Slow notes on hand-tool woodworking, from a small shed by the water.
Winding sticks, a jack plane set rank, and patience. The top moved twice after glue-up, so I let it rest a week indoors before the final passes. Diagonal strokes first, then with the grain, checking with a straightedge every few minutes.
A 1000 and a 6000 grit waterstone, a cheap honing guide, and a strop with green compound. I tried more stones; I sharpened less. Two stones get a chisel to shaving end grain on pine, which is the only test that matters in this shed.
Mortise and tenon, offset holes by about two millimetres, riven oak pegs. No glue, because the gate lives outside and will be taken apart one day. Three summers in and it has not racked.
Space, noise, and the neighbours. A good rip saw and a sawbench do the same job more slowly, and slow turned out to be the point.