Non-powered hand tools are one of the leading causes of painful repetitive strain injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome (according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). Awkward body positioning, too much force, and repeated movement with tools all conspire to cause swelling, which leads to constrained nerves, pain, numbness, and tingling.
It’s not a pretty thought.
But what can you do? While some old hand tools may be less than ergonomic, we’re all sentimental about the thought of great-great-grandfather in suspenders crafting cabinets for the kitchen with hand tools. Maybe we use some of the same tools today in our own workshops. The old hand tools are not only still useful, they connect us to the past.
Lee Valley Tools, a manufacturer in Ottawa, knows this. So when the company designed its new block plane, it focused on creating a tool that you might hope to pass on to your own great-great-grandkids. But the company included some contemporary ergonomic enhancements.
The result is a block planer that feels right, looks timeless, and has woodworkers raving.
In this episode of the Product Design Show, Alison and Vince talk about the challenge of tinkering with tradition. Plus they tell you how Creo Parametric helped ensure the Lee Valley planes brought the best of modern precision and design to this craftsman’s favorite.
