Paul is the only person on earth capable of making me go back to facebook and other social networks. I log in only to share his videos in an attempt to try and make the world know about him. Thanks for the videos Paul!
Watching you is both mental therapy and skill building. I appreciate your soft spoken approach to woodworking. You sir are a joy to follow! Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love when people think about workbench affordability. All too often do I see workbench plans that take not only 3 months full time to make, but will cost $500 for materials alone. Thanks for your balanced perspective!
Mr. Sellers, You are the Bob Ross of woodworking. I thoroughly enjoy your videos and instructions. Recently I have been gifted a dovetail saw that wasn't quite fit for my taste and with your videos, I have been able to sharpen the teeth and make a new handle that fits me perfectly. It is now my most favorite and one of my truly priceless tools I own. Please, don't stop being awesome! -CD
No matter how much woodworking one has done, somehow there's always something mire to learn and Paul Sellers is just the man to teach it. Clear and straight forward, always worth watching and listening too.
I don't have any intention of ever building anything that you demonstrate, I just love to watch a craftsman at work and to appreciate your skill and knowledge. Thank you.
Not just plywood, but 12-16 layer baltic birch plywood.....my favorite albeit most expensive plywood available at my local lumber company. I would guess this workbench cost 2-4 times as much as the pine bench. Whichever way I go, I will enjoy the journey and be forever grateful for the instruction provided by Mr. Sellers.
Hi Paul, I'm currently watching this video as I'm looking to build my first workbench soon. I've just yesterday ordered chisels, bought a secondhand no 4 that I will restore, sharpening equipment and the lot. I'm truly inspired by your passion and skill. I absolutely love making my own stuff and DIY projects. I'm hoping to slowly develop my skills. I've never even attempted a dovetail, didn't have the equipment / set up. I'm just 30 so still have a while to go. I'll most likely be changing the design to fit the small space I have. Hand tools are the way to go for me I think. Power tools won't make my neighbours happy, so I'm not investing in routers and the lot. Even better, I enjoy the journey as much as the end result of stuff I make so I'm certain this will keep me busy for decades to come. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you so much for this Paul, I started your original workbench a few years ago and got the top planed and laminated, then we had to move and couldn't take it with us so I gave it to a friend. I like this much better for a starter project since it's cheaper, the wood is less knotty, and the wood comes with straight edges. I can't wait to make mine! God bless.
About 20 years ago I made a workbench of a very similar design as far as the legs, trestles, Etc . The top however was three horizontally stacked sheets of 3/4 inch MDF overlaid by hardboard. It has proven to be indestructible. I thought that I would eventually have to replace the hardboard but so far so good. I really enjoy your videos Mr. Sellers and have joined your woodworking master classes.
This is BRILLIANT ... as usual Mr. Sellers comes up with a winning design and no doubt will go over very well here in the US! Thanks for getting some hand tools in there to show how well they work ... we do love some machines here in the states so maybe that will get people interested by example. Thanks for posting another winner design, these are my favorite videos to watch these days!!
Thank you for the wonderful start on this work bench. The top looks amazing with all of the plies in the plywood giving a nice textural look to the surface. Looking forward to the next part.
I'm assuming that you are using Baltic birch or similar. I've been using 5 ply Poplar plywood from the Home depot [in the US], It goes for us$45 for 18mm 4x8. I recently saw, but have not yet used "Bloodwood" ply from Lowes home center. It is 11 ply, and has thicker outer veneers than most home center grade plywood. They claim it's 100 percent Poplar core... the core is made first, sanded and then veneered. Apparently Bloodwood can be one of many species, but is usually rotary sliced ... and that would jive with the example I saw. So there are some reasonable options.
im just finishing my first year at college doing joinery, and i would love to build a bench like this at some point, but for now, on my student budget and with just a garden to work in, do you think a couple of sawhorses and a kitchen worktop with a vice would allow me to practise some of the skills im learning and take on a few small projects, i suppose i could put sandbags on the sawhorses to make it heavier and some tarpaulin to keep the weather out. its not ideal, but surely be better than nothing? or am i missing something
I'm no expert, but I have a workbench top which I made years ago, before being distracted by the arrival of children. I've just made two trestles to Paul's plans and laid this top on them. As the trestles have a lower cross-member, I've added a sheet of mdf between these, screwed at each end, resulting in a fairly stiff, stable workbench. Hope this helps.@@BUSHCRAPPING
Watching someone rip 3/4 plywood with a handsaw, then giving a legitimate safety brief, while expressing that you should be doing this because it's fun and should make you proud......is truly humbling.
This is the same way i designed my workbench only i used 2x4s. Used all-thread to clamp the table top. Just starting out so i dont have many tools, just used a chop box. I took advantage of the 2x4s all being the same dimensions so i didnt have to cut any mortise and tenons. cost less than $150 US. In the future if need be i can remove the table top and replace it with a harder wood or maby I will try out a hardwood ply top like the one you have here. Or maby i will get lucky and run across some nice oak from a tear down job i can have :). Thank you so much for the knowledge you share with the rest of us inspiring woodworkers Mr. Sellers! Have a great day!
Excellent video and process of merging the traditional and power woodworking methods on building a plywood workbench. Thank you for sharing. I love your building and safety process.
Paul, I love that you remind us of the value and joy of the process. Your videos unveiled what was once an obscure process for me So I recently refurbished my late uncle's hand plane and built my first table top last month. I couldn't believe the feelings of gratitude I had for what that process did for me - how engaging it was to work with (mostly) hand tools, the wonder of refining a technique out of energy conservation, and the feeling of truly valuing the beautiful object I'd made. As materialistic as we deem our present-day cultures, it's a rare kind of "materialism" to truly appreciate something you built with your hands. Thank you for always sharing your knowledge and living the wisdom you sprinkle throughout your videos. And great video production / editing! I'm a fan.
Thanks for sharing your experience with restoring your hand plane. I have been think about restoring a hand plane that I received from my father. It was my paternal grandfathers hand plane. He has past away quite some time ago and this is one of only two things of my grandfathers I have. After hearing of your enjoyment with restoring and using of your plane. Will be doing the same too mine.
Cool idea, thanks for sharing! I used a similar philosophy to build a large loft bed for my son out of SPF 2x4s...gluing in mortis-tenon joints rather than cutting them. The key was planing all of the pieces to exacting thicknesses using a thickness planer and making accurate cuts with a slide saw (variance ~0.1mm). I had the idea after making a similar bed for my daughter using lap joints that I cut with a router, which turned out to be an enormous amount of work that I didn't wish to repeat (but I anyways liked the result). My son's bed is arguably much stronger, neater, easier to assemble (lots of gluing and clamping, and turned out even stronger (structural members are 3 pieces thick). Later I put together some table legs this way, to support a dining table with a very heavy Japanese elm top. So I've been planning a workbench using the same philosophy, and Paul's plan provides an excellent template (I just downloaded it). It is impossible to find quality plywood where I live (there is only rough construction grade available) so I'll do it with 2x4s again (although lumber prices have gone up considerably and stayed high for a while now).
Don't worry, when you've done woodworking a couple of times, you'll quickly see how you improve. Remember the first drawing you made ? - Did it look like a photo ? =) The only thing you really need to learn is what a chisel does "close up". Eg. a saw is just hundreds of chisels. A plane is a block of wood with a chisel in it. A drill is a couple of twisted chisels. Wood basically have three kinds of surfaces: End-grain, edge-grain and surface grain. Cutting across the fibres differs a lot from cutting with the fibres. Search RUclips for "saw types" and you'll quickly learn. Also search for "chisel" or "dovetail" and you'll quickly learn all the basics you need (Paul Seller's channel also have some great videos on these subjects). -You may already know a few of the things I mentioned, but remember to think of any woodworking tool as a chisel (maybe except for the square and the hammer type tools, eh). If you know all the above already, then just remember one thing: You only get better each time you work with wood. Even after 20 years, you'll still get better, as you discover new ways to do things. =)
This is a great project, and really interesting to see your take on this project. I was surprised to see the bandsaw since you are a hand tool guy. I assume that it makes more sense for you because it allows cutting curves and shapes, and allows re sawing of rough lumber. I also suspected that thinner kerf would save waste. I will say that a bandsaw accurate and powerful enough for this project is a big investment, so for me, this is a great project for my track saw. The cuts with the track/plunge saw are super clean, and don't need planing afterward. You can lay the sheets on foam boards, either on the ground or a work table, this way the work is always supported, no shifting or balance points changing as you cut. Thanks again for another great series.
Imagine having to rip all those by hand... Seriously, that would drive you mad. Plus, what's the point to 100 hours of ripping plywood with an hand saw when it takes one with a bandsaw. Would take hours of planing straight too.
Make no mistake my friends, this is a lifetime workbench for under 12 pence a week if you use it for 50 years using the best plywood. Episode 2 will be released on RUclips Friday 8th March but you can watch it right now at woodworkingmasterclasses.com/videos/plywood-workbench/plywood-workbench-episode-2/
Thank you, Paul, for showing this method to make worktables. I used the same method to create a table for my radial arm saw, a DeWalt 790. It is very flat and stiff, two requisites for a RAS table. It does take some time to cut the strips, assure they align properly, and have no twist, but in the end it is worth it.
What you saw was what I got. It really didn't take long at all so not sure why you say it takes some time to cut the strips, assure they align properly, and have no twist. I felt it was remarkably fast.
The hardest part of this build in the US will be sourcing quality birch void free plywood - the usual stuff from the home center is not the best. Also, on a side note learning to mark the joints with a knife instead of a pencil has revolutionized my woodworking overall. I use a knife when I get the chance now and the joints have never turned out cleaner in my lifetime! Thank you and please keep up the good work - these projects are great.
Getting quality plywood in the US is just as easily as it is in the UK. There are plenty of suppliers that sell marine and furniture grade plywood wood. Chances are if there is a home centre there is going to be merchant or supplier of wood in the area.
Paul, I thank you! for many years of great hand tool teaching. But I think this is where we part ways. Since the channel changed it’s not my style . This bench, same as all the others, the bandsaw ... way cheaper to get a table saw , and lastly lol that helmet haha that’s overkill . You put more dust in the air using your hand saw! then the bandsaw with your dust extraction aka shop vac. Paul I love your old videos and I will watch them many more times . I wish you would have listened a bit more to your viewers and starting series about making furniture and how to chose what joint to use for the piece you are making . You have 4-5 different video series about making the same bench . Once again. I thank you for the amazing hand tool videos! And take care
I simply laid the groundwork as I see fit and indeed I have listened carefully and extensively to feedback from my viewers. They consistently tell me how thankful they are for the work we continue to give freely here on RUclips and it doesn't end there of course. I am sorry to lose you so early on on the journey as our journey will ever continue to encompass many elements of furniture making. We have provided project after project on woodworkingmasterclasses.com and here on RUclips and on my blog too for many, many years that teach the essentials of fine woodworking from the very basics on up to an advanced level each week.
An automatic assumption with most is that hardwood plywood with 15 plies as is the case with this bench costs more than just using solid hardwood like maple, ash or oak. Of course, you miss the point entirely if cost is considered before makeability. It's really the method that makes this doable in that you need no more machines and actually you can get away with just using hand tools you most likely already have at home. It is also a bench that bridges the gap for those who might want to go from all machine work to adopt hand tools as part of their woodworking strategy moving forward. So using hardwood ply is not more costly than solid wood. Here in the UK, at least four oak legs will cost you £200. Oak sufficient for a laminated top will cost you £125 and then you have two aprons at £90 each. Oak is probably our cheapest available hardwood. You still have rails and other parts to add in. This is double the price I paid for my birch plywood. As to the rest, yes you can use lower grades of plywood but longevity and density would be the issue long term.
Here is South Africa its the same. Furniture grade Birch Plywood is around R1800 when 21mm thickness is ordered for a sheet vs Euro Beech (Our cheapest hardwood) which runs at R147.50 per meter. You easily build a workbench out of one sheet of plywood with a top that is 1200 x 600
I've literally just finished making a workbench with a different design. However, I'm really looking forward to seeing this take shape with a little envy!
Hello Friend Long Time No See Waoo Look At Your Work Shop New And Improvement The Last Time I Was Here You Were Teaching How To Cut Dove Tail By Hand.Congratulation To You Great Job Thank You And GOD Bless...
Such joy and serenity this video brings to your heart :) Thank you! For now, I have built some "easy way out" benches with 2 layers of plywood on top but at some point in the future, I will try this! Seems like a great challenge and very exciting and satisfying project :D
This one will be very strong, because the plywood is glued vertically. You can purchase some flimsy workbenches from stores, they cost 3 times as much as this one and they're not sturdy. This build is definitely worth doing.
This is Innovation with a lot of creativity. Makes sense as our natural resources are being depleted. Plywood is made from trees which are sustainably grown.
I love to see how much you love woodworking! It‘s such a joy to watch! And also my sincere congratulations on you style of filming and cutting! Soon I will be able to build my own woodshop! Can‘t wait to also build my workbench! After this video I start thinking it might be out of plywood 🤓
As always, a definite awesome idea and a precision in execution that pleases the eye with the artistic endeavour in the project. I love to watch this. I guess this is a new year presentation or should I say a 'new year present' for the viewers ! :)
This project is, as Mr Sellers promised, a careful blend of hand tool and power tool work, with the best techniques of hand tool work. Now I need to find a source of good plywood!
Great bench project Paul. I would love to build one, trouble is the link you provide only gives a cutting list and materials for the original timber bench NOT the plywood version. Any chance we could all have access to the ply version please?
I can see that. Only issue I have though is that the bandsaw is much more versatile for work beyond this bench for a wide range of other tasks including resawing, circular cuts for turning blanks, curved cuts and so on. The work we do would not really be often repeated in like manner as we are really only making one bench and not relying on sheet work in 3/4" plywood.
Great project, Paul. I have some solid poplar 4x4's and some poplar core plywood that's been taking up space. Might just have to give this a go. Love all your videos, can't wait for part 2 of this one. Thanks for sharing.
Plywood workbench is a super interesting idea. I wonder how much thicker the benchtop should be if you're making a french style workbench that doesn't have an apron.
In a way I used the "leave a gap so you don't have to cut a mortice" for my two by four workbench, I laminated the legs out of three boards with the middle board sticking out about two inches and cut corresponding slots in the top before glueing it all together, the "mortices" were slightly deeper than the "tennon" was tall so that the weight of the bench actually rested on the shoulders of the legs. other than the laminations I held everything together with 3/8" lag screws with washers and counterbores so I could take the bench apart when I move. I will admit, I made a bunch of mistakes, but I'm not too upset, I've learned from them, and the bench served me well, and still does in a way
A tip when drilling plywood: Any spelching-out (splitting around the exit hole) can easily and quickly be tidied-up by drilling a shallow countersink on the underside.
I'm curious why the plywood pieces are laminated in this way as opposed to stacking longer panels on top of one another to achieve a benchtop of the same thickness? I understand that face-to-face lamination is stronger than edge-to-edge lamination when using milled lumber. But one of the advantages of plywood is its ability to build with larger panels. And if stacking, say, 3 or 4 larger panels of plywood together, that would also be a face-to-face lamination. So yeah, just curious why the benchtop is designed and built in this way with the edges of the plywood as the benchtop. Perhaps this is a nod to the face-to-face lamination of traditional workbenches built with solid wood? Or perhaps there is a better reason that I'd love to learn. Thanks for the help!
I’ve got a small Record Power bandsaw, at home in the Netherlands very happy with it... use it for lots of things, the bandsaw is my most used electric tool.
Hi Paul. I am intrigued to know if you have a preference for hardwood ply or softwood ply. Both seem available from your favourite DIY store at the same price, but in your videos you never express a preference. Your workbench looks like it is softwood, but could you let me have your thoughts either way? Many thanks for your wonderful ideas and experience.
What respirator are you using paul? by the by, I agree this bench is easily the most durable outdoor bench I've ever seen, especially if you seal it with some kind of Poly or something. Fantastic!!!
Please don’t get me wrong, this is a great video made by a craftsman and the outcome is a marvelous WORK BENCH. But it’s just a WORK BENCH. This bench could be the STAR EXHIBIT in a classic Hollywood scene where the lawyer is reading the deceased’s will and every member of the family are frantic wondering WHO WILL INHERIT THE WORK BENCH. I made my bench from 2 sheets of 3/4” plywood I picked up at my local garbage collection station, I glued them together and then added screws. Then with a pile of carefully selected 2X4s I constructed a very solid base for the bench, total cost about $20. Now some people have commented that you need a very firm and solid top to stand up to HAMMERING. Have you ever tried to destroy 2x3/4” sheets of plywood glued and screwed together BY HAMMERING, WELL HAVE YOU. Good luck. So the question you must ask yourself is this, do you want a workbench that will act as suitable platform for VIRTUALLY ANY WOODWORKING PROJECT YOU CAN IMAGINE. OR, do you want to spend hours and hours of hard work producing a work of art that EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY WOULD FIGHT TO THE DEATH TO INHERIT. If my wife says to me “I would like a new dining room table that will make every one of our friends green with envy when they come to dinner”, I WILL BUILD THIS WORK BENCH FOR HER. BEST WISHES.
Paul, love your videos - but you need a track saw or at least a good circular saw guide. Makes breaking down plywood a piece of cake. I bought some "finished" birch plywood at Home Depot recently that was completely un-square, and had an 1/8" "bow" down the long side (proud by 1/8" in the middle of one edge and weak by the same amount on the other long edge. My saw guide made quick work of straightening it out so I could rip it on a table saw.
After half a century of using all manner of machinery you're telling me what I need. But I see that you did miss the whole point which I do understand. If I explain. I have lived on the two continents for an equal amount throughout my 54 years of daily woodworking for a living. I intimately know about all of the equipment available and I carefully chose the bandsaw for this work I do. Having lived, worked and raised a family on a single income as a full time woodworker in the USA for 23 years I know that in the USA many woodworkers have that gathering of specialised equipment called power tools and the assumption of those that do have the privilege is that anyone and everyone around the world can have or does have the same access to all that stuff; that all have the finances, the mega amount of workspace around the house to house it all, that indeed all would want it. But you see, in the world I meet at least, 95% of would-be-woodworkers would never have any of that and likely never will. More amazingly for those that do have it all, they can't understand why those without it wouldn't even want it. Tracksaws, tablesaws are all fine. They have their place and I'm not saying anything against them. It's just the assumption that all want it, have access to it and indeed that they can all handle it. And also, I would never go to The Home Depot for quality plywood or even quality anything. You got what you paid for and it was simply convenient. I still maintain that it is very, very rare for plywood not to be straight and square and especially so at the upper end which HD is not at all known for. Also, lastly, another fatal mistake as alway is the assumption that all woodworkers feel comfortable using power equipment. They more generally are not!
Far better than his softwood bench for sure. Stiffer, denser, flatter and more stable, but I don't like all those screws. Had a friend doing commercial work, made his workbench tops out of solid core, flush exterior door rejects he got at a good price from a door shop. Made a helleva bench, fast!
Not quite the same look though. And the softwood benches I've made are still going decades on since my first one so not sure what you want from a bench more than that. I have also made them from hardwoods too. You see I'm trying to help others reach the goal of a good bench and I would defy anyone to work at the is bench for an hour and say it doesn't work well for them.
@@Paul.Sellers - Thank you so much for all your EXCELLENT videos, they shine brightly in a sometimes dim universe. You're among the greatest woodworkers I have seen in my many years - who am I to disagree with you? But, having stood at any bench I could find to do the work, I prefer a hardwood bench. The density (mass) and stiffness of a hardwood bench makes a task easier and more predictable as more of one's effort (work) goes into the workpiece rather than being absorbed by the damping effect of a softwood bench. I saw a video by one of RUclipss greatest imitators, of his take on your softwood bench. After all his careful joinery, he had a bench which rocked and rolled with each stroke of his tenon saw From my perspective, a bench needs weight (or, perhaps, anchorage).
I suppose you could also just laminate three large (1800 x 900) panels to form a big flat worktop and add an additional 9mm commercial grade plywood top as something that can be easily replaced in a couple of years. that way you would always have a fresh new work surface?
G';Day Paul,As usual,another fine film, My only Whinge is why a Band saw,,A Circ saw most of us have,Not hard to find a couple of clamps and a straight edge,But thats me,,, Thank you once again,always some thing new to learn,,
A bandsaw will be very functional for our more advanced videos on woodworkingmasterclasses.com. It can be used for decades of resawing to resize large stock for hand planing and so on. The obvious too is the functionality in support of lathe work for bowl blanks and then just the enormous amount of curved cuts we use in furniture making too. In other words it is very versatile for the work we teach on woodworkingmasterclasses so it is a good choice. That said, anyone can simply decide for themselves to use any alternative saw type they choose. Please, also remember too that for about half of the audience I reach the circular saw would be far less suitable. The saw you speak of does need upper body and shoulder strength, muscle and so on. Even the noise alone is intimidating and there is kick with the switches on most of them too. The danger levels with using a skilsaw/circular saw are many times higher than the bandsaw too. I am not saying there aren't dangers using a bandsaw but the chief enemy of safety with circular saws, skilsaws and tablesaws is the inevitable kickback that will happen even with all the safety features in place. I could talk about saw kerf wastage, air pollution and tearing grain too, but I think you get my drift.
I wonder how big a bandsaw is actually needed. I'll probably try and study the video a little closer to find out. But as bandsaws are usually expensive unless you only need a very small one, you could probably go with a handsaw or jigsaw and a handplane. It'll take longer to do the cuts and you'll likely have to spend more time planing. -Especially because almost no jigsaw will cut a straight line, since the end of the sawblade is not guided - this makes the sawblade want to go left and right as it pleases, plus that once it made up its mind, it tends to keep wanting to go in that direction. -And I agree with Paul, circular saws are plenty unsafe. They have the ability to make "backflips" that causes you to be injured (and maybe loose limbs). Those accidents happen so quickly and mainly because people think they can get away with holding them with just one hand. A plunging tracksaw will be much safer than a circular saw.
Hi Paul here from land of the sleeping giant, Ontario, Canada. Great day to YOU mate. THANKS for the great Video. Very much enjoying your progress into this great idea using marine plywood for your very well designed workbench .Watched your first bench you built outside many years ago. I was hooked back then. Very interesting And now maybe this design is what I need..THANKS for the great Video. Bye for now. THANKS again.
@@davelowe1977 Yeah - I let my local B&Q chop 2400m 2x4s in half for me, and lost about 50mm of usable wood due to the angle of the chop :/ Fortunately, I only needed 2x900m bits, so it didn't impact me directly - but not good if I had tighter fitment.
That looks great! Only problem for me is that plywood is far too expensive (at least where I live), far more than the cost of solid wood. But I enjoy your videos anyway.
I am not at all sure anyone should be put off by the initial cost which is not that high. If you use a marine plywood of 7 plies it will cost about £100 for the 2 1/2 sheets needed. I can buy beech face plywood with poplar plies inside for that from my local timber supplier and it will make a decent bench. In my case I chose birch plywood with 13 plies at a cost of between £250 - £300. Amortised over 50 years of use so £6 per year. That's less than 12 pence per week. The poplar ply will likely last just as long so we are down to 4 pence per week.
@@Paul.Sellers It will be interesting to see if that plywood bench will last 50 years, but neither of us will know--I'm 74. I built my main bench in much the same way, using laminations which allowed the same very precise joinery, However I used USA southern yellow pine. I bought 2x12s in long lengths (they are generally clear, whereas short lengths are not). I chose carefully in order to have boards that were close grained and where the edges were, in effect, quarter sawn, ripped off the edges at something like 3 inches wide for my top and used the centers that were left to laminate the legs, etc. I'm not saying this is better as I don't know, but it was a lot less expensive than the premium plywood that I think one would have to use to justify the effort. Your birch will probably work well for the top; I'd be skeptical of any pine plywood though. Your thoughts on the wood species for the plywood and the thickness of the plies as to durability of the top surface would be valued.
@@Paul.Sellers The problem with emphasing the weekly cost for the next 50 years is that it is an irrelevant consideration. The bench may well last 50 or 100 years... but how long will WE last? I get the feeling that you're a pretty optimistic person but I doubt that even you are THAT optimistic. I'm not doubting the cost effectiveness of this bench but how much it works out per week over 50 years is probably not the best way to get the message across.
@@rontocknell3592 It's also being made for machine tool woodworkers like me. The materials cost for this bench are pretty much on par with every other decent tool in my shop. It's not enough to really be concerned about in my opinion. There's value in being able to build what I want when I want, and this bench will help to do that comfortably and accurately.
Absolutely awesome job. Thanks Paul, you are my favorite hand wood working master. I have a little question, how many plywood did you use in this project?
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Paul is the only person on earth capable of making me go back to facebook and other social networks. I log in only to share his videos in an attempt to try and make the world know about him. Thanks for the videos Paul!
Watching you is both mental therapy and skill building. I appreciate your soft spoken approach to woodworking. You sir are a joy to follow! Thanks for sharing.
Bob Ross of woodworking.
Same.
I absolutely love when people think about workbench affordability. All too often do I see workbench plans that take not only 3 months full time to make, but will cost $500 for materials alone. Thanks for your balanced perspective!
Use pine and plywood and the cost will not be $500. Also look for salvage wood if you really want to bring the costs down.
Mr. Sellers,
You are the Bob Ross of woodworking. I thoroughly enjoy your videos and instructions.
Recently I have been gifted a dovetail saw that wasn't quite fit for my taste and with your videos, I have been able to sharpen the teeth and make a new handle that fits me perfectly.
It is now my most favorite and one of my truly priceless tools I own.
Please, don't stop being awesome!
-CD
No matter how much woodworking one has done, somehow there's always something mire to learn and Paul Sellers is just the man to teach it. Clear and straight forward, always worth watching and listening too.
Thank you Paul. I don't think any wood worker exist in isolation. With your videos, I can be part of a larger community.
I don't have any intention of ever building anything that you demonstrate, I just love to watch a craftsman at work and to appreciate your skill and knowledge.
Thank you.
With your broke ass.
@Tony Casey
I would highly recommend taking it up as a hobby. You can sell the finished products off and use that for other things.
Not just plywood, but 12-16 layer baltic birch plywood.....my favorite albeit most expensive plywood available at my local lumber company. I would guess this workbench cost 2-4 times as much as the pine bench. Whichever way I go, I will enjoy the journey and be forever grateful for the instruction provided by Mr. Sellers.
You could use a mixture of pine and plywood and reclaimed wood as well.
You are a woodworkers Bob Ross! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Paul, I'm currently watching this video as I'm looking to build my first workbench soon. I've just yesterday ordered chisels, bought a secondhand no 4 that I will restore, sharpening equipment and the lot. I'm truly inspired by your passion and skill. I absolutely love making my own stuff and DIY projects. I'm hoping to slowly develop my skills. I've never even attempted a dovetail, didn't have the equipment / set up. I'm just 30 so still have a while to go. I'll most likely be changing the design to fit the small space I have. Hand tools are the way to go for me I think. Power tools won't make my neighbours happy, so I'm not investing in routers and the lot. Even better, I enjoy the journey as much as the end result of stuff I make so I'm certain this will keep me busy for decades to come. Thank you for all you do.
It's very reassuring to watch you have to chase the workmate across the workshop while planing, just like I do!
I put a board across the legs of the workmate and put a concrete building block or two on top of the board. Doesn’t move much. LOL
Thank you so much for this Paul, I started your original workbench a few years ago and got the top planed and laminated, then we had to move and couldn't take it with us so I gave it to a friend. I like this much better for a starter project since it's cheaper, the wood is less knotty, and the wood comes with straight edges. I can't wait to make mine! God bless.
About 20 years ago I made a workbench of a very similar design as far as the legs, trestles, Etc . The top however was three horizontally stacked sheets of 3/4 inch MDF overlaid by hardboard. It has proven to be indestructible. I thought that I would eventually have to replace the hardboard but so far so good. I really enjoy your videos Mr. Sellers and have joined your woodworking master classes.
This is BRILLIANT ... as usual Mr. Sellers comes up with a winning design and no doubt will go over very well here in the US! Thanks for getting some hand tools in there to show how well they work ... we do love some machines here in the states so maybe that will get people interested by example. Thanks for posting another winner design, these are my favorite videos to watch these days!!
Paul, you are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for your videos.
Right. Not everyone has all the tools they need. Best learning is building the tools to build more tools. Very good presentation/production video.
Am so looking forward to seeing how well this project works. And looks like one I can build myself. Thank you again for sharing your talents.
You are such a calm and meticulous craftsman, and a great teacher. Thank you Paul.
Pulls out the old Black and Decker work mate ! I just had flashbacks to my childhood I love it !
I’ve still got two of them, one does look a bit sorry for itself. It is 30yrs old though.
I’m still using mine.
Thank you for the wonderful start on this work bench. The top looks amazing with all of the plies in the plywood giving a nice textural look to the surface. Looking forward to the next part.
As always Paul beautiful work. You are a true craftsman and artist. Thank you for the great videos.
Thanks Paul. Excellent project and production, as usual.
Make no mistake my friends, this is a lifetime workbench for under 12 pence a week if you use it for 50 years using the best plywood.
I'm assuming that you are using Baltic birch or similar. I've been using 5 ply Poplar plywood from the Home depot [in the US], It goes for us$45 for 18mm 4x8. I recently saw, but have not yet used "Bloodwood" ply from Lowes home center. It is 11 ply, and has thicker outer veneers than most home center grade plywood. They claim it's 100 percent Poplar core... the core is made first, sanded and then veneered. Apparently Bloodwood can be one of many species, but is usually rotary sliced ... and that would jive with the example I saw. So there are some reasonable options.
@@fotopdo "Blondwood" not Bloodwood! Made in China, I've heard but not verified that that stuff has voids. Haven't used it myself.
Jim Korman , gotcha.... darn auto correct! The Lowe’s product claims to be void free... we’ll see about that 🤔
im just finishing my first year at college doing joinery, and i would love to build a bench like this at some point, but for now, on my student budget and with just a garden to work in, do you think a couple of sawhorses and a kitchen worktop with a vice would allow me to practise some of the skills im learning and take on a few small projects, i suppose i could put sandbags on the sawhorses to make it heavier and some tarpaulin to keep the weather out. its not ideal, but surely be better than nothing? or am i missing something
I'm no expert, but I have a workbench top which I made years ago, before being distracted by the arrival of children. I've just made two trestles to Paul's plans and laid this top on them. As the trestles have a lower cross-member, I've added a sheet of mdf between these, screwed at each end, resulting in a fairly stiff, stable workbench. Hope this helps.@@BUSHCRAPPING
Watching someone rip 3/4 plywood with a handsaw, then giving a legitimate safety brief, while expressing that you should be doing this because it's fun and should make you proud......is truly humbling.
This is the same way i designed my workbench only i used 2x4s. Used all-thread to clamp the table top. Just starting out so i dont have many tools, just used a chop box. I took advantage of the 2x4s all being the same dimensions so i didnt have to cut any mortise and tenons. cost less than $150 US. In the future if need be i can remove the table top and replace it with a harder wood or maby I will try out a hardwood ply top like the one you have here. Or maby i will get lucky and run across some nice oak from a tear down job i can have :). Thank you so much for the knowledge you share with the rest of us inspiring woodworkers Mr. Sellers! Have a great day!
Excellent video and process of merging the traditional and power woodworking methods on building a plywood workbench. Thank you for sharing. I love your building and safety process.
Paul, I love that you remind us of the value and joy of the process. Your videos unveiled what was once an obscure process for me So I recently refurbished my late uncle's hand plane and built my first table top last month. I couldn't believe the feelings of gratitude I had for what that process did for me - how engaging it was to work with (mostly) hand tools, the wonder of refining a technique out of energy conservation, and the feeling of truly valuing the beautiful object I'd made. As materialistic as we deem our present-day cultures, it's a rare kind of "materialism" to truly appreciate something you built with your hands.
Thank you for always sharing your knowledge and living the wisdom you sprinkle throughout your videos. And great video production / editing! I'm a fan.
Thanks for sharing your experience with restoring your hand plane. I have been think about restoring a hand plane that I received from my father. It was my paternal grandfathers hand plane. He has past away quite some time ago and this is one of only two things of my grandfathers I have. After hearing of your enjoyment with restoring and using of your plane. Will be doing the same too mine.
Paul, you are a true artist sir. I am very much looking forward to seeing this progress.
Great idea Paul. Thanks for sharing. I have been wanting to make a workbench and wanted to do one of yours. This one will probably be the one I do.
Cool idea, thanks for sharing! I used a similar philosophy to build a large loft bed for my son out of SPF 2x4s...gluing in mortis-tenon joints rather than cutting them. The key was planing all of the pieces to exacting thicknesses using a thickness planer and making accurate cuts with a slide saw (variance ~0.1mm). I had the idea after making a similar bed for my daughter using lap joints that I cut with a router, which turned out to be an enormous amount of work that I didn't wish to repeat (but I anyways liked the result). My son's bed is arguably much stronger, neater, easier to assemble (lots of gluing and clamping, and turned out even stronger (structural members are 3 pieces thick). Later I put together some table legs this way, to support a dining table with a very heavy Japanese elm top.
So I've been planning a workbench using the same philosophy, and Paul's plan provides an excellent template (I just downloaded it). It is impossible to find quality plywood where I live (there is only rough construction grade available) so I'll do it with 2x4s again (although lumber prices have gone up considerably and stayed high for a while now).
The joy that runs through me when Paul posts a video!. But my own projects never look as good after watching him lol... enjoy the journey I guess 😉
Don't worry, when you've done woodworking a couple of times, you'll quickly see how you improve.
Remember the first drawing you made ? - Did it look like a photo ? =)
The only thing you really need to learn is what a chisel does "close up".
Eg. a saw is just hundreds of chisels. A plane is a block of wood with a chisel in it. A drill is a couple of twisted chisels.
Wood basically have three kinds of surfaces: End-grain, edge-grain and surface grain. Cutting across the fibres differs a lot from cutting with the fibres.
Search RUclips for "saw types" and you'll quickly learn. Also search for "chisel" or "dovetail" and you'll quickly learn all the basics you need (Paul Seller's channel also have some great videos on these subjects).
-You may already know a few of the things I mentioned, but remember to think of any woodworking tool as a chisel (maybe except for the square and the hammer type tools, eh).
If you know all the above already, then just remember one thing: You only get better each time you work with wood. Even after 20 years, you'll still get better, as you discover new ways to do things. =)
Perfect for my tiny workplace with some adjustment. Gut the plans, thx.
This is a great project, and really interesting to see your take on this project. I was surprised to see the bandsaw since you are a hand tool guy. I assume that it makes more sense for you because it allows cutting curves and shapes, and allows re sawing of rough lumber. I also suspected that thinner kerf would save waste. I will say that a bandsaw accurate and powerful enough for this project is a big investment, so for me, this is a great project for my track saw. The cuts with the track/plunge saw are super clean, and don't need planing afterward. You can lay the sheets on foam boards, either on the ground or a work table, this way the work is always supported, no shifting or balance points changing as you cut. Thanks again for another great series.
Imagine having to rip all those by hand... Seriously, that would drive you mad. Plus, what's the point to 100 hours of ripping plywood with an hand saw when it takes one with a bandsaw. Would take hours of planing straight too.
I think he means a hand held electric circular saw with saw track for straight lines, not a manual sawing with only a handsaw.
@@fabzab9557 I was thinking of the same type of track saw
Make no mistake my friends, this is a lifetime workbench for under 12 pence a week if you use it for 50 years using the best plywood.
Episode 2 will be released on RUclips Friday 8th March but you can watch it right now at woodworkingmasterclasses.com/videos/plywood-workbench/plywood-workbench-episode-2/
300 for a plywood workbench, cool, I'm in...
It is always a pleasure to see you and hear from you in any job you present.
Thanks, you and your team.
Your steering wheel is on the wrong side haha, I love your videos Paul
Thank you, Paul, for showing this method to make worktables. I used the same method to create a table for my radial arm saw, a DeWalt 790. It is very flat and stiff, two requisites for a RAS table. It does take some time to cut the strips, assure they align properly, and have no twist, but in the end it is worth it.
What you saw was what I got. It really didn't take long at all so not sure why you say it takes some time to cut the strips, assure they align properly, and have no twist. I felt it was remarkably fast.
The hardest part of this build in the US will be sourcing quality birch void free plywood - the usual stuff from the home center is not the best. Also, on a side note learning to mark the joints with a knife instead of a pencil has revolutionized my woodworking overall. I use a knife when I get the chance now and the joints have never turned out cleaner in my lifetime! Thank you and please keep up the good work - these projects are great.
Getting quality plywood in the US is just as easily as it is in the UK. There are plenty of suppliers that sell marine and furniture grade plywood wood.
Chances are if there is a home centre there is going to be merchant or supplier of wood in the area.
Paul, I thank you! for many years of great hand tool teaching. But I think this is where we part ways. Since the channel changed it’s not my style . This bench, same as all the others, the bandsaw ... way cheaper to get a table saw , and lastly lol that helmet haha that’s overkill . You put more dust in the air using your hand saw! then the bandsaw with your dust extraction aka shop vac. Paul I love your old videos and I will watch them many more times . I wish you would have listened a bit more to your viewers and starting series about making furniture and how to chose what joint to use for the piece you are making . You have 4-5 different video series about making the same bench . Once again.
I thank you for the amazing hand tool videos! And take care
I simply laid the groundwork as I see fit and indeed I have listened carefully and extensively to feedback from my viewers. They consistently tell me how thankful they are for the work we continue to give freely here on RUclips and it doesn't end there of course. I am sorry to lose you so early on on the journey as our journey will ever continue to encompass many elements of furniture making. We have provided project after project on woodworkingmasterclasses.com and here on RUclips and on my blog too for many, many years that teach the essentials of fine woodworking from the very basics on up to an advanced level each week.
Well done sir, you seemed to have really thought out the build process beforehand. Looks like a great bench.
An automatic assumption with most is that hardwood plywood with 15 plies as is the case with this bench costs more than just using solid hardwood like maple, ash or oak. Of course, you miss the point entirely if cost is considered before makeability. It's really the method that makes this doable in that you need no more machines and actually you can get away with just using hand tools you most likely already have at home. It is also a bench that bridges the gap for those who might want to go from all machine work to adopt hand tools as part of their woodworking strategy moving forward. So using hardwood ply is not more costly than solid wood. Here in the UK, at least four oak legs will cost you £200. Oak sufficient for a laminated top will cost you £125 and then you have two aprons at £90 each. Oak is probably our cheapest available hardwood. You still have rails and other parts to add in. This is double the price I paid for my birch plywood. As to the rest, yes you can use lower grades of plywood but longevity and density would be the issue long term.
Here is South Africa its the same. Furniture grade Birch Plywood is around R1800 when 21mm thickness is ordered for a sheet vs Euro Beech (Our cheapest hardwood) which runs at R147.50 per meter. You easily build a workbench out of one sheet of plywood with a top that is 1200 x 600
I've literally just finished making a workbench with a different design. However, I'm really looking forward to seeing this take shape with a little envy!
Hello Friend Long Time No See Waoo Look At Your Work Shop New And Improvement The Last Time I Was Here You Were Teaching How To Cut Dove Tail By Hand.Congratulation To You Great Job Thank You And GOD Bless...
Such joy and serenity this video brings to your heart :) Thank you! For now, I have built some "easy way out" benches with 2 layers of plywood on top but at some point in the future, I will try this! Seems like a great challenge and very exciting and satisfying project :D
This one will be very strong, because the plywood is glued vertically.
You can purchase some flimsy workbenches from stores, they cost 3 times as much as this one and they're not sturdy. This build is definitely worth doing.
Always a pleasure to watch and learn from Mr. Sellers.
This is Innovation with a lot of creativity. Makes sense as our natural resources are being depleted. Plywood is made from trees which are sustainably grown.
Haha
PaskMakes did this 2 years ago
funnily enough, 'natural wood' used for most other woodworking also comes from trees which are sustainably grown :p
Sir I enjoyed your video! Your hosting , explanation, and manner is very enjoyable. Thanks for your efforts! You are a Gentleman!
I love to see how much you love woodworking! It‘s such a joy to watch!
And also my sincere congratulations on you style of filming and cutting!
Soon I will be able to build my own woodshop! Can‘t wait to also build my workbench! After this video I start thinking it might be out of plywood 🤓
Such a soothing video! Thank you for doing videos in your own style! Appreciate them all
What is it about Paul's approach and demeanor that draws me in? Is it as much to do with Paul as it is my own life and experiences?
I really like the idea of this top. Good job as usual Paul. I really enjoy your videos.
A true Bob Ross of woodworking
As always, a definite awesome idea and a precision in execution that pleases the eye with the artistic endeavour in the project. I love to watch this. I guess this is a new year presentation or should I say a 'new year present' for the viewers ! :)
looking for episode 2 mr paul 🤔👍 thanks for cheering .
It's nice to see you using an Aldi drill and inexpensive screws like us mere mortals.
I love the look of ply end grain polished up
This project is, as Mr Sellers promised, a careful blend of hand tool and power tool work, with the best techniques of hand tool work. Now I need to find a source of good plywood!
Great bench project Paul. I would love to build one, trouble is the link you provide only gives a cutting list and materials for the original timber bench NOT the plywood version. Any chance we could all have access to the ply version please?
Man this video makes me want a track saw even more than I already did
I can see that. Only issue I have though is that the bandsaw is much more versatile for work beyond this bench for a wide range of other tasks including resawing, circular cuts for turning blanks, curved cuts and so on. The work we do would not really be often repeated in like manner as we are really only making one bench and not relying on sheet work in 3/4" plywood.
A joy to watch, thanks Paul.
I have been looking forward to this video. Cheers from Holland
I've never seen you work so fast on that glue up. :>) Thanks, Paul!!
Great project, Paul. I have some solid poplar 4x4's and some poplar core plywood that's been taking up space. Might just have to give this a go.
Love all your videos, can't wait for part 2 of this one.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you as always, for sharing your inspirational ideas.
Plywood workbench is a super interesting idea. I wonder how much thicker the benchtop should be if you're making a french style workbench that doesn't have an apron.
In a way I used the "leave a gap so you don't have to cut a mortice" for my two by four workbench, I laminated the legs out of three boards with the middle board sticking out about two inches and cut corresponding slots in the top before glueing it all together, the "mortices" were slightly deeper than the "tennon" was tall so that the weight of the bench actually rested on the shoulders of the legs.
other than the laminations I held everything together with 3/8" lag screws with washers and counterbores so I could take the bench apart when I move.
I will admit, I made a bunch of mistakes, but I'm not too upset, I've learned from them, and the bench served me well, and still does in a way
A tip when drilling plywood: Any spelching-out (splitting around the exit hole) can easily and quickly be tidied-up by drilling a shallow countersink on the underside.
Or you can quickly use the chisel as I did.
This is such a great idea, Paul. I’ve really been looking forward to this.
To be honest I thionk this is a wiser use of time and resources than building a pine or spruce solid wood workbench. This one will be harder wearing.
Yeah, this is bullet proof.... literally! Must be heavy af!
Great video interested in seeing the rest of this project. Totally enjoyed it.
I'm curious why the plywood pieces are laminated in this way as opposed to stacking longer panels on top of one another to achieve a benchtop of the same thickness? I understand that face-to-face lamination is stronger than edge-to-edge lamination when using milled lumber. But one of the advantages of plywood is its ability to build with larger panels. And if stacking, say, 3 or 4 larger panels of plywood together, that would also be a face-to-face lamination.
So yeah, just curious why the benchtop is designed and built in this way with the edges of the plywood as the benchtop. Perhaps this is a nod to the face-to-face lamination of traditional workbenches built with solid wood? Or perhaps there is a better reason that I'd love to learn. Thanks for the help!
I’ve got a small Record Power bandsaw, at home in the Netherlands very happy with it... use it for lots of things, the bandsaw is my most used electric tool.
New to your channel. I appreciate your skill and your clean workshop
Hi Paul. I am intrigued to know if you have a preference for hardwood ply or softwood ply. Both seem available from your favourite DIY store at the same price, but in your videos you never express a preference. Your workbench looks like it is softwood, but could you let me have your thoughts either way? Many thanks for your wonderful ideas and experience.
Awesome. I've watched the promo at least 10 times.
What respirator are you using paul? by the by, I agree this bench is easily the most durable outdoor bench I've ever seen, especially if you seal it with some kind of Poly or something. Fantastic!!!
“Trend airshield pro” they sell it at rockler as well as Acme. Approximately $360 US
Please don’t get me wrong, this is a great video made by a craftsman and the outcome is a marvelous WORK BENCH.
But it’s just a WORK BENCH.
This bench could be the STAR EXHIBIT in a classic Hollywood scene where the lawyer is reading the deceased’s will and every member of the family are frantic wondering WHO WILL INHERIT THE WORK BENCH.
I made my bench from 2 sheets of 3/4” plywood I picked up at my local garbage collection station, I glued them together and then added screws. Then with a pile of carefully selected 2X4s I constructed a very solid base for the bench, total cost about $20.
Now some people have commented that you need a very firm and solid top to stand up to HAMMERING.
Have you ever tried to destroy 2x3/4” sheets of plywood glued and screwed together BY HAMMERING, WELL HAVE YOU.
Good luck.
So the question you must ask yourself is this, do you want a workbench that will act as suitable platform for VIRTUALLY ANY WOODWORKING PROJECT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
OR, do you want to spend hours and hours of hard work producing a work of art that EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY WOULD FIGHT TO THE DEATH TO INHERIT.
If my wife says to me “I would like a new dining room table that will make every one of our friends green with envy when they come to dinner”, I WILL BUILD THIS WORK BENCH FOR HER.
BEST WISHES.
I am just amazed that your plywood is not full of voids everywhere. Most plywood I have access to is about 1/8 air pockets.
Higher quality plywood tends to not have voids. It can be advertised as furniture grade plywood. You may still find the odd void but it is uncommon.
What a great tutorial! Thanks for sharing this.
Bom trabalho amigo 👍
Love these videos Paul thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for this Paul :)
Aargh I've just come to the end of building Paul's other workbench, and he comes out with this little beauty!, Now how do I justify another bench?
They both work equally well.
This was awesome. Thank you!
@0:23 beautiful British weather! 😂
Waiting for the episode 2. 😀👍🏼
Hi Jomy, No need to wait if you head over to woodworkingmasterclasses.com/videos/plywood-workbench/plywood-workbench-episode-2/
Thanks!
Paul, love your videos - but you need a track saw or at least a good circular saw guide. Makes breaking down plywood a piece of cake. I bought some "finished" birch plywood at Home Depot recently that was completely un-square, and had an 1/8" "bow" down the long side (proud by 1/8" in the middle of one edge and weak by the same amount on the other long edge. My saw guide made quick work of straightening it out so I could rip it on a table saw.
After half a century of using all manner of machinery you're telling me what I need. But I see that you did miss the whole point which I do understand. If I explain. I have lived on the two continents for an equal amount throughout my 54 years of daily woodworking for a living. I intimately know about all of the equipment available and I carefully chose the bandsaw for this work I do. Having lived, worked and raised a family on a single income as a full time woodworker in the USA for 23 years I know that in the USA many woodworkers have that gathering of specialised equipment called power tools and the assumption of those that do have the privilege is that anyone and everyone around the world can have or does have the same access to all that stuff; that all have the finances, the mega amount of workspace around the house to house it all, that indeed all would want it. But you see, in the world I meet at least, 95% of would-be-woodworkers would never have any of that and likely never will. More amazingly for those that do have it all, they can't understand why those without it wouldn't even want it. Tracksaws, tablesaws are all fine. They have their place and I'm not saying anything against them. It's just the assumption that all want it, have access to it and indeed that they can all handle it. And also, I would never go to The Home Depot for quality plywood or even quality anything. You got what you paid for and it was simply convenient. I still maintain that it is very, very rare for plywood not to be straight and square and especially so at the upper end which HD is not at all known for.
Also, lastly, another fatal mistake as alway is the assumption that all woodworkers feel comfortable using power equipment. They more generally are not!
Far better than his softwood bench for sure. Stiffer, denser, flatter and more stable, but I don't like all those screws. Had a friend doing commercial work, made his workbench tops out of solid core, flush exterior door rejects he got at a good price from a door shop. Made a helleva bench, fast!
Not quite the same look though. And the softwood benches I've made are still going decades on since my first one so not sure what you want from a bench more than that. I have also made them from hardwoods too. You see I'm trying to help others reach the goal of a good bench and I would defy anyone to work at the is bench for an hour and say it doesn't work well for them.
@@Paul.Sellers - Thank you so much for all your EXCELLENT videos, they shine brightly in a sometimes dim universe. You're among the greatest woodworkers I have seen in my many years - who am I to disagree with you? But, having stood at any bench I could find to do the work, I prefer a hardwood bench. The density (mass) and stiffness of a hardwood bench makes a task easier and more predictable as more of one's effort (work) goes into the workpiece rather than being absorbed by the damping effect of a softwood bench. I saw a video by one of RUclipss greatest imitators, of his take on your softwood bench. After all his careful joinery, he had a bench which rocked and rolled with each stroke of his tenon saw From my perspective, a bench needs weight (or, perhaps, anchorage).
great video!
I suppose you could also just laminate three large (1800 x 900) panels to form a big flat worktop and add an additional 9mm commercial grade plywood top as something that can be easily replaced in a couple of years. that way you would always have a fresh new work surface?
G';Day Paul,As usual,another fine film,
My only Whinge is why a Band saw,,A Circ saw most of us have,Not hard to find a couple of clamps and a straight edge,But thats me,,,
Thank you once again,always some thing new to learn,,
A bandsaw will be very functional for our more advanced videos on woodworkingmasterclasses.com. It can be used for decades of resawing to resize large stock for hand planing and so on. The obvious too is the functionality in support of lathe work for bowl blanks and then just the enormous amount of curved cuts we use in furniture making too. In other words it is very versatile for the work we teach on woodworkingmasterclasses so it is a good choice. That said, anyone can simply decide for themselves to use any alternative saw type they choose. Please, also remember too that for about half of the audience I reach the circular saw would be far less suitable. The saw you speak of does need upper body and shoulder strength, muscle and so on. Even the noise alone is intimidating and there is kick with the switches on most of them too. The danger levels with using a skilsaw/circular saw are many times higher than the bandsaw too. I am not saying there aren't dangers using a bandsaw but the chief enemy of safety with circular saws, skilsaws and tablesaws is the inevitable kickback that will happen even with all the safety features in place. I could talk about saw kerf wastage, air pollution and tearing grain too, but I think you get my drift.
@@Paul.Sellers Thank you Paul for the quick answer,,I'm Afraid my little band saw just won't cut it,(Ha Ha),
Now i understand,,Once again thank you,
I wonder how big a bandsaw is actually needed. I'll probably try and study the video a little closer to find out.
But as bandsaws are usually expensive unless you only need a very small one, you could probably go with a handsaw or jigsaw and a handplane.
It'll take longer to do the cuts and you'll likely have to spend more time planing.
-Especially because almost no jigsaw will cut a straight line, since the end of the sawblade is not guided - this makes the sawblade want to go left and right as it pleases, plus that once it made up its mind, it tends to keep wanting to go in that direction.
-And I agree with Paul, circular saws are plenty unsafe. They have the ability to make "backflips" that causes you to be injured (and maybe loose limbs).
Those accidents happen so quickly and mainly because people think they can get away with holding them with just one hand.
A plunging tracksaw will be much safer than a circular saw.
Hi Paul here from land of the sleeping giant, Ontario, Canada. Great day to YOU mate. THANKS for the great Video. Very much enjoying your progress into this great idea using marine plywood for your very well designed workbench .Watched your first bench you built outside many years ago. I was hooked back then. Very interesting And now maybe this design is what I need..THANKS for the great Video. Bye for now. THANKS again.
This guy is just amazing.
The most surprising part of this is believing your local wood supply shop's panel saw can cut a straight line.
First thing i thought of when he said plywood lol
I think a £50,000 sheet cutter with digital dial up makes it work. Many suppliers use them now.
It might be the difference between a 'proper' wood supplier, and somewhere like B&Q / Lowes / Home Depot etc...
Geoff Willingham
B&Q panel saw staff seem to work to +\-5mm in my experiences 😕
@@davelowe1977 Yeah - I let my local B&Q chop 2400m 2x4s in half for me, and lost about 50mm of usable wood due to the angle of the chop :/ Fortunately, I only needed 2x900m bits, so it didn't impact me directly - but not good if I had tighter fitment.
That looks great! Only problem for me is that plywood is far too expensive (at least where I live), far more than the cost of solid wood. But I enjoy your videos anyway.
I am not at all sure anyone should be put off by the initial cost which is not that high. If you use a marine plywood of 7 plies it will cost about £100 for the 2 1/2 sheets needed. I can buy beech face plywood with poplar plies inside for that from my local timber supplier and it will make a decent bench. In my case I chose birch plywood with 13 plies at a cost of between £250 - £300. Amortised over 50 years of use so £6 per year. That's less than 12 pence per week. The poplar ply will likely last just as long so we are down to 4 pence per week.
@@максгончаров-ъ2ц "The economy should be economical!"
@@Paul.Sellers It will be interesting to see if that plywood bench will last 50 years, but neither of us will know--I'm 74. I built my main bench in much the same way, using laminations which allowed the same very precise joinery, However I used USA southern yellow pine. I bought 2x12s in long lengths (they are generally clear, whereas short lengths are not). I chose carefully in order to have boards that were close grained and where the edges were, in effect, quarter sawn, ripped off the edges at something like 3 inches wide for my top and used the centers that were left to laminate the legs, etc. I'm not saying this is better as I don't know, but it was a lot less expensive than the premium plywood that I think one would have to use to justify the effort. Your birch will probably work well for the top; I'd be skeptical of any pine plywood though. Your thoughts on the wood species for the plywood and the thickness of the plies as to durability of the top surface would be valued.
@@Paul.Sellers The problem with emphasing the weekly cost for the next 50 years is that it is an irrelevant consideration. The bench may well last 50 or 100 years... but how long will WE last? I get the feeling that you're a pretty optimistic person but I doubt that even you are THAT optimistic.
I'm not doubting the cost effectiveness of this bench but how much it works out per week over 50 years is probably not the best way to get the message across.
@@rontocknell3592 It's also being made for machine tool woodworkers like me. The materials cost for this bench are pretty much on par with every other decent tool in my shop. It's not enough to really be concerned about in my opinion. There's value in being able to build what I want when I want, and this bench will help to do that comfortably and accurately.
3:19 after a day of this myself I could not agree more!!
HYPE TIME BOIS!
interesting concept
Absolutely awesome job. Thanks Paul, you are my favorite hand wood working master. I have a little question, how many plywood did you use in this project?
If you are asking how many sheets of plywood hopefully you'll get an answer. Because I have been wondering that very same question.
It was 3 sheets