I don't agree with that. It's just a different set of skills.

Someone with a poorly set up table saw can't cut wood any more accurately
than someone with poor technique using a hand saw. The skill is in setting
up the machine for accuracy...then having the skill to operate it for best
results.

wrote in message
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(snip)
Power tools can definitely do a better job with less operator skill on
a lot of things.

It's like almost anything else. A master can outperform the power tool
on everything but time, but for the average woodworker, the power tool
can give better results in many areas.

Essentially, the trend is to transfer the skill from the human into
the tool That's been going on for a couple of hundred years now.

--RC

Examples:

A jointer can put a straight edge and a flat face on a board with much
less skill than hand planes.

A table saw can accurately cut with much less skill than hand saws and
plow planes.

A thickness planer is a hell of a lot easier to use than hand planes
to accurately plane a stack of lumber to the same thickness, with
parallel faces.

All tools, powered or not, require SOME basic knowledge. Power tools
will not only ruin wood faster, but they will seriously maim the
operator, if a minimum level of skill isn't present. Most hand tools
require serious forethought to actually amputate a limb. A power tool
can amputate before the user knows something is wrong.

Poor power tools and dull hand tools introduce variables that can make
them impossible to use accurately, not matter what the skill level of
the user.

Barry

Sleep? Isn't that a totally inadequate substitute for caffine?