As I get better at furniture making, I am beginning to use chisels and hand planes more often. Why? It's not only because I'm trying to learn expert techniques (like hand-chopping mortises or flattening a panel with hand planes). I'm also reaching for these woodworking mainstays more often because they're sharp.One thing I've noticed about chisels and planes: almost everybody has one (or more), but few people use them. The reason is that, unlike many other tools, chisels and planes simply do not work if they're not sharp. Take a new hand plane out of the box and try to take a shaving, and you'll likely end up frustrated, wondering what the damn things are good for, anyway.
But if your chisels and planes are sharp, they become go-to tools that get used nearly every day. Sharp chisels and planes have taken my furniture to another level of quality, and fitting snug joints has become a lot easier.
