Fret saw versus power saw

[Quimp Slattery]

On 9/15/2024 at 3:21 PM, Captain Cambo said:

am a bit reluctant to use the saw in the flat as I live on the top floor and would not want to annoy the neighbours.

Hi Captain, I’m in a top floor flat too and have the same concerns. For that reason, as well as a general desire on my part to keep things simple and old school as much as I can, I use a manual fretsaw and a piercing saw. 
 

It takes a little longer and makes my arm ache a bit sometimes. On the other hand I make my mistakes slowly enough to stop before I saw where I shouldn’t. 😉 And best of all, I feel ‘closer to the wood’ somehow it’s more satisfying to me to avoid using power tools, when possible.
 

I often think of those marvellous eighteenth century Admiralty models and those made by the French POWs from soup bones and their own hair. No electricity in use then. 🤔

Edited September 26 by Quimp Slattery

[Mike Y]

I do scratch build in an apartment. Never had a big scroll saw, but a benchtop bandsaw (Proxxon MBS in my case) is not too bad. It has a bit of a high-pitched noise that does not travel too far (tested with neighbours), and I also put a rubber mat under all machines to reduce the noise distribution through vibration. You can buy these mats for washing machines and like.

So unless your apartment walls are made out of paper (which might happen) - it should not be a thing preventing you from scratch building!

Also the actual cut time is miniscule, you spend way more time preparing, marking up, gluing, sanding, etc, than the actual "cutting pieces from wood" time. 

 

Would be happy to help you with any other "tools in an apartment" problems, there are some photos in my build log that might help   It is absolutely doable! And you don't need too much space, my modelling corner is 120cm wide.

 

 

[ccoyle]

Hi, gents. I split this discussion off into its own topic.

[CiscoH]

i do almost all my work with hand tools.  mostly the powered stuff is in the garage but thats only used to cut billets into strips.  if i bought strip wood then there would be no need for noisy powered tools.  

[Gregory]

18 hours ago, Quimp Slattery said:

I often think of those marvellous eighteenth century Admiralty models and those made by the French POWs from soup bones and their own hair. 

I think of that too, but I also think if they had had power tools , 3D printers and Laser cutters, they would have used them. 😁

[Quimp Slattery]

4 hours ago, Gregory said:

I think of that too, but I also think if they had had power tools , 3D printers and Laser cutters, they would have used them. 😁

Don’t be silly, they wouldn’t have been able to plug them in to anything. 😁

[wefalck]

I gather, if you live in central to northern Europe, you are less likely to annoy your neighbours, as in general, houses are more solidly build - unlike say in Spain, where walls are really paper thin and most houses are build with concrete pillars and beams, which are ideal for transmitting body-sound.

 

Over the past fifteen years I have been living in a Parisian building made from concrete slabs and so far no one has complained. On the other hand, you are not going to work with your machine tools continuously for 12 hours a day. Just stick to the rules of the building/community and do maintain the quiet hours at mid day and evening and perhaps the weekends.

[mtaylor]

I too live in an apartment.  I have a full size scroll that I use but I'm usually running it, shall we say, not at full speed but pretty slow as mostly it's for small pieces.  No one has ever mentioned any noise.  None of my power tools are what I would consider loud.

[Quimp Slattery]

On 9/26/2024 at 9:29 AM, Quimp Slattery said:

It takes a little longer and makes my arm ache a bit sometimes. On the other hand I make my mistakes slowly enough to stop before I saw where I shouldn’t. 😉 And best of all, I feel ‘closer to the wood’ somehow it’s more satisfying to me to avoid using power tools, when possible.

 

And hand tools generate much less sawdust, messy unhealthy stuff!

[Wawona59]

I second 200% the pleasure of using hand tools for my modeling.  My modeling work is almost exclusively 100% hand tools.  With hand tools, I can work quietly late at night without disturbing the household, especially my beloved wife of almost 40 years.  (big mistake).  I also feel closer to my work.  If you are going to use hand tools, buy the best quality you can find and afford.  I primarily use Lie Neilson, Bridge City and Veritas hand tools as well as some cherished antique Stanley planes.  I also use antique Disston saws professionally sharpened.  Don't waste your money on the cheap Harbor Freight planes and saws.  They just don't cut it. (pun intended).  I hope you will be able to experience the pleasure and pride of building something with hand tools.

 

I wish you the best in your modelling journey.

 

 

[Captain Cambo]

Thanks for all the replies and advice gents.