There was a time when my workshop looked like a real woodworking shop. Some of the tools I used the most were an electric planer, table saw, circular saw, jigsaw, and drill. They’re all very noisy tools, and today the only one I still use is the drill. I don’t even use a sander anymore. And honestly, it was the best thing I could have done to make the whole shaping process much more peaceful.

When I first started, I had a lot of tools in the workshop, and it was easy to go too far and remove too much material, which could quickly lead to problems. Not to mention how dangerous it was to work with them. I used the electric planer to quickly shape the edges of the board, the table saw and circular saw for cuts, the jigsaw for curves, and the drill for anything that needed a hole. All these tools made the whole process faster, but they also brought a lot of noise and dust. Cords were everywhere, and it always felt like the essence of making the boards was getting lost. Little by little, I realized that what I enjoyed most was working with hand tools.

The first tool to go was the table saw, and the second was the electric planer. I live in a condominium, and I can’t turn on those machines without disturbing the neighbors, so it was only a matter of time before silence became a matter of living together rather than a personal choice.

Another big reason I gradually stopped using these tools was safety. My workshop is at home, and my kids would also come into the workshop, so it was important to make the space as safe as possible. Besides, one moment of carelessness with a machine like that can cause an injury or ruin a board.

I haven’t used an electric planer in many years. Besides the noise, using a hand plane ended up fitting much better with the essence of my work, which is my connection with nature.

I also started using a simple utility knife instead of an electric saw. At first glance, you wouldn’t imagine that such a simple tool could be used with as much precision as a machine.

All these changes made me see the process of building boards as an art.

Essentially, I don’t use any power tools when shaping. At the final stage, I use the drill, but only to install the valve and the plugs.

In short, working with your hands, at your own pace, completely changes the way you see the process of building wooden boards. Those who have taken my workshop know exactly what I mean.

Every board carries a story. When you build your own board using hand tools from start to finish, you connect with nature and with yourself.

And later, when you go surfing, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Good waves!