Dear sir, I always enjoy your videos because you simplify or boil it down to the essential elements for quality and success in woodworking. I also enjoy your mention of two other channels and creators who I enjoy. While you have my attention on benches, I would ask to see a video from you on the Roman work bench. I have been watching a Brit who uses and makes them. It would seem to me that the RWB can to some degree replace both the English bench and the saw horse and can be portable while taking up less space. I have even imagined one serving double duty as a furniture with a removable back. Certainly it is no equal to your English bench, but I would love to hear you put this ancient style in some context and perhaps even discuss ways to build one by hand.
I didn’t have enough tools to build a bench at the beginning, and that was a blessing in disguise: I bought a used one for about 100 Euros - and that bench got me started and taught me what I want and what I need, as well as the correct height. I think I would have spent and wasted more money if I had built one straight away.
I really appreciate the information in your videos and your presentation style. I found out that I love woodworking when I attended a stringed-instrument building school. I learned to repair guitars first, then violin family instruments. I’ve been repairing violins for over twenty years now and I have a basement shop at home where I can make whatever I dream up. I just love working with wood - especially with hand tools. Thank you Graham, for everything you do. From Wisconsin, USA.
Back when I was first getting very serious about woodworking, the woodworking club I'd just joined had a workbench "kit" of hardware and wood to make a Scandinavian bench based on a Tage Frid Fine Woodworking plan. I thought it was great because it was a great learning experience -- made mortise an tenon, rabbet, dado, and dovetail joinery. It was my main bench for many years, but when I started making larger items like beds and dressers, I needed a larger "assembly table." I also found the tool tray in the back didn't work all that well and the remaining bench top was not wide enough for much of my work. So I filled it in. Moving to a new shop a few years ago, I made a new assembly table and fitted it with a vintage pattern-maker's vise. But your video reminded me that I really should be using my Frid bench more often. Also being fairly tall, I did the height adjustment as you mentioned, then discovered there was an error in the plans I used. Fortunately, it was easy enough to lower it back to where it needed to be. But way before I really got into woodworking, I scavenged some construction lumber from a site near my then apartment and made some sawhorses. 50 years later, I'm still using them. Thanks for the detailed information.
Thanks for sharing. I've been working on an English workbench for a great while now based on Paul Sellers design. Age finally got the best of me since I started woodworking very late in life. I accumulated basic tools by refurbishing Stanley equipment and Disston saws and discovered I really enjoyed the process of restoring ole rust buckets. Rust is pernicious and thorough and requires constant monitoring to keep it at bay on these old pieces of woodworking tools. Fortunately my shop is temp and humidity controlled and that helps. I have several of your books and thanks for those works of art. Keep up the good work
I was just re-reading Chris Schwarz's "The Anarchist's Tool Chest" and I came across the part where you roast him over the phone for not having read a book on sawing. I had to stop reading and say, wait, THAT Graham Blackburn, the one I watch on RUclips? Anyway, love your work!
Thanks for touching on the basics sir. Lots of wood working videos show people making pieces made using complex tools and setups sometimes with expensive machines. Going to the basics is amazing, so thank you very much for giving us you time on this. Would you be so kind as to show making a splayed leg saw horse? The american channels show split top saw horses, and I've seen some spayed leg builds, but the legs are attached like a stool's legs or a Roman workbench style. Have you ever seen these?
Dear Sir, thank you for informing me on why my holdfasts don't work, ie. my holes were drilled the same diameter as the 1" dowel of the shaft. I will now use a round file to enlarge them by about 1/8th" as you suggest. It makes sense as it needs the shaft to slightly flex to grip both the object and insides the hole. Basic knowledge, but essential if you want things to work.
My first workbench was a short low roman so it would fit in my apartment. It functions as my sawbench now. I made a large notch in one end to help when ripping.
I have a big aluminium bar (1/2 by 3 inch, 52 inches long) that I got from my father in law. He was a machinist but this wasn't specifically a straight-edge. It is however straight enough for woodworking. Great for checking long edges when jointing stock.
When I build a field bench I sight across the horses like you do with winding sticks to make sure the top rails are parallel. Then I load on 2x’s and plywood for a top. Even power tool work benefits from a bench that doesn’t wind! I’ve seen some 2 board wide topped saw horses with a slot down the middle for ripping
If your bench is too low or too high, add spacers under the legs or put as many 1 inch rubber machinist mats on your floor as required. Standing on concrete for long periods is not a good idea as it is.
Hi Graham. Your videos are always interesting to watch, thank you for making and posting them. What is your view on the more modern benches, with a grid of holes (3/4 inch or 20 mm) and made out of MDF?
Don’t take advice from anyone for the correct height of your bench - instead, figure it out for yourself. I had a bench that conformed to the “rule” and it gave me a back ache within minutes of planing a piece of wood, I needed a much higher bench.
Agreed. It depends so much on what you will use it for and with what tools. To take the extreme, somebody regularly working 1/8" stocks with bailey style planes has their hands almost at bench height; contrast somebody regularly working 2" stock with wooden bodied planes: their hands might be 6" above the bench. Hence the value of separate benches or supplementary benchtop aids for certain tasks. (Also looks like Master Blackburn has shrunk, as we do: that saw horse would be fine as one of a pair, but used as a saw _bench_ it looks very high. I have no doubt he has forgooten more than I will ever know, but...)
Thank you. I had a similar holdfast that was cast iron and it broke in half. I now have Gramacy hold fasts. I spent 50 years in the workforce in maintenance shops, foundries, machine shops and all the benches were along a wall with a metal working vice attached. Some had wood tops and others had steel tops. A walk around woodworking bench is foreign to me but I have gotten used to it. I would rather have a bench that is too low and add to the height than a bench too tall and I have to stand on something. I made a sawhorse in FFA shop that rocked and they called it a pony horse. Looking forward to the next video.
Sorry, the amerikan bench does not exist. The Amerkans uses european benches. The bench you uses has a so called French face vise, Rob Cosman uses a " German face vise". Both kind of vises seem to be build in Germany, cause older french benches had a leg vise. I want to say thanks for your videos, because there are not so much chanels explaining and using handtools. I'm from Germany and the german chanels are a catastrophie in this. Some of the people are masters of the trade, but they do not know how to handel a plane or use a saw, even the tradional european framesaws. It's realy a shame how much of the tradional knowledge is missing. Now they talk about the great japanese tools and craftmanship, not knowing that most of the joints also has exist in Europe before the machines gets into the workshop. So again a great thank to you for your work. Greets from Germany.
Agreed and can I just make a plug for the Moravian bench ( it’s brilliant) which was bought to America in the late 17 th and resurrected by America in the 2000’s.
Dear sir, I always enjoy your videos because you simplify or boil it down to the essential elements for quality and success in woodworking. I also enjoy your mention of two other channels and creators who I enjoy. While you have my attention on benches, I would ask to see a video from you on the Roman work bench. I have been watching a Brit who uses and makes them. It would seem to me that the RWB can to some degree replace both the English bench and the saw horse and can be portable while taking up less space. I have even imagined one serving double duty as a furniture with a removable back. Certainly it is no equal to your English bench, but I would love to hear you put this ancient style in some context and perhaps even discuss ways to build one by hand.
Brilliant Mr. Blackburn. Thank you very much. Greetings from Spain.
Very welcome!
Don't let the anxiety of the perfect bench stop you from making your bench to get you woodworking now. Your best bench is the one you'll build next.
This comment should be the first one all new woodworkers see. Well said Anthony.
You're absolutely right.
I didn’t have enough tools to build a bench at the beginning, and that was a blessing in disguise: I bought a used one for about 100 Euros - and that bench got me started and taught me what I want and what I need, as well as the correct height. I think I would have spent and wasted more money if I had built one straight away.
Great instruction on the woodworkers third hand - the work bench.
Thanks.
I really appreciate the information in your videos and your presentation style. I found out that I love woodworking when I attended a stringed-instrument building school. I learned to repair guitars first, then violin family instruments. I’ve been repairing violins for over twenty years now and I have a basement shop at home where I can make whatever I dream up. I just love working with wood - especially with hand tools. Thank you Graham, for everything you do. From Wisconsin, USA.
You'r welcome!
Back when I was first getting very serious about woodworking, the woodworking club I'd just joined had a workbench "kit" of hardware and wood to make a Scandinavian bench based on a Tage Frid Fine Woodworking plan. I thought it was great because it was a great learning experience -- made mortise an tenon, rabbet, dado, and dovetail joinery. It was my main bench for many years, but when I started making larger items like beds and dressers, I needed a larger "assembly table." I also found the tool tray in the back didn't work all that well and the remaining bench top was not wide enough for much of my work. So I filled it in. Moving to a new shop a few years ago, I made a new assembly table and fitted it with a vintage pattern-maker's vise. But your video reminded me that I really should be using my Frid bench more often.
Also being fairly tall, I did the height adjustment as you mentioned, then discovered there was an error in the plans I used. Fortunately, it was easy enough to lower it back to where it needed to be.
But way before I really got into woodworking, I scavenged some construction lumber from a site near my then apartment and made some sawhorses. 50 years later, I'm still using them.
Thanks for the detailed information.
A great story, thanks for sharing!
Great lesson on work benches.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Your knowledge is very valuable, thank you.
Very welcome!
Thanks Graham
My pleasure!
Thanks for sharing. I've been working on an English workbench for a great while now based on Paul Sellers design. Age finally got the best of me since I started woodworking very late in life. I accumulated basic tools by refurbishing Stanley equipment and Disston saws and discovered I really enjoyed the process of restoring ole rust buckets. Rust is pernicious and thorough and requires constant monitoring to keep it at bay on these old pieces of woodworking tools. Fortunately my shop is temp and humidity controlled and that helps. I have several of your books and thanks for those works of art. Keep up the good work
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm sure your workbench is a beauty.
I like the design of your bench. The tail vice looks quite useful. Thanks
It's a very versatile design.
Fantastic! Thanks a lot for another lesson, Graham! Really valuable information!!! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thanks!
I was just re-reading Chris Schwarz's "The Anarchist's Tool Chest" and I came across the part where you roast him over the phone for not having read a book on sawing. I had to stop reading and say, wait, THAT Graham Blackburn, the one I watch on RUclips? Anyway, love your work!
Thanks.
Great episode, sir. Thank you very much.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for touching on the basics sir.
Lots of wood working videos show people making pieces made using complex tools and setups sometimes with expensive machines.
Going to the basics is amazing, so thank you very much for giving us you time on this.
Would you be so kind as to show making a splayed leg saw horse? The american channels show split top saw horses, and I've seen some spayed leg builds, but the legs are attached like a stool's legs or a Roman workbench style. Have you ever seen these?
I'll bear this in mind; could be a good episode.
Could be a good episode; thanks!
Dear Sir, thank you for informing me on why my holdfasts don't work, ie. my holes were drilled the same diameter as the 1" dowel of the shaft. I will now use a round file to enlarge them by about 1/8th" as you suggest. It makes sense as it needs the shaft to slightly flex to grip both the object and insides the hole.
Basic knowledge, but essential if you want things to work.
That makes all the difference!
My first workbench was a short low roman so it would fit in my apartment. It functions as my sawbench now. I made a large notch in one end to help when ripping.
Good idea!
I also have and love a Roman workbench/saw horse. Thanks for sharing.
Very welcome!
I just received your book on jigs, a very nice and thoughtful collection of tips!
Glad you like them!
I have a big aluminium bar (1/2 by 3 inch, 52 inches long) that I got from my father in law. He was a machinist but this wasn't specifically a straight-edge. It is however straight enough for woodworking. Great for checking long edges when jointing stock.
That’s a great find!
Giving back!👍🏻
Yep, whatever works is best!
When I build a field bench I sight across the horses like you do with winding sticks to make sure the top rails are parallel. Then I load on 2x’s and plywood for a top. Even power tool work benefits from a bench that doesn’t wind! I’ve seen some 2 board wide topped saw horses with a slot down the middle for ripping
A very useful approach!
Thank you very.much Sir.🎉
Most welcome
its a beautfuil workbench . im needing to rebuild mine i like building my own sawhorses to. Thanks for shareing your knowlage with us.
Glad to help
Nice
Thanks
If your bench is too low or too high, add spacers under the legs or put as many 1 inch rubber machinist mats on your floor as required. Standing on concrete for long periods is not a good idea as it is.
Of course!
Thank you and I’m working on my bench at the moment!
Good luck with it!
@ thank you again! Curious what the purpose of the angled tool tray is? Ease of cleaning?
Height of the bench is a challenge in my workshop…the floor slopes and the bench is two inches higher at the bottom end than the top
Hmmmm!
Hi Graham. Your videos are always interesting to watch, thank you for making and posting them. What is your view on the more modern benches, with a grid of holes (3/4 inch or 20 mm) and made out of MDF?
Somewhat illogically I don't like MDF, but if it works....
Don’t take advice from anyone for the correct height of your bench - instead, figure it out for yourself. I had a bench that conformed to the “rule” and it gave me a back ache within minutes of planing a piece of wood, I needed a much higher bench.
Yes,, me too. That one would be far too low for me. Oh, and my English (Marples) vice is a parallel vice, it doesn't rack at all
Agreed. It depends so much on what you will use it for and with what tools. To take the extreme, somebody regularly working 1/8" stocks with bailey style planes has their hands almost at bench height; contrast somebody regularly working 2" stock with wooden bodied planes: their hands might be 6" above the bench. Hence the value of separate benches or supplementary benchtop aids for certain tasks.
(Also looks like Master Blackburn has shrunk, as we do: that saw horse would be fine as one of a pair, but used as a saw _bench_ it looks very high. I have no doubt he has forgooten more than I will ever know, but...)
Thank you. I had a similar holdfast that was cast iron and it broke in half. I now have Gramacy hold fasts. I spent 50 years in the workforce in maintenance shops, foundries, machine shops and all the benches were along a wall with a metal working vice attached. Some had wood tops and others had steel tops. A walk around woodworking bench is foreign to me but I have gotten used to it. I would rather have a bench that is too low and add to the height than a bench too tall and I have to stand on something. I made a sawhorse in FFA shop that rocked and they called it a pony horse. Looking forward to the next video.
There are always exceptions....
Hmm. According to your windingstick, your bench is not perfectly flat 😮
Few things are perfect...
Mi scusi se non parlo inglese
Le faccio i miei complimenti per i suoi video molto istruttivi
Molto grazie!
Sorry, the amerikan bench does not exist. The Amerkans uses european benches. The bench you uses has a so called French face vise, Rob Cosman uses a " German face vise". Both kind of vises seem to be build in Germany, cause older french benches had a leg vise.
I want to say thanks for your videos, because there are not so much chanels explaining and using handtools. I'm from Germany and the german chanels are a catastrophie in this. Some of the people are masters of the trade, but they do not know how to handel a plane or use a saw, even the tradional european framesaws. It's realy a shame how much of the tradional knowledge is missing. Now they talk about the great japanese tools and craftmanship, not knowing that most of the joints also has exist in Europe before the machines gets into the workshop.
So again a great thank to you for your work.
Greets from Germany.
Agreed and can I just make a plug for the Moravian bench ( it’s brilliant) which was bought to America in the late 17 th and resurrected by America in the 2000’s.
Not too common but useful...
Thanks Graham
Very welcome!