Don't RUIN your workbench with 2x4s. (Use these tips instead.)
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
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Scott Walsh on 2x4 benches: • Don't Make a 2x4 Workb...
The English Woodworker, Gluing a Leg: • Gluing Up A Workbench ...
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0:00 Intro
2:34 Crosscut and Store
3:13 Buy Extra
4:07 Plane Your Surfaces
6:16 Free Your Mind
7:54 Outro 
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Links from this video:
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Scott Walsh on 2x4 benches: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MviF3...
The English Woodworker, Gluing a Leg: ruclips.net/video/8LBs2h6Vrgc/видео.htmlsi=zWtY-...
The best work bench is the one that actually exists in your shop. Lots of people get too hung up on trying to make their first anything flawless. Always appreciate your pragmatic advice.
Spot on.
A master woodworker can generally do a better job with cheap starter tools than a novice could with the finest tools money can buy.
The main difference between a master and a novice is in their experience not in the excellence of their tools.
That said, higher quality tools do make the job easier but only after one knows what they are doing.
General rule for the novice is to start with the best quality tools they can afford and learn the craft before laying out the big bucks.
RGB lighting can make any dark basement #PartyTime!
That's exactly how I've been shifting my thinking as I plan to make a bunch of stands for my miter saw, jointer, planer, table saw and get rid or the janky metal stands.… Everything I make doesn't have to be perfect the first time because I can remake them.
As a former lumber associate at a big box store, thank you for always encouraging people to restack their lumber.
I bet it would amaze others how frequently the basic common decency of _cleaning up after you_ was forgotten at the lumber racks, right? Hard to imagine people acting the same in nearly any other context, but as little time as I've spent around the wood racks in our equivalents of a big-box I've seen some pretty disgusting messes left after someone or various someones went through the stacks 😠
Slight chance I may be more disturbed by this than the average guy however, cos OCD 😁
As a shareholder of a big box store, you should hope people restack. As an employee, you want customers creating MORE work for employees, not less. Work is good, not bad. The big box store gives you money for that work - it's literally why you're there.
@@JamesMooreSeattle that's some entitled logic right there. I worked for over a year with only 2 other people in that department, one of whom was part time. You think the Corp cared? You think any of us had down time?
Also as the next customer, I appreciate it too. I hate it when the wood at Lowe's or HD looks like a wood workshop' scrap bin. Because I also need to go through it next!
what if the lumber that you pull from the stack is not reaallly restackable! why put a twisted cracked or bowed board back ing the pile for the next sucker!
Latin for “oh sh*t my workbench fell apart” had me in absolute stitches 😂😂 great video!
One thing I've taken to doing that helps find "good" lumber at the big box stores is...don't try to buy all of your lumber all at once (if possible). Visit the store regularly and pick through the stacks. Buy only the absolute best pieces. It may take some time but you can really find nice boarda this way. It also spreads the cost out vs a big outlay all at once.
Where this idea doesn't work is if you dont have a store close by.
That match-cut turn at 0:50 was too good, you guys are getting really getting better at video making as a craft of its own
@@TheTacticalBarrage I'm aware it's not difficult, but it was a nice touch
Rex, I've been watching you for years and I absolutely love seeing your personality coming through and the creator you've become! All of your videos and shorts in the past few months have been top tier!
That's an awesome thing to hear!! And, I'm not a viking, but I'm also a punk rocker.
The editing here is good. Been really enjoying the english jointers bench that i built from your plans. Its been super great with all the work holding
When I bought the lumber for my bench, I took a cut list with me. I bought kiln-dried 2x12 Doug Fir (I wish I could get yellow pine). I tossed the stack, looking for the right board to get the right cuts from them. I checked off the cuts on my cut list and marked a number on the board with a crayon. I was there for about an hour and some people looked at me like I was crazy, but I got what I wanted and restacked it all when I was done. I also grabbed a handful of 1x2 to cut up for stickers.
When I brought the wood home, I immediately cut the wood down to size and stickered it. I don't have a table saw, but I have a circular saw with a ripping fence which was almost as good. If you don't have a fence you can clamp a board to the base of the saw. I think it'll work well enough. I stacked them in my garage next to the front door (Does ANY woodworker use their garage to store a car?) in the hottest part of the summer. When I was stacking the wood, I used a moisture meter and marked the boards with the moisture content. I checked back every week or so for about 2 months, restacking the wood so it dried evenly. When it got down to ~10% which is about right for my region in the summer, I moved it to my woodshed and stacked it on end. Then I hurt my back, and it's been sitting there ever since. kiln-dried
No need to be self conscious they almost certainly weren't judging you crazy just interested in what you were doing and how. We often do similar and get chatting to everyone. Almost everyone will be doing something interesting, as when we need construction timber we go to the timber yard where things are more standard.
Before my son was born and I ended up in a wheelchair I built a slide out utility sink with my dad, I think that was the most hair- brained idea i've had, but it turned out really functional.
Most people in there will be looking at you as the one who knows what they're doing. Even tradies often have little experience with most jobs, and joiners as I say aren't often in the timber aisle.
lmao it's depressing only having access to doug fir. It's harder and more stable iirc but also it's lighter and more prone to blowout
gotta love when someone takes the effort to put back the things they dont take at the store. Not many willing to do that anymore sadly
(that earned a like and subscribe)
I feel like RUclips encourages the extremes: the nicest fanciest or the cheapest hack.
You nailed it. Even if you buy kiln dried slabs, wood shifts. You always have to plan for it. Sometimes more than others. My daughter loves looking through construction lumber with me and riding the cart. She knows twist is worse than bowed is worse than cupped for me. When I built my minimum timber bench, I had to hit both big box stores to get enough clean, straight 2x4s that weren’t sopping wet. Lowe’s has better 2x10+ and Home Depot has better SPF around here. And 1 Home Depot is usually better than another one.
Just need a result that’s good enough for the job. I don’t understand the fine furniture looking workbench. They’re very very nice, but I’d be afraid to use them. Mine will be stained from sharpening or restoring tools in a week. And I’m not going to baby the thing. With your English Joiner’s Bench designs, I can just replace the top when it gets bad. It’s not precious from cost or labor. I just buy some boards, cut them, screw them down and plane it flat. Maybe $20-30 bucks and 1 good workout. Well and taking up some extra garage space while it acclimates 😂
Just finished building the Minimum Timber Bench out of pallet 2x4s, and it came out great! Love the design and am very proud of my build. Thanks, Rex!
Here's a mini-tip: If you find yourself in possession of a 2x4 with a lot of wind or bow, just save it for a project that uses short pieces. For instance, I was building a knee-high wall around a porch and needed short studs (~2ft). My squirreled-away junky 2x4's found their reason for existing. In such short lengths the defects don't manifest themselves significantly, or can be readily planed out.
And pieces for the legs are usually pretty short. So that's often the best place for less than perfect lumber. The point is to get used to noting the quality of every piece of lumber and select the most appropriate place to use it. May as well get this habit going on your first bench because you will continue the practice in all your future woodwork.
@@DrJuan-ev8lu Right you are. For a small project (something like a napkin holder, say) I sometimes spend almost as much time hunting through my scavenged and leftover stock as I do at the bench.
You can roll with it, or you can use noggins and force it to be straight in sturdy box frames as well. With the strength of the frame of say an english workbench it'll well and truly do as it's told.
Ha! I thought I was the only one who spends more time evaluating old stock than actual woodworking.
I loved the energy and humor you put int o this one. I don't even need a workbench and I couldn't stop watching. Great tips all around for workbench or any other project. Thanks!
Thank you, Mr. Kruger!
I *REALLY* appreciate the sale, I've been wanting some of your plans for YEARS!
Also, "Thank you!" for the selection tips as I'm getting ready to build my 1st workbench.
I'd already decided to build the English-style/Nicholson bench because it uses less wood.
Now I've got to decide which course to get! Decisions, decisions!
I also want to build the low bench AND the saw-bench, too!
I'll prolly use your plans AND James Wright's AND a bit from James Hamilton's, too.
I want your router plane kit, too!
I have an idea for angling the ends for ergonomics I want to try.
BTW, I've been waiting on this video since about 11:30AM.
I am SO glad I did!
Thanks again!
Have a GREAT day, Neightbor!
Thanks a lot for all the tips, Rex! 😊
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Great video as always, I'll be checking out the channels you recommended.
As a related suggestion, so long as you don't mind the cosmetic impact, check your local used building material centers, like the Habitat for Humanity Restores or other such places. I built my workbench from douglas fir studs taken out of 1930-1940 homes that were demolished in Portland. They were already dry and had decades to work out their movement and get used to being straight. The cost was similar to new construction lumber but the grain is tighter, straighter and just loaded with character. (Though, plan on a few hours of pulling nails before surfacing them.) Won't be an option for everyone but it's worth looking for.
Yes! I built my bench from leftover white pine from an 1870s house. Super solid and beautiful
Good simple, solid advice there. Since you mention it in step 5, I admit that in recent years, I have become quite obsessive about wood working traditions and practices; I've been reluctant to take on ideas that differ from what I was taught 40+ years ago. I think it's because when we enjoy what we do, we become afraid of it changing - or maybe we don't want to accept that some new or other idea is better than ours (so we get on a sort of ego trip because we think we are amongst the last of a kind to possess a certain bygone skill set or whatever). I don't know, I'm trying to work it out in my head at the moment. What matters most, though, is that you got me thinking about it in the first place - so, good work!
Good ideas. One thing I noticed looking at older designs is they seem to have larger old growth boards more easily available than we do. These young growth 2x4 designs are not because everybody loves the wood. Its because that is what is widely available for this generation of woodworkers. So people adapt.n
@@spayced one important aspect is the very nature of where you're getting the timber has changed. A joiner will get it from a timber yard or an already well seasoned used joists. The diy store wood services people doing garden projects and other work that benefits from cheap young timber. How did your grandad get his timber? You don't have to go around asking farmers what they have in the barn any longer.
In England we've always made our workbenches with what is most readily available and cheap. There are two paths you can go, replicate the results, or replicate the ethos.
Recently built a Quickstack bench following your tips (which you included in your video course--thank you) and it turned out great 😁
Great advice as usual Rex. Remember the Roman bench you taught us how to build using 2x4's.? I am also using it for the top of my Moravian work bench. I bought Will Myers plans and use scrap lumber from my beaten up deck and made a great bench. No warping or twisting here. Thanks for all your help over the years! Donny
I built your english joiners bench and love it. I modified it to have a traditional vise rather than a leg vice and a shelf down below for storage and extra rigidity and it's been great.
Really enjoyed the video work in this one!
Awesome video Rex, lots of energy! :) All of it true and useful.
Good video, thanks for making and posting it!
Rex, somehow this video has struck me as one of your most inspiring. It’s not the first or 50th video or yours I’ve seen since subscribing to your channel in 431BC. Thanks muchly!
Fun to watch Rex. Thanks man
Hi Rex, Ive been following your content for a while, just want to say thank you. Bought your plans and going to make a jointers workbench as soon as I move to a new house. It's unfortunate that timber size is a bit different here in Australia, but I think I'll make adjustments. Thanks again, great work
Small upgrade on sorting through the stacks:
1) I don't know if it is a practice, but it does seems as though the good wood is on the outside of the stacks, I could look through the whole open stack at our local HD, and not find a single piece of usable wood. Maybe on the bottom/outside, just never get that deep.
2) Every time you are in the home center, look at the wood. If possible buy good boards when you see them, and accumulate the material up to some determined point. I do this regardless of whether I am making something right at the moment.
Off topic for most...
3) cut some live lumber yourself. All you need is a felling saw, and an axe. Big pieces can be hewn, you don't need a chainsaw mill, though the payback on that can be instant.
Rex, you were really sassy this video and I loved it. Thanks for sharing your passion, I can't wait to read your book. I hope you write a book on making your own hand tools someday. I'd love a book like that from you. Thanks
I have thought about writing such a book. I'm glad you like the idea!
LOVE my Rex Krueger-inspired workbench!!
All great points. I finished my Enflish jointers bench a cpl weeks ago and have been using it daily. For a first "real" bench, can't beat it. I just didn't think it would be so hard to drill dog holes! Dont want them in the "wrong" place and its painful to drill into a new bench 😂
Love the video keep up the good work
I think it’s possible to build a good workbench from the get-go, but more often than not, your first workbench won’t be great. I would suggest not to worry too much about it, because by far the best way to find out what type of workbench is best for you, what features you want, how tall it needs to be etc. is to do some actual work. So just build something, or buy a used workbench (that’s what I did), or start on a sturdy table - whatever’s cheapest or easiest to get hold of.
You will get things wrong, you will make mistakes, you might get excruciating back pain, and that’s how you will figure out what you want and need in a workbench. As an added bonus, it will give you time to either save up or shop around for the finest lumber for your second workbench, the one that’s actually going to be really good.
Another quick tip: don’t let anyone tell you that a metal frame with a wooden worktop is not a good idea, just because you rarely see it and it’s not traditional: nothing wrong with it at all.
And don't let anyone tell you you can't use carriage bolts and simple face laps in place of fancy jointery. I would bet the majority of well used and effective benches today have been made without use of a plane or chisel or dovetail of any sort. There is nothing wrong with reviving early British and colonial methods but this can discourage or scare off the beginner. And I'm not even sure the big box stores sell any good hand planes or even good hand saws or miter saws anymore. I inherited mine, including some old wooden planes that I used to think were just display pieces. But RUclips videos have taught me they actually work well when sharpened and adjusted. Still, I pick up the Bosch or Dewalt electric when a plane is called for since they are so much faster and easier. We each have to choose how to best "Get er Done" within the limits of our time, skill and tool budget. And the practical man has to realize that beautiful dovetails with elegant narrow pins is one of the weaker corner joints, while dovetails quickly made with an electric router and finger jig are quite strong, almost matching the simple glued bevel joint made even faster with a table saw. On the other hand, power tools bring much more danger and clearly using hand tools with age old methods is a much safer place to start.
Excellent advice (as usual) Rex ❤
I love videos that stress being selective about the wood you pick, especially 2x material from a big-box naturally, which I feel isn't stressed nearly enough. But that gnarly, trashy 2x4 in the centre of that workbench sure is a revelation isn't it?! 👍👍
I use scrap 2x4s or 2x6s from the dumpster at residential construction sites. I ask the workers first if it's okay before I take what I would like. The wood twists and warps but I cut the round edges off, glue, clamp and drill screws in to maintain the clamping and to avoid the possible delaminating. On my third workbench doing this. Only thing I would buy is screws and glue. Solid workbenches for all my uses.
I used 2x4s, 2x6s and 2x12s, kiln dried. It's an english workbench, basically, with some modifications.
It's actually a fantastic bench. I'm going to flatten the top and reinforce the dog holes soon as a bench upgrade. The thing is 6 months old so once I plane it this time it should be finished.
One day I'll build a nice bench out of a hardwood. But this one is so good that it'll be a long time before it really needs replacing.
The whole thing is screw and glue, and the mortise and tenons aren't cut out. Rather, I sandwiched three 2x4s around a 2x6 for the frame and glued it. It's so, so rigid and strong. I used carriage bolts to put the smaller pieces together. The thing is a lovely beast and I'm proud of it.
Your videos, merely showing us all what can be done absolutely encouraged me to just trust my instincts about what was going to work and go with it, so I want to thank you!
I built the traditional jointer bench and it's wonderful. I took the plans, put them on Sketch-up and did additional modifications to meet my needs. It's great! Rock solid, hasn't warped, etc. Worth every penny.
good tips Rex
Great tips!!! I have learned from you a lot!!! I have built your English joinery working bench i think 3 years ago or more ...one of the best investment i have had - it is very rigid made it out of 2*10 and 4*4. I don't have shop were i am working so it is outside stored in small garden storage shed with out climat control because of its design and smart using of materials. Made some holes for holdfast, the leg vice . This bench can take it all
Nice one Rex.
To be honest, ive learned more from rex than anyone else, you're awesome buddy
I did exactly what you said 3 years ago and mine is still holding together.
Having moved and left my workshop behind, I have now built the lightweight low bench - using plans from your book - and I am about to start building your minimum timber bench - using plans purchased a month or so ago.
I would suggest that people keep their lumber off concrete floors in basements or garages as moisture wicks up concrete pretty easily. Good video, Rex, and while I've been woodworking for more than 55 years, I enjoyed your book and learned a few things too.
I’ve built all my shop furniture out of 2x4’s. And I use plywood for the tops. It’s cheap and easy. I haven’t had too much trouble with board warping over time, but it has happened. Luckily it’s cheap and easy to replace them if need be.
I bought the course and plans for the quick stack workbench. The course was well done. I don't need to take it apart and it is solid as all get out! The design is so customizable. I definitely would recommend it.
For a fast and very stable slab top .....
Get a surplus or thrown away fire door!
They are cheap , true and designed not to shift with the weather. Also heavy as heck.
Rex - I used 4”x4” spruce boards for my workbench several years ago. I’ve had no problems with warping, etc. Leveling it once built was also fairly easy.
I'm always fascinated by those videos where they tell you how to make a simple box or bench... using every £10k tool in their pro machine shop. Like, who has spent years building up a shop full of pro equipment but still needs instructions on how to make a f***ing bench?? That's why I like your channel.
Rex's passion for this is second only to the tie between Cosman and the almighty Sellers
In UK, some of our DIY store timbers wrapped in polythene, sweating moisture, feels like they still had leaves on them last month !!
great points
thankyou for not taking the approach of "just stay away" from 2x4
I probably wouldn't have heard of Richard Mcguire if it weren't for you, when you mentioned him in the shooting board video. Maaaan, ive got to say, that guy is a master woodworker. The man is awesome. Thanks for another great video rex. Oh btw, you're not to bad yourself 😎
Or do like me and scrounge demolition wood. My workbench is heavy, totally rigid, made from large timber and cost me several very large rescued heavy screws and a £7.50 grubby vice which just needed cleaning, greasing and scrap wooden faces. All the wood is seasoned and close grained, albeit a mix of Douglas Fir, dense Pine and 1860s floor joists and boards.
I built a workbench about 2yrs ago and the bench top is made from laminating 2x4's and had to overcome several issues such as knots and resin pockets. Being new to woodworking and working only with hand tools there was a long time (weeks) between flattening and finally gluing up the bench top which meant planing the same sticks multiple times.
Sometimes I wish I used better quality wood for the bench top however due the to cost of tools etc when starting out it was the best I could afford and it got me into the hobby and that's the most important thing IMO
thank you
I love my joiners bench. I'm also going to make an anarchists bench when I have the opportunity. Because its a gorgeous beast.
Thanks
Not sure how yellow pine is but I built mine from Douglas Fir which is heavy and dense. I would recommend buying the premium 2x4 ‘s and 4x4’s for the legs and 2x6’s for the cross members. My bench has not moved much since assembly
I faced the same problems as a broke 22 year old craftsman, i ended up using the cheapest sheet of ply wood, 8 or 10 2x4s and 2 4x4s. I genuinely thought itd be a transition table one ill have around for a while till i build a better one but I doubt that thing will ever leave the center of my shop
Wow apparently Rex talking fast is even more captivating than normal
thanks
I use wood for legs that I get from hardwood 8 ft pallets. They are hardwood 4x4's... works great every time...
Have a great Thanksgiving with your family
I built the Fine Woodworking "Rock-Solid Plywood Bench" about 7 years ago with only a worksite table saw and basic tools. It's a beast. I'd recommend it if you want something that's almost bulletproof.
Ooh, the cut at :50 was really good
I have found the 2X runners form pallets to be much drier when you get them home and take them apart. They are not free. They cost a huge amount of time, but for someone just starting out they are not a bad option.
Hey rex, i use ur english bench, but what i replaced wast the top, I decided to cut a sheet of plywood in four parts and laminate them, it was a bit pricey, but omg it holds posture, does not bows as easy, and i dont have the soft issue when i use my holdfast, ist not prestige but it is functional and the best part is that if i drill or cut or damage it while working i wont suffer and cut my veins because i damaged a good piece of wood.
Weyerhaeuser has a “Framing Series” line of lumber. It’s tested with lasers and is amazingly straight.
Rex, I propose you consider a workbench design using plywood and mdf rather than construction lumber. My 8ft x 2ft bench required only 2 sheets of plywood and 2 sheets of mdf. All the required cuts can be made with a a circular saw and a speed square. The plywood is mostly cut into strips that are face glued together to form 2 side assemblies and 2 end assemblies that will not rack when bolted together; a bit like Paul Seller's plywood bench but far easier to construct. The glued joints of the assemblies provide the rigidity of the base; the bolts simply hold the assemblies to each other. The mdf is cut and laminated into a 3" thick top a la Rob Cosman's mdf benchtop. The entire construction requires only a few inexpensive tools and very little woodworking skill.
A plywood bench is a great durable and efficient option.
A circular saw should not be used by people with very little woodworking skills, hand saws and jigsaws are better options until they understand a bit more about wood and (power)tool safety.
Your videos make me want to start wood working. Its not a good idea in my current life but damn.
I use 2x4s that I recover from pallets that are special made for something. I remove the metal screws, staples ext. Then cut and plain them to take off the rounded edges always trim off the ends to make them square, let them sit for a month to make sure they are dry and don't warp. I cannot afford to buy wood so I make do with pallets and any wood I find that someone disposes of. My work benches are straight, level and have never failed. Guess that makes me an oddball wood worker.
I worked 20 years in a cabinet shop building custom work. I built many, many mahogany bank counters, very high end ones. My bench was two sheets of 3/4" fine grained particle board on two sawhorses with loose 2x4s on them. It never sagged much but I could always turn so the crown side was up. I never had a vise. I did use various stop strips for sanding with a belt sander. I also used a crochet but we called it a bird's mouth. What makes a good woodworker is simple the care he uses. Equipment does not.
Great tips as always Rex. When you mentioned rip sawing 2x10s by hand I laughed out loud because one of my coworkers is all in on hand tool woodworking and he absolutely would do that. He actually ripped a 4x4 8ft walnut beam in half by hand 🤷♂️ when I pick lumber I always try to get ones that feel the lightest relative to others so that they are drier and more predictable.
ive built Rex's low roman bench and the quick stack. I've since altered and modded the QuickStack bench to suit myself, but i absolutely love it. Big fan, I'm sure his english benches are just as amazing. If your looking to get to work and skip the random BS, I'd recommend Rex and his plans in a heart beat
Nothing worse than people tossing a bunk till they find the board or piece of plywood that they can see the face of Elvis in the grain.
I do inspect the lumber. Rex is correct about going to get 12 2x4 board and 10 are junk. Last project that I did with wood at the box store, I went through over 100 cedar boards and only found 12 that were worth a crap. Out of the 12, 2 were what I would consider good, the other 10 were fixable as I have a table saw, jointer, planer, etc.
2x4's... went through close to 50 boards and only left the store with 2. This was from a trip to Home Depot after leaving a two seperate Lowes stores that did not have even one acceptable board. Not even a mediocre board; every board at the Lowes stores was plain and simple crap. Looked like they got them from a multiple semi hitting each other head-on clean up job after 200 other vehicles had driven over every board at the scene of the accident. Some of the Lowes boards actually had what looked to be road rash with gravel and asphalt embedded in the wood.
😮
Rex's statement odds of getting 2 out of 12 good boards were better.
"ripping the pith" -that made a Brit smile
I wouldn't leave the wood leaned up against the wall to dry, that can cause and exaggerate the warps
Or, or, or build the low roman bench from the ONE 2x12 !! But on second thought, I did that, and it was even close to flat, so its probably far better to build the low roman bench from glued up 2x4s. I did 'fix' it with a 1/4" shim of wood, then planed flat, one day I will remake it. I do love the low roman bench for its usefulness, small size, and versatility using dog holes, and pegs and wedges. I just dont have room for a larger heavier bench.
I have built work benches and tables by turning 2x4's on edge, drilling them every foot or so, running all thread through them and countersinking washers and nuts. As the 2x4's season, keep retightening the nuts. After the wood stabilizes, you can plane the top flat and smooth.
When my house and shop were built, they had a huge pile of lumber that they were going to haul to the dump. It wasn't worth their time to pull the nails and find other uses for all of the discarded lumber. I have a couple years worth of kindling, and a bunch of nice lumber to use for what ever. Not sure if they would be concerned about 'liability' if you just stopped by and asked for discards. Also, recently, an old building was demolished. Every thing was put in dumpsters and hauled off. There was a lot of clear straight grained fir in the building. Should have nabbed some.... Again, not sure if they would allow you to salvage....
I've built a couple workbenches out of "#2 & better" 2x4s from a local lumber yard/builders store and those are basically all nice and straight and have not bent. I have also bought cheaper "stud grade" 2x4s for other purposes, clearly not as nice except for the price. Even the good ones do cup a little though, so ripping #2 2x8s would probably be nicer.
The problem with making a bench is that you don't have one when you are a beginner. So all that happy talk about how easy it is to plane out the stock, is a bit premature. On my first workbench a zillion years ago, I decided to either buy the bench or buy a planer. I bought a small Inca Jointer/Planer, cheap machines did not exist at the time. Then I sent my cut list to the guy who was selling me my beech, and... When I picked it up it had all been glued into the sub assemblies. I was disappointed as I was supposed to do that myself, but it was also one of he best deals I ever made... He did all the lamination, everything but the joinery.
I used recycled hard wood fence post.
How thick should wardrobe shelves be?
Are there any good workbenches for outside?
I would watch Richard Maguire just to hear him talk. I pick up new slang and expressions every time.
Used 4x4's for legs and 2x6's otherwise. 5 inch caster wheels. Always allow your big box lumber to dry out, the longer the better....at least one week preferably three weeks.
I stopped using box store lumber because it is not stable enough, go to a good lumber store that specialized in lumber, not a hardware store. As Rex said pick through their stack. In my opinion it is worth the extra you will pay. it is typically a much better grade of lumber. I also have learned to size all of my wood because the size of a piece of lumber can vary a 1/4 inch from one board to the next, that will play havoc in your build.
I really like how creative you are getting with the editing without sacrificing any of your clear delivery that you are great at. What inspired this change?
I am in the midst of building a version of your quick stack workbench and have been delaying finishing the legs because I messed up the top a bit. I didn't match all the boards as well as I should have so there are some gaps that I didn't realize were as bad as they were until after glue up.
@RexKrueger, what are your thoughts on 4x stock for legs. Some box stores carry untreated 4x4, for posts and finish work I assume. It seems more expedient at a glance. Love your content, found your channel during the pandemic and have been watching ever since.
If you're a beginner and your bench legs need a mortise, then I'd say skip the 4x4s. Rex is a fan of cutting a notch out of two 2x4s and then gluing them together so that the notches make a through mortise in a now roughly 4x4 leg. I made his "Quick Stack" workbench for my first big workbench, and that technique worked well there.
Having made components out of 4x4s and also bench legs out of 2x4s, I'm semi-qualified to say that the 2x4 approach to legs saves time if you've got any sort of stretcher or cross-bracing that uses half-lap joints. I hybridized Rex's English Joiner design with Chris Schwarz's Knockdown Nicholson (okay, it's mostly the Schwarz design), and using laminated 2x4s for the legs made the joinery almost impossibly easy.
But if I were building a quick bench with angle braces screwed to the surface of the legs, I'd use 4x4s because then there's no glue time at all and you can build the whole leg assembly with a Skilsaw (or handsaw) and a driver.
4xs can twist like mad, i have the weird fence posts to prove it. I've replaced four in the last couple years, and it may be a fluke but they are all the centers of the tree, the pith.
Where do I find that planing stop?
I can't decide wether I'm on drugs, or Rex is. Something feels out of ordinary in this video.
Something to be aware of is that at your local blue hardware store at the very least, they will discount bad lumber if you ask. It may not be very much as it's up to the manager on duty but they are happy to get that bad wood out the door.
Sir did you just call me a slob!? lol
Why does your basement stud wall have Tim Burton -esque bridging? I am curious and vexed
The problem for the box stores is they are left with 3/4 bundle of crap after tossing. If I see anything less than half a bundle then I expect the eyes have already been picked out of them. You need to get the bottom of the stack to find anything usable.
I built that bench, but never installed those diagonal braces 😅
For all of those of us that are poor slobs, I salute you sir 😄🫡
I ripped an 8x8 lengthwise by hand once