve, and two 90 degree bends pretty close to each other, and no way of marking on the metal, well let's just say it was a bit of a challenge. Plus the farriers anvil doesn't have a flat surface or a right angle anywhere. To anyone tempted to have a go........give it a try. It's great fun, and quite addictive, but beware that Dave A/ has all the kit, and B/ many years of experience. It's a fairly long road to become as good as he is. I'm now on the look-out for an anvil.
Before power tools took over. Rasps were and to hand woodworkers still are a fantastic tool for removing wood. The quality of the work and time were the standard of a quality a wood worker. I have worked wood for 50 years seen all kinds of wood workers. You are in the high end of the category. So you are real wood worker. In fact I watch a lot because of your choice and skill in their use.
Hello Dave You are a real woodworker you are a blacksmith you are all to to do a very fine job with a Passion that is remarkebel. And if you use a hoofrasp for woodwork it is absolute okay the Produkt and the Final finish counts I like your Art and the way you do it Thank you alot for the Videos and all your work Greetings from Germany Good bless yours Frank
Ha! I bought my rasp this past summer, being very impressed with how well it worked for you. My Lie Nielsen pocket plane will still get the majority of jobs but I can see where that rasp would be the bees knees at times. Real woodworkers are workers - use what works to get the job done, quickly, safely and accurately. Without costing an arm and a leg. Some of the greatest ideas come when professions/hobbies cross pollinate so this works.
Nothin wrong with using a Rasp! They work just fine! you are a skilled Woodworker and Craftsman for sure! I am sure the wagon was made originally with what ever tools were available! Nice work!
🎶🎶Engels Jingle....🎶With an anvil ringing while steel is bending is music to the ears in a holiday..🎶A customer all dressed in red came asking if Dave does repairs on Sleighs..🎶It put him back a bit but we really didn't mind because especially this year no toy for should get left behind...☃ Merry Christmas Dave☃
Even though I'm here in the east we have our share of coaches, wagons, buggy's, and I can't count the number of times I've walked by and never paid that much attention to the iron work involved in that buggy etc the time and effort taken by the wagon/buggy maker was phenomenal and unfortunately went unnoticed by average person. I fear all craftsmen in time were privy to the same fate. For that i will take it upon my self to apologize to all of them for our ignorance. and give praise where its due. Thank you for taking the time to share and awaken our ignorance Dave. God Bless and a Belated Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year.
Great job Dave. It’s looking great. No need to eat crow unless you’re stranded and starving! Then a lot of honey mustard will help 😉. You’re doing a fantastic job on this project. I will be here watching for the finish whenever that may be no worry no hurry. Keep up the good work and videos please. Fred.👍👍👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That was my routine for many years. Start a fire with paper and wood. Bring in yesterday's coke and then turn your coal into coke. A beautiful timeless process.
Taking the time to make these videos (your close ups and slo-motion are great!) and share them is why the project may seem lengthy to you, but is just right for us! Thank-you and good luck and good health!
I say all those who say that your not a woodworker since you use rasp are either ignorant or unskilled wood workers. I've been working with wood for more years than I wish to remember, but a rasp is used to accomplish many things required to make the wood into a work of art. Thanks for sharing and I wish you and your a very merry Christmas and may your New Year turnout to be better than this year.
Dave, the fine results you achieve speak to the skills and tools you use. Any woodworker that criticises another for using different tools and methods is a pedantic elitist with a 99.9% chance of never having a RU-vid channel to teach others the craft. Thumbs up!
In the UK you would be classed as a coachbuilder, not a woodworker and coachbuilders use rasps! Whether you use a smoothing plane, a block plane, a spokeshave, a wood rasp, a farriers rasp or an engineers bastard file, is all immaterial. You use the tool you find the best for you and none of it matters if the finished work meets the expected standard. Or are these people saying you cant be a mechanic unless you use snap on tools? All the best for 2021 👍👍👍
The buggy is looking great. I have never understood why some are bothered by what tool a person uses for their craft. I don’t care if it’s a rasp, a tornado or a popsicle stick, if it gets the job done then yeehaw go for it
Thanks for making these videos. I imagine you could get a lot more done if you didn't have the camera in the way. It's that camera tho that allows me to visit and I appreciate the view! The moment you shown the forge, I could smell the coal. We have a blacksmith shop in Fulton County Ohio. They always have it open and running during the fair. Covid took that from us this year but you magically brought that moment to me, I love the smell of that coal burning. Thank you!
Thank You, I reworked the whole upper works on a buggy two years ago. I enjoyed watching you work. I also learned a few things along the way. Thanks again. Dale
I am in my 75 yr, all my life I have been a fix it Man, I throw nothing away as I can always find a use or I am able to repurpose it. Because of this I get a lot of joy from watching your Videos and have developed total admiration for you and your talents, you are a very versatile Man when it come to your skills. People often tell me that I am clever, but I believe must problems can be overcome by using common sense and above all "Patience". I wish you and your family a happy and safe Festive season. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
The sad, downside of RU-vid is that it gives open forum to the “experts” who have never done anything! Anybody who try’s to insinuate that this guy isn’t a “real” woodworker should be dovetailed and scarfed! Don’t you agree?
It's so nice that there are a lot of people who are great craftsman in the world that also have the interest in making videos that let the rest of us get to enjoy their talents. I love that in many cases it's not that the world requires these skills, yet they still exist purely because these people enjoy doing them.
Hi Dave, 😊 thanks for the video, the seats look great,,but we've got the best seats in the house watching a craftsman like you at work, it's always interesting , your videos this year have been much appreciated, many thanks. Here's wishing you and your's, all the best for the new year, Stuart uk.
Thank you for your quality show. On the subject of rasps, My brother is a furniture maker and carver in Wisconsin. I spent most of the summer helping him carve 70 acorns for a job. I would have been lost without the several rasps I needed to do the job. These might be seen as old fashioned in these days of modern tools .But the cabinet makers and furniture makers old used the most efficacious tools at hand.
One of the great challenges in today's world is the fact that too many people are unable to differentiate between their opinions and facts. It is a widely acknowledged fact that you are an incredibly talented and dedicated craftsman (woodworker, metalworker, blacksmith, etc.) and our lives are made richer by you graciously allowing us to tag along on your journey, in spite of the few naysayers who end up in the mix. Thank you, sir! Best wishes for a safe and happy Holiday Season & Merry Christmas!
i dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know of a way to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.
Once Again, Thanks For The Video!! When a carpenter is good with what tools he uses, there shouldn't be any explanation needed!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! R and W
I told my phycologist that watching you forge is a much better therapy for my PTSD than any of the horrible, creepy medicines she's put me on...thank you Dave.
Getting out into the shop and making something with my hands either leather or hitting hot metal has helped me alot with my ptsd and other psychological problems caused by my time in the military and I try to bring that knowledge to other veterans so they too can benefit from it
Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us and educating us along the way. Even though I have been wood working for 35 years you are an inspiration to us all. Thanks for sharing and keep em coming.
I've found that the 17" hoof rasp is just right for scratching my back in the shop......the 14" is just too short. All kidding aside, my Dad liked the 14" for hoofs. Like you, he was very handy as a blacksmith and this brings back wonderful memories of me being it his side as he worked the metal.
As always a pleasure to watch. That slowmo fire/smoke/coal-shot was beautiful. Forget all that rasp crap. You are truely a woodworker with skills most of us only can dream of.
It was an epiphany to me a few years ago when I saw you use the hoof rasp on wood. Now I do it all of the time, especially when I have places where I can't easily get a sander or plane. I love it. Merry Christmas and thanks for always teaching me new techniques!
Amazing work as always Mr Engels, you sir are a true craftsman in many ways, thank you for sharing your videos it has made this year brighter for all this year, thanks for the gift of your knowledge and all the work you do. Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Sir, you do what you do and there is no way you can please the fickle nature of folks. Nobody thought Sam Maloof would ignite woodworking with his humble opinions and curved woodworking style. I have to agree with you when you use the tools you know and achieve the results you are paid for, the only question is whether the customer is satisfied and will recommend you. Keep doing what you do!
(( read this with a tongue in cheek flavor )) This phase is confounding to say the least and I highly doubt having the blocks and scraps there in front of you simplifies anything in the least. 7 bends and 14 brakes (or there abouts) times four per seat is just mind numbing. I am brain dead after viewing the dag-nab-it video,,, once,,, so I am gonna view it once again. Amazing.
Ive been under the wrong impression that you were replacing seat irons instead of making a new set for the seat that didn't have any yet. It's gonna leave me scratching my beard as per the hows and whys, but as you said, I'll need to wait and see how it comes along with later videos. Still awesome to learn this stuff, as limited as it is by only video. Hopefully there's gonna be years of this stuff to come.
I'm absolutely certain that the use of a hoof rasp is 100% accurate in the creation and maintenance of these buggies. The rasp is one tool that has been in every farrier's toolbox since farriers came into being. And back in the day, farriers probably did more buggy/wagon work than most "woodworkers." Perhaps you have achieved (and from what I've seen likely surpassed) the title of craftsman rather than a plain ol' woodworker. Merry Christmas and God Bless.
Thinking about eating Crow...Back somewhere in the 1960's some of us went on a hunting trip down in the swamp down south,so after a day or so with no luck....Back a camp that night and way to many beers we come to the bright idea of eating black birds & crows...Since there was plenty of them.....So the next day we shot-um up...Cleaned and fried them up...So after way to many beers we eat what we had cooked...Crow and black birds are not to bad with BBQ sause lol Yes we eat about a 150 or so of them...So l can say yes l have eat Crow....Thanks my friend.....Happy new year...! PS you do really fine work....!
In the late 60's, the woodwork shop at our school had rasps, and i've used them for rounding over, anything with finer teeth would be almost useless. Doesn't matter whether it's used on horses, wood, or even some pastics, if you want to remove material quickly, the rasp is the go to.
As an Ag teacher I’ve taught rasps in woodworking for years, as a matter of fact Phipps in the text “Mechanics in Agruculture “ lists the rasp (flat, half round and round) as a wood working tool. I for one was happy to see you using the rasp, as well as the hacksaw in woodworking.
As for the use of a rasp, the main thing is that it does what you expect of it and that it fits your workflow. And as for ‘eating crow’, I actually didn’t expect you to have a video uploaded because of Christmas falling on a Friday. As long as the work gets done right, that’s what matters.
A very happy Christmas to you Dave and Mrs Dave too from Sandbach in the 'sunny' north west of England. Thank you for all the hard work of filming and editing throughout the year. It's greatly appreciated as are the little glimpses into life in Montana. Can't say I've ever had need to use a rasp but you never know what may happen.
You're getting the job done the way you have been doing it. That's fine. What I and many other woodworkers have trouble with is we know that there are faster and more enjoyable ways of doing what you're doing with a rasp and belt sander and we want you to enjoy that sensation we know. We are yelling at our screens as you work. Your results speak for themselves so there's no harm, no foul. If you ever do want to branch out, I find Paul Sellers's videos particularly eye opening. He has changed many thousands of woodworkers minds about how fast and accurate his methods are--I dare say faster and quieter than your methods.
I learn something new with every episode you post, especially the metal working. Fascinating to watch you recreate the old hardware. Would love to try a little blacksmithing, but it's hard to find room on my "bucket list". THANK YOU again for sharing you skills & talent.
My favorite "not a real woodworker" moments are when Dave uses a ball peen hammer to drive nails. If you've ever tried it, it's really difficult, as the ball peen's crowned face usually bends the nail if you hit it the slightest bit off center. I could never do what he does with the hammer, I always wimp out and use a flat face claw hammer on nails. :)
Rasps, sanding papers and cloths do the shaping by erosion. Planes, chisels, knives, scrapers and hatchets do the shaping by cutting. Both means of shaping are equally necessary to achieve final fit-up. They have been used since the age of Iron by professional craftsman in producing their finest works. Some designs, such as those based on aero-dynamic experiences (cars and air planes) and hydro-dynamic experiences (boats and bridge abutments) are called by architects, "pre-erosion." I like that imaginative term. It is a concept from nature which shapes such impressive things as the hooves of animals. A rasp reflects the workings of the world. After I use my rasps, I wind them in a sheet of paper toweling held in place by Scotch Tape for traveling.
Often use rasps on wood projects. Don’t understand the problem. My dad used to tell me that if you have to eat crow, it’s much better while still warm! Thanks again for your videos and skills.
How to tell if a tool is an appropriate woodworking tool: Does it do the job required? If yes, it is an appropriate woodworking tool; If no, it might be a good wall decoration.
@@ranchdude4345 They still use rasps when leading joints. Check out Retropower’s Uncut videos and look at Rolls Royce and Bentley factory docos from the last decade.
Hi Dave, like you have said in pervious videos its all about (Getting Her Done). So whatever tool you use and makes you happy is the one that counts! 😜👊
I watched a Perry Como's Early American Christmas Special from 1978 on Christmas day at think I saw a young Roy Underhill riding the Shaving Horse in the Cooper's Shoppe at around the 2 minute mark. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YYksePRnNLE.html
Classic straw man. No-one said that using a rasp meant you weren't a proper woodworker. They're been used by woodworkers for centuries. Sam Maloof used them. What was said, though, was that some of the jobs Dave uses them for are better done by other tools. Rounding over an arris where you want a smooth finish, for instance. Rasps are for rough work, such as shaping prior to finishing with an edge tool such as a plane, spokeshave, or card scraper. And, as always, context is everything. Comments about rasps were made in response to over-excited fans who think Dave is producing woodwork as good as cabinet makers, whereas he is actually producing fine carpentry for buggies, nothing whatever like cabinetry.
I really do like the many disciplines you have to master for what you do. I suspect that is part of what you like about it too. Thanks for sharing. Charles
Wow anyone ever heard of a 4 in 1 ? Has the same teeth of the farriers rasp. That rasp is awesome for wood working. You are a true unique craftsman/ wood worker
Sometimes we all have to eat some crow. I know very well what that crow tastes like as I have had to eat my share lately. Yet thank you for your Christmas Present to us your faithful followers on RU-vid. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, belated, and a Happy New Year. I have ever since finding this channel I feel blessed every time I watch a new episode and when watching old episodes.
A REAL woodworker gets results, irregardless of technique, and you sir are a real woodworker, I know I have spent a lifetime working wood myself. Anyone who implied that is just an Idiot.
