Chris, you didn't give any commentary at the end comparing the power tool v hand tool approach. What's up with that? How long did each method take, which did you prefer, challenges of each, and so on. Great video nonetheless.
Good point thats a missed opportunity for sure. I guess I got lazy there at the end after hours upon hours of editing and narration haha. This has taken me days on and off. I can tell you in a nut shell that I much more preferred the hand tool side. I honestly dont think it took me a significant amount of time longer. cutting the tenons and tongue on the table top was a breeze and very enjoyable, but plow the groove and boring out the tenons was definitely hard work. For me it is always more rewarding and enjoyable when I complete a task with hand tools, but there are certain things that powertools are worth using. For instance router out the groove was substaintially easier than plowing it with the plow plane haha. Ill try to remember to do that commentary next time! Thanks Hazem!
My impression, from watching the video, was that both finished products worked out well ... so which approach one prefers would really be determined by the tools, skills, and how you want to spend your time working
And the amount of dust you can cope with. Mine's an attic workshop so dust is a problem. Dust extraction would be expensive, difficult and take a lot of already limited space. So hand tools are the way I've gone.
Thanks for the comparison video. I prefer hand tools these days but always find men standing around with comments like, "don't you like electricity", or "you would be finished in 20 minutes with power tools". Gets old pretty fast, it's nice to see someone proficient in both and to be honest sometimes a blend of the two is the handiest.
I bought this for my friend for his birthday as we just moved into a new house and he finally has room for a workshop. The bench was very easy to set up ruclips.net/user/postUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh They center support is a little difficult to snap in and out of place at first but at least then we know the bench is secure. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw it came with clamps. I apparently missed that in the description. My friend loves the versatility of the bench. Great starter bench for his workshop and easily transportable all over our property. I wish the bench was a little taller but the other features of the bench more than make up for that.
I have always been a power tool junkie, but the older I get the more I appreciate hand tools and the old ways of doing things, and you gave me the drive to learn the old ways even more. You are a fine craftsman and I really enjoy your channel!
Thanks so much Tony. It is definitely a super rewarding experience for me when using hand tools and my own practiced skills to build something. It feels great when I am done.
I absolutely LOVE the hand tool vs. power tool format!!! Please do more like this. Not only do you get to see how to do both, but you can mix/match techniques depending on what you have in your shop to work with. Love it!
He said “regular, affordable, power tools”…. I agree with the power mortiser and am saving for one myself, but even a decent quality one isn’t really regular and affordable IMO. What may work for some guys in a short term is a power mortise attachment for their pillar drill ~$200 for decent one with bits; just keep in mind that this is more of a solution for floor standing drills since table top pillar drills don’t have enough throw in the quill to have an effective mortiser. The table top pillar drill really hits its max effectiveness with a mortiser attachment in the 1/4” mortise range like in rail/stile cabinet and small furniture. Just my 2¢
I'm a girl and a bit shy of power tools. But my past life in the Victorian times has led me to love furniture that was crafted this way, I like furniture that is sustainable and can be reused for centuries. Unlike the garbage today that gets thrown out in the trash. I searched this video because I found an antique draw leaf table missing its leaves, and it is built with breadboard ends. So.Now I am in search of some hand tools to try my hand at what you've done in this video, which is amazing and so much appreciated .
Hand tools are for the true craftsman, and not only requires good tooling, but lots of talent from years of experience. Power tools are for quicker build times, and the quality of the job is determined by the builders efforts and accuracy in setting up the machinery correctly. Once this is done, electricity takes over. (Thank you Benjamin Franklin.). Thanks for a good video.
Very well explained. Thank you. I am presently building a harvest table & will be doing breadboard ends. Recently bought 5 Douglas fir doors from the early 1900’s that could have possibly ended up in the dumpster and repurposing the lumber. Anyone who has worked with today’s lumber cannot appreciate the high value of old growth trees from 100 years ago. You are a young man & already possess the fine qualities of a good woodworker and can only hone your skills even further. Your common sense approach to the discipline of wood & tools is a great example to anyone watching this video that wants to get done The proper way. Victor from Canada. .......thanks for your time & consideration.
He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist. St. Francis of Assisi” Thank you for your videos, you inspire me and I find them soooo relaxing. Thank you from Albania
I hardly own any hand tools because of the skill and coordination required. I fully get the appreciation folks have for them and respect those who take the time. It's a lot quieter, which can make a big difference of you have children trying to sleep and stuff. Hats off to a super strong breadboard. Love the thought and engineering that went into it.
Excited to see you using that little slick. I work at a small timber framing company, and we all carry 2” wide chisels and use them for anything we can. They can be monsters or persuasion tools
I know the video is a little older but I felt that I should comment. I think what you have done here really shows that whatever tools you have your disposal and you can afford are the right tools. Certain tools, power or handtools, are better for certain jobs. It was nice to see that you don’t have to necessarily be committed to one or the other and you can appreciate working with both. Great video.
I watch this video about every three months. Based on my RUclips search history it keeps popping up as a suggested video. A pure joy to watch. The hand tool side is my favorite and a big reason I’m converting over to using more hand tools in my shop over the power tools. Good call quitting your day job!! 👍🏻
Chris, great video. This comment is late as the video was posted two years ago but to cut the mortises I use a forstner bit of the width I want and after the first plunge to depth, advance the board 1/8 in at a time the bit will cut just fine and when done the mortise only needs a chisel run over the surface in case of any stray fibers left. This worked fine for a 3/8 wide mortise. Needs to be done in a drill press set up with a 90 degree fence so the board is perpendicular to the wood and just needs to be moved along as needed. Also round over the ends of the tenon sides so I don't have to square the mortise ends. Thanx again
A few years ago, I fumbled my way through the power tools version of breadboard ends. After watching you do it, I’m glad to see I didn’t do it completely wrong. But, it would have been nice to have you there to point out how I could have done better! Amazing job!
I am in the process of making a table and I've looked at a million different breadboard options. One thing I'm considering is whether to leave the breadboard enclosed at least 3/4" or so on the ends, to prevent the board itself from warping away from the table end. The downside of course is that no one gets to see the edge joinery, and that it takes a little more work.
haha. yea I sure do like that truck. Unfortunately its in the body shop right now because some druck driver smashed it while it was parked on the street
1. Love the chisel from the flea market 2. Love the backup board used while sawing. 3. Love the offset dowels to draw in the breadboard to the table top This is a wonderful video and I thank you for sharing your hours of VERY hard work with us! ^5
I am a new subscriber and wanted to say I enjoy watching, you showing both hand tools and power tools is vary helpful seeing how I am just starting to get involved with woodworking and don't have a lot of either just a littel of both.
You took some shortcuts: brace and bit mortice work, fret saw tenon haunch, but hey it's still hand tool so it's working smarter. A lot of Paul sellers influence present and it came out great.
I watch a lot of videos on line, yours by far are the most professional I have seen. Done very well on all aspects. Very talented wood working skills and a joy to learn from. I just found you this morning and you have a new fan. I install hardwood flooring and I am always looking for a way to grow my skill sets. One of the hardest things I deal with on a daily basis is not being given enough time to do my job the way I would like as far as quality is concerned. I consider myself a perfectionist, a gift sometimes and a curse too, but that is how God wired me I guess. Thanks for the work put into video form for all of us to learn from. Ed
Wow, thank you very much for the kind words. I really appreciate that I love that you get some enjoyement out of them. I am totally the same way as far as being a perfectionist, and that can hurt your profits for sure as time is money and the longer you spend on a job the less you make. But I cannot sell someone something unless Im truly happy with it. But keep being a perfectionist sir, it means we sleep better at night knowing we did a job well done :)
I really enjoyed your narrated and step by step video. I get so tired of turning on a video and seeing it in high speed and no explanation of what and why they are doing something. Just a great video. Thanks so much. David
I think the finished product shows the craftsmanship involved regardless of what tools you use to accomplish it. I cringed when the router started plowing out the groove, the hand tools way was much quieter and seems like the way to go, but so so so much work. Pushing that plane sure makes your arms look good tho, maybe I need to do that more. I bought a camera to make videos a few years ago and still haven't figured out the process and I hear so many talk about the time it takes to edit etc. You've rapidly become my favorite woodworker. Great job as usual. Another fine video from my favorite woodworking team. Be sure to give Utz an attaboy from me.
I scanned quickly and didn't see any comments but for the mortises in the breadboard you can use a mortising bit on your drill press. I have seen them from 1/8 1/4 and 1/2 (maybe even 3/8) inch bits. Depending on how wide your mortise is you might need to put a couple together to get the finished mortise.
In another life I worked for a high end furniture manufacturer. The place was 100 years old back then and I have never seen such a collection of craftsman in one place since. I was there for 3 years and got the wood working bug. The company went broke. Fast forward 40 years and three other careers, I'm semiretired and for the last 18 months I have been collecting tools and building a small work shop. I put the word out that I was taking orders and my daughter said she wants a large table for the 6 of them. My plan is to make a 1/2 scale table as practice first. I have your plans and I'll keep you posted.
Greetings from Ireland. I'm a hobby woodworker and within the next few weeks, I'll be starting to make my first ever tabletop with breadboards. This video was just great and I picked up so many tips from it. I'm sure I'll be referring back to it often during my attempt. I'll be using Wych Elm which is very hard but beautiful. Many thanks.
Well done Chris. Those tenons look stout. Myself... I'm a hybrid woodworker and use both to get whatever task accomplished the fastest with the best results. I find that I use power tools during the day and then hand tools at night after I tire of the noise. That stated I get great pleasure from using scary sharp hand tools no matter what time of day. :)
Instead of using a chisel or spokeshave to whittle the ends of dowels, I keep a pencil sharpener in my tool box (for sharpening my pencils 🙂) and use it to trim the ends of the dowels. Works great!
I had a Porter Cable lock mortiser router that would cut 6" deep mortises. It was a bit expensive but very portable. I used it for building doors with a loose tenon.
Being an older, non trained, retired lineman who has patiently builds things, i loved how you built that one end with hand tools. i wish i could have had a dual trade because it would have been wood working. thanks
Nice work. I once fixed breadboard ends before I learned of the movement that happens. So far the project is still intact. I flooded it with mineral oil, it seems to have a more stable moisture content. It is an island top cutting board basically.
When drilling holes with your auger bit and power drillmove the drill up and down the drill bit cuts along its length and u then only need to trim corners square. But keep a good grip of drill because it likes to buck. Old mortice lock trick.
i would use mortising chisels on my drill press or dedicated mortiser (which I don't have) to do the power tool side on the deep mortises....great video!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful explanation of both. I was hesitant to try breadboard ends, but now feel confident I can do it. My table top is only 7/8" I think it should work with the proper calculations. Thanks again!
You asked about squaring up the mortises without a chisel, you can use an oscillating tool. The straight plunge cutters work fairly well and you can use an angle grinder to take them down to the width you need.
Hi david, I have a smalled Jet hollow chisel mortising machine, but It wasnt big enough to accept that 6" board, I have not tried using one of those bits and attachments on the drill press. Do you know if the larger bits are 4" deep. I dont think the smaller 1/2' bit on my machine is 4" Thanks for the comment.
Chris I'm not sure about the lengths. I have seen them used on television programs like the New Yankee Workshop. Check with lowes or home depot. They sell those chisel bits.
Hi Chris - Great video and fantastic workmanship. Its great to see someone using hand tools with such skill. I think you demonstrated that they are not really much slower than power tools but with so much more satisfaction. Love the draw bored dowels - I have just completed a new workbench with a laminated Bubinga top on a Mahogany base. I used draw bored oak dowels for the complete assembly and it is so solid. Keep up the great work - Dave
Awesome. Working on a cutting board and my homemade tablesaw isn’t accurate enough for doing it so I was trying to figure a good way todo it with hand tools
I just watched two of your videos and learned a tremendous amount on how these tables are made. Subscribed!!! An excellent table and fantastic video. I'm sure I'll be referencing your videos often as I plan on making a similar table from 100 year old tobacco barn timber.
Hey Chris, just revisiting this video on the breadboards and getting all the ideas in my head to do the same on a project in the near future. I will be taking the all hand tool approach myself as I have limited space in my rented one car garage. I want to thank you for all your videos and great content that you put out. As mentioned before, I am building many of my hand tools as well. I am looking into the bowl blank suggestion from before. As always awesome content.
That was a great confirmation of everything I have studied about breadboards lately - great video. I don’t think Paul Sellers would find fault with anything.
Great work! This has become one of my favorite channels over the past couple weeks. IMHO you sir are underexposed in the youtube woodworking world. I'll be sharing links in the future. Thanks you for your great work.
Wow Richard, thank you so much. That means a lot to me. I am glad you like the videos, and hopefully as time goes on and I put more stuff out there I will continue to grow. Comments like this really keeps me motivated so thank you!
Hi Chris Just found you and subscribe, here in England I do the very same work as you and I can't believe what a pleasure it is watching someone else doing it, this site is going to be my new past time keep up the great work mate and the laid back way you do it 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Something about hand-tools make it look more relaxing to do. I have very few power tools, but collecting some hand tools to get into some woodworking. Just feels right to me. ;-) Really nice work.
I have a Jet one, but its not big enough to get that 6" wide board in there. :( I might have been able to get a mortise bit into the drill press though
Ahh, got cha. My delta came with a riser extension piece, its about a 3" tall chunk of cast iron that fits between the base and the column when I have to do taller items.
Excellent video, wish I had come across it sooner, I am in the process of also building a HUGE oak table with breadboard ends and have struggled with the joint. I like the idea of chamfer the end to highlight the transition. keep making sawdust.
the power tool version was not as cool to watch as the hand tool side. I am new to wood working so I learned a lot from the two options. thanks for the video!!!
Nice demo.You made the hand tool side look as easy as the power tools. Except for the plough plane, that looked like a lot of work!. Like some others, I would like your opinion on the differences. Thanks for sharing.
Yes the plow plane, and hand boring 4" deep holes in oak were both pretty laborous, but besides that I really enjoyed the hand tool side of it. In a nut shell cutting the tongue and tenons on the table part was my favorite with the hand tools, using the router with the fense and power drill made the breadboard part way easier than with the hand tools.
Power tools or not, nice work. As much as I like older methods I also enjoy the speed you get by utilizing power tools. The gratification is how nice it looks at the end of the process regardless of the tools you use.
Nice vid! Learning about basic woodworking atm. About the elongated dowel holes for wood expansion - if the tenons are a snug fit for the mortises how would there be any movement anyway between breadboard and rest of tabletop? Thanks!
Chris, you didn't give any commentary at the end comparing the power tool v hand tool approach. What's up with that? How long did each method take, which did you prefer, challenges of each, and so on.
Great video nonetheless.
Good point thats a missed opportunity for sure. I guess I got lazy there at the end after hours upon hours of editing and narration haha. This has taken me days on and off. I can tell you in a nut shell that I much more preferred the hand tool side. I honestly dont think it took me a significant amount of time longer. cutting the tenons and tongue on the table top was a breeze and very enjoyable, but plow the groove and boring out the tenons was definitely hard work. For me it is always more rewarding and enjoyable when I complete a task with hand tools, but there are certain things that powertools are worth using. For instance router out the groove was substaintially easier than plowing it with the plow plane haha. Ill try to remember to do that commentary next time! Thanks Hazem!
My impression, from watching the video, was that both finished products worked out well ... so which approach one prefers would really be determined by the tools, skills, and how you want to spend your time working
....and the amount of noise the neighbours can stand :)
And the amount of dust you can cope with. Mine's an attic workshop so dust is a problem. Dust extraction would be expensive, difficult and take a lot of already limited space. So hand tools are the way I've gone.
Thanks for the comparison video. I prefer hand tools these days but always find men standing around with comments like, "don't you like electricity", or "you would be finished in 20 minutes with power tools". Gets old pretty fast, it's nice to see someone proficient in both and to be honest sometimes a blend of the two is the handiest.
I bought this for my friend for his birthday as we just moved into a new house and he finally has room for a workshop. The bench was very easy to set up ruclips.net/user/postUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh They center support is a little difficult to snap in and out of place at first but at least then we know the bench is secure. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw it came with clamps. I apparently missed that in the description. My friend loves the versatility of the bench. Great starter bench for his workshop and easily transportable all over our property. I wish the bench was a little taller but the other features of the bench more than make up for that.
I have always been a power tool junkie, but the older I get the more I appreciate hand tools and the old ways of doing things, and you gave me the drive to learn the old ways even more. You are a fine craftsman and I really enjoy your channel!
Thanks so much Tony. It is definitely a super rewarding experience for me when using hand tools and my own practiced skills to build something. It feels great when I am done.
I absolutely LOVE the hand tool vs. power tool format!!! Please do more like this. Not only do you get to see how to do both, but you can mix/match techniques depending on what you have in your shop to work with. Love it!
Square Hole Mortising Drill Bits are what you were looking for
Di Wu - Norm Abrams approves of this comment.
That’s what I was thinking
He said “regular, affordable, power tools”…. I agree with the power mortiser and am saving for one myself, but even a decent quality one isn’t really regular and affordable IMO. What may work for some guys in a short term is a power mortise attachment for their pillar drill ~$200 for decent one with bits; just keep in mind that this is more of a solution for floor standing drills since table top pillar drills don’t have enough throw in the quill to have an effective mortiser. The table top pillar drill really hits its max effectiveness with a mortiser attachment in the 1/4” mortise range like in rail/stile cabinet and small furniture.
Just my 2¢
I'm a girl and a bit shy of power tools. But my past life in the Victorian times has led me to love furniture that was crafted this way, I like furniture that is sustainable and can be reused for centuries. Unlike the garbage today that gets thrown out in the trash. I searched this video because I found an antique draw leaf table missing its leaves, and it is built with breadboard ends. So.Now I am in search of some hand tools to try my hand at what you've done in this video, which is amazing and so much appreciated .
Hand tools are for the true craftsman, and not only requires good tooling, but lots of talent from years of experience. Power tools are for quicker build times, and the quality of the job is determined by the builders efforts and accuracy in setting up the machinery correctly. Once this is done, electricity takes over. (Thank you Benjamin Franklin.).
Thanks for a good video.
Very well explained. Thank you. I am presently building a harvest table & will be doing breadboard ends.
Recently bought 5 Douglas fir doors from the early 1900’s that could have possibly ended up in the dumpster and repurposing the lumber.
Anyone who has worked with today’s lumber cannot appreciate the high value of old growth trees from 100 years ago.
You are a young man & already possess the fine qualities of a good woodworker and can only hone your skills even further.
Your common sense approach to the discipline of wood & tools is a great example to anyone watching this video that wants to get done
The proper way.
Victor from Canada. .......thanks for your time & consideration.
I click like before watching every video because they are so well done.
He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
St. Francis of Assisi”
Thank you for your videos, you inspire me and I find them soooo relaxing. Thank you from Albania
I hardly own any hand tools because of the skill and coordination required. I fully get the appreciation folks have for them and respect those who take the time. It's a lot quieter, which can make a big difference of you have children trying to sleep and stuff. Hats off to a super strong breadboard. Love the thought and engineering that went into it.
You should get yourself some more hand tools. They are a blast to use!
Excited to see you using that little slick. I work at a small timber framing company, and we all carry 2” wide chisels and use them for anything we can. They can be monsters or persuasion tools
I know the video is a little older but I felt that I should comment. I think what you have done here really shows that whatever tools you have your disposal and you can afford are the right tools. Certain tools, power or handtools, are better for certain jobs. It was nice to see that you don’t have to necessarily be committed to one or the other and you can appreciate working with both. Great video.
Thanks Jeremy, thats definitely a point I want to make for people
I watch this video about every three months. Based on my RUclips search history it keeps popping up as a suggested video. A pure joy to watch. The hand tool side is my favorite and a big reason I’m converting over to using more hand tools in my shop over the power tools. Good call quitting your day job!! 👍🏻
Awesome love watching u work,i see im not the only woodworker who lives in a subdivision with an HOA
Chris, great video. This comment is late as the video was posted two years ago but to cut the mortises I use a forstner bit of the width I want and after the first plunge to depth, advance the board 1/8 in at a time the bit will cut just fine and when done the mortise only needs a chisel run over the surface in case of any stray fibers left. This worked fine for a 3/8 wide mortise. Needs to be done in a drill press set up with a 90 degree fence so the board is perpendicular to the wood and just needs to be moved along as needed. Also round over the ends of the tenon sides so I don't have to square the mortise ends. Thanx again
A few years ago, I fumbled my way through the power tools version of breadboard ends. After watching you do it, I’m glad to see I didn’t do it completely wrong. But, it would have been nice to have you there to point out how I could have done better! Amazing job!
Great plans! Building this table is Ash. Godspeed
Great demo of making bread board ends with a variety of tools.
Thanks Bill much appreciated
Nice trick with the straight edge and the saw. Also a good reason to have one with a high angle handle/deep blade.
Best breadboard end techniques.
I am in the process of making a table and I've looked at a million different breadboard options. One thing I'm considering is whether to leave the breadboard enclosed at least 3/4" or so on the ends, to prevent the board itself from warping away from the table end. The downside of course is that no one gets to see the edge joinery, and that it takes a little more work.
Masterfully done! A Craftsman knows how to wisely use both hand and power tools... GREAT example!
Just found this channel and instantly hooked
You sir, have ninja woodworking skills - beautiful work.
Chris you are a real craftsman and a natural teacher. Great work sir.
I don't know what I like more, the way the table turned out or that B-E-A-UTIFUL GMC out front.....great videos bud...very helpful!
haha. yea I sure do like that truck. Unfortunately its in the body shop right now because some druck driver smashed it while it was parked on the street
Third Coast Craftsman Dang dude, sorry to hear that. Y'all catch the moron?
1. Love the chisel from the flea market
2. Love the backup board used while sawing.
3. Love the offset dowels to draw in the breadboard to the table top
This is a wonderful video and I thank you for sharing your hours of VERY hard work with us! ^5
Thanks so much for the awesome message and kind words. I really appreciate it and am glad you like the video
Nice video.
I love the contrast between the noisy screaming power tools vs the sweet symphony of hand tools
Yes, its the exact reason I alway grab the hand tools if I can help it.
I am a new subscriber and wanted to say I enjoy watching, you showing both hand tools and power tools is vary helpful seeing how I am just starting to get involved with woodworking and don't have a lot of either just a littel of both.
You're an excellent carpenter with more patience than I have. Keep at it. Look forward to more.
You took some shortcuts: brace and bit mortice work, fret saw tenon haunch, but hey it's still hand tool so it's working smarter. A lot of Paul sellers influence present and it came out great.
I watch a lot of videos on line, yours by far are the most professional I have seen. Done very well on all aspects. Very talented wood working skills and a joy to learn from. I just found you this morning and you have a new fan. I install hardwood flooring and I am always looking for a way to grow my skill sets. One of the hardest things I deal with on a daily basis is not being given enough time to do my job the way I would like as far as quality is concerned. I consider myself a perfectionist, a gift sometimes and a curse too, but that is how God wired me I guess. Thanks for the work put into video form for all of us to learn from. Ed
Wow, thank you very much for the kind words. I really appreciate that I love that you get some enjoyement out of them. I am totally the same way as far as being a perfectionist, and that can hurt your profits for sure as time is money and the longer you spend on a job the less you make. But I cannot sell someone something unless Im truly happy with it. But keep being a perfectionist sir, it means we sleep better at night knowing we did a job well done :)
I really enjoyed your narrated and step by step video. I get so tired of turning on a video and seeing it in high speed and no explanation of what and why they are doing something. Just a great video. Thanks so much. David
Very good cinematography. Good approach to comparison, using a single item with two sides that allow comparison.
Thank you, I was hoping do both sides with a different approach on each side would make for a good videi.
I came here trying to figure out what a bread board was. I stayed because of some awesome techniques and tips
Just shows that there is still a need for hand tools in modern day woodworking. Amazing!
Great job explaining everything thank you very much
I think the finished product shows the craftsmanship involved regardless of what tools you use to accomplish it. I cringed when the router started plowing out the groove, the hand tools way was much quieter and seems like the way to go, but so so so much work. Pushing that plane sure makes your arms look good tho, maybe I need to do that more. I bought a camera to make videos a few years ago and still haven't figured out the process and I hear so many talk about the time it takes to edit etc. You've rapidly become my favorite woodworker. Great job as usual. Another fine video from my favorite woodworking team. Be sure to give Utz an attaboy from me.
We are not worthy!! Lol. Great job man. Your a great teacher!
I scanned quickly and didn't see any comments but for the mortises in the breadboard you can use a mortising bit on your drill press. I have seen them from 1/8 1/4 and 1/2 (maybe even 3/8) inch bits. Depending on how wide your mortise is you might need to put a couple together to get the finished mortise.
In another life I worked for a high end furniture manufacturer. The place was 100 years old back then and I have never seen such a collection of craftsman in one place since. I was there for 3 years and got the wood working bug. The company went broke. Fast forward 40 years and three other careers, I'm semiretired and for the last 18 months I have been collecting tools and building a small work shop. I put the word out that I was taking orders and my daughter said she wants a large table for the 6 of them. My plan is to make a 1/2 scale table as practice first. I have your plans and I'll keep you posted.
I enjoy watching stuff like that, give ppl new idea, that others don't know about!
Greetings from Ireland. I'm a hobby woodworker and within the next few weeks, I'll be starting to make my first ever tabletop with breadboards. This video was just great and I picked up so many tips from it. I'm sure I'll be referring back to it often during my attempt. I'll be using Wych Elm which is very hard but beautiful.
Many thanks.
Awesome Alan, I am glad you found the video helpful. hopefully you can send me pics on facebook or instagram once you get working on it!
That was a fantastic, clarifying and enjoyable watch. Thank you. Subscribed
Fantastic job and great explanation of the project.
Multi cutters are always a good idea
Well done Chris. Those tenons look stout. Myself... I'm a hybrid woodworker and use both to get whatever task accomplished the fastest with the best results. I find that I use power tools during the day and then hand tools at night after I tire of the noise. That stated I get great pleasure from using scary sharp hand tools no matter what time of day. :)
good work, very handmade, which adds value to the piece.
Thanks Armando
Chris, This is wonderful. You expertly explain the breadboarding purposes, techniques and process. Thanks.
Thank you, the whole narration part has been a struggle for me, Im glad to hear I am on track haha.
You do beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.
Instead of using a chisel or spokeshave to whittle the ends of dowels, I keep a pencil sharpener in my tool box (for sharpening my pencils 🙂) and use it to trim the ends of the dowels. Works great!
I had a Porter Cable lock mortiser router that would cut 6" deep mortises. It was a bit expensive but very portable. I used it for building doors with a loose tenon.
Ill have to look one of those up!
Being an older, non trained, retired lineman who has patiently builds things, i loved how you built that one end with hand tools. i wish i could have had a dual trade because it would have been wood working. thanks
Nice work. I once fixed breadboard ends before I learned of the movement that happens. So far the project is still intact. I flooded it with mineral oil, it seems to have a more stable moisture content. It is an island top cutting board basically.
When drilling holes with your auger bit and power drillmove the drill up and down the drill bit cuts along its length and u then only need to trim corners square. But keep a good grip of drill because it likes to buck. Old mortice lock trick.
i would use mortising chisels on my drill press or dedicated mortiser (which I don't have) to do the power tool side on the deep mortises....great video!
Great job on the table. I don't own a brace or auger bits so don't feel bad about the drill. You use what you've got!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful explanation of both. I was hesitant to try breadboard ends, but now feel confident I can do it. My table top is only 7/8" I think it should work with the proper calculations. Thanks again!
You asked about squaring up the mortises without a chisel, you can use an oscillating tool. The straight plunge cutters work fairly well and you can use an angle grinder to take them down to the width you need.
Very well done. Absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks Kory!
Chris the tool you are looking for is called a chisel mortising bit. It attaches to the drill press to make the tendons.
Hi david, I have a smalled Jet hollow chisel mortising machine, but It wasnt big enough to accept that 6" board, I have not tried using one of those bits and attachments on the drill press. Do you know if the larger bits are 4" deep. I dont think the smaller 1/2' bit on my machine is 4" Thanks for the comment.
Chris I'm not sure about the lengths. I have seen them used on television programs like the New Yankee Workshop. Check with lowes or home depot. They sell those chisel bits.
Hi Chris - Great video and fantastic workmanship. Its great to see someone using hand tools with such skill. I think you demonstrated that they are not really much slower than power tools but with so much more satisfaction. Love the draw bored dowels - I have just completed a new workbench with a laminated Bubinga top on a Mahogany base. I used draw bored oak dowels for the complete assembly and it is so solid. Keep up the great work - Dave
I watched the whole video of you actually making that table. Sick, bro. Sick.
Really good work, I like your quality of the video. Thanks
Awesome. Working on a cutting board and my homemade tablesaw isn’t accurate enough for doing it so I was trying to figure a good way todo it with hand tools
I like the chamfered edges also. Gorgeous build!
Impressive woodworking skills my friend.
Thanks bud. I definitely appreciate that coming from a fine woodworker as yourself!
Incredible work call mom came out looking fantastic! Super helpful seeing both methods as well, thanks for posting!
I just watched two of your videos and learned a tremendous amount on how these tables are made. Subscribed!!! An excellent table and fantastic video. I'm sure I'll be referencing your videos often as I plan on making a similar table from 100 year old tobacco barn timber.
Hey Michael, I am glad you found the videos and learned some stuff. Thanks for subscribing and good luck on your table!
Great video, loved seing both methods, gives me options in the future.
Enjoyed this immensely. Thanks
The top looks wonderful.
Thank you Jim, I gotta agree, I am SUPER happy with how it turned out.
Thanks, Chris. I’ve seen these techniques before but something about the combination of your shots and voiceover gave me some new insights.
Hi Adam, thats awesome, im glad you were able to get something out of it!
By the way... surfing today I found this. Are you aware that you’re "Big In Japan"? ruclips.net/video/KlS6vuN93JM/видео.html
Adam Aronson oh my gosh! They stole my video!!! Haha thanks for letting me know!
I suppose that's a compliment. ;-)
I've never heard of that type of joinery before... looks really interesting!
which type? drawboring or the breadboard?
dayum ..... you go boy ! that,s the stuff !...... great vid. !
Hands down the best woodworker on RUclips!
Utz is a gorgeous pooch! Love the eyes and chocolate fur..
Well done Sir
Hey Chris, just revisiting this video on the breadboards and getting all the ideas in my head to do the same on a project in the near future. I will be taking the all hand tool approach myself as I have limited space in my rented one car garage. I want to thank you for all your videos and great content that you put out. As mentioned before, I am building many of my hand tools as well. I am looking into the bowl blank suggestion from before. As always awesome content.
That was a great confirmation of everything I have studied about breadboards lately - great video. I don’t think Paul Sellers would find fault with anything.
Very organised work & excellent video - Thank you
Thank you steve I appreciate that!
Beautiful work.
You're highly underrated. Your work is amazing.
Great work! This has become one of my favorite channels over the past couple weeks. IMHO you sir are underexposed in the youtube woodworking world. I'll be sharing links in the future. Thanks you for your great work.
Wow Richard, thank you so much. That means a lot to me. I am glad you like the videos, and hopefully as time goes on and I put more stuff out there I will continue to grow. Comments like this really keeps me motivated so thank you!
Can't remember the last time I watched a 17 min video without fast forwarding, good work!
17 mins IS a long video for sure. Makes me happy that the content was engaging enough that you watched all of it. Im on the right track! :)
Hi Chris
Just found you and subscribe, here in England I do the very same work as you and I can't believe what a pleasure it is watching someone else doing it, this site is going to be my new past time keep up the great work mate and the laid back way you do it 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Thanks Jim. I agree I always LOVE watching woodworking videos, especially ones with lots of hand tools. Thanks for subscribing and the kind words!
Something about hand-tools make it look more relaxing to do. I have very few power tools, but collecting some hand tools to get into some woodworking. Just feels right to me. ;-)
Really nice work.
Hollow chisel mortiser for the power tool end breadboard mortises. I bought a delta one for maybe $300, it has saved me loads of chisel time.
I have a Jet one, but its not big enough to get that 6" wide board in there. :( I might have been able to get a mortise bit into the drill press though
Ahh, got cha. My delta came with a riser extension piece, its about a 3" tall chunk of cast iron that fits between the base and the column when I have to do taller items.
Excellent video, wish I had come across it sooner, I am in the process of also building a HUGE oak table with breadboard ends and have struggled with the joint. I like the idea of chamfer the end to highlight the transition. keep making sawdust.
hey robert, thanks for the comment. Yes, it can definitely be a tricky joint for sure! I hope it turned out good for you!
the power tool version was not as cool to watch as the hand tool side. I am new to wood working so I learned a lot from the two options. thanks for the video!!!
You would probably need a press but you can use square hole mortising drill bits if you want to avoid having to use a chisel.
Beautiful
Nice demo.You made the hand tool side look as easy as the power tools. Except for the plough plane, that looked like a lot of work!. Like some others, I would like your opinion on the differences. Thanks for sharing.
Yes the plow plane, and hand boring 4" deep holes in oak were both pretty laborous, but besides that I really enjoyed the hand tool side of it. In a nut shell cutting the tongue and tenons on the table part was my favorite with the hand tools, using the router with the fense and power drill made the breadboard part way easier than with the hand tools.
One of the few videos that I have watched multiple times and enjoy. Thanks Chris
Again, nice job, good craftsmanship........at least for the band tool segment, I skipped the power tool segment, lol.
Power tools or not, nice work. As much as I like older methods I also enjoy the speed you get by utilizing power tools. The gratification is how nice it looks at the end of the process regardless of the tools you use.
Thank you for our GREAT WORK.
Nice vid! Learning about basic woodworking atm. About the elongated dowel holes for wood expansion - if the tenons are a snug fit for the mortises how would there be any movement anyway between breadboard and rest of tabletop?
Thanks!
Mortising bit for the drill press