[tharkun__]

Depends if you ask me.

Sanding the deck to repaint? Absolutely! That said, I did use a hand scraper last time actually. The time before I used an orbital sander.

Of course you're gonna get the tree house done faster if you use the circular saw!

That's not the point. Not even the quality for me. For me, as a software developer, it's about doing things the slow way. Not necessarily the "better" way. I.e. using my hands. Meaning I built our tree house using only hand tools, save for the battery powered drill. Driving all those screws by hand, no thank you. Yes I did buy a hand crank drill as well and some drill bits to go with it. But I only use it to bore holes, not to drive screws, though you could too. Like this one https://img0.etsystatic.com/006/0/6916650/il_fullxfull.35811...

Some of you may appreciate this: http://www.supertool.com/forsale/2022nberslist.html (see main page and newsletter as well if you really want to buy - he's got already restored/more ready to use material than what you may find on ebay and the like, if you want to pay the price)

[ilyt]

My perspective is a bit different because woodworking is a bit of a hobby that I use in other hobbies. I enjoyed making a stand for my synthesizers or various shelving and cases for my electronic things, and I didn't rush it or anything, but in the end getting a tool that just does the skill I already learned ("cutting the board straight") just leaves more time for my other hobbies.

[switchbak]

I don't see the need to choose just hand tools or not. Buy some of both, make good investments where it matters and buy what you need for what you're making.

If you appreciate the feel and quiet of hand tools (like a nice hand plane!) that's great, otherwise if you like the accuracy and efficiency of a nice router, more power to you (rimshot!).