John,

I don't remember his name, but an elderly british woodworker said about power tools

"...they're dusty, noisy, and they'll have your finger off in a twinkle."

True, and not a joke. Several years ago it was the noise that finally got to me. I gave up just about all power tools for hand tools. I buy my strips from a man I know in town who seems to like making them -- and he does a good job.

While building my panache last winter I found out something about hand tools, japanese saws in particular...

"They don't make much dust, they're quiet, and they too can have your finger off in a twinkle."

While trimming strips at the stern with a dozuki I felt something *big* crawling on my leg. I jumped, the saw moved, and cut my finger to the bone. In the end I only payed a bit flesh to learn that anything sharp and/or with some power behind it can hurt me.

Oh, and that thing crawling on my leg turned out to be my neighbors cat who had wandered into the garage. He too was tramatized by the event and stayed out during the rest of construction. Thank God, if he had come back I'm sure he would have got himself stuck but good during glassing.

Andy.