Sawbench

I think I have an additional bit of pride when I create a piece with only my hand tools. Nice job.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

that is a fine bench ! : )

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

Nice bench! That looks like the same bench in the hand tools essentials book I have.. This bench along with the silver tray are on my short list…I really like Christopher Schwarz’s stuff (projects and writing)

-- Wait...there *has* to be a harder way!

Man I am envious, i would love to take a class with Schwarz! The bench looks good too!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Thank you for posting this. I have seen these types of benches and admired them. What a great take-away from what sounds like a great class.

-- John

Nice job on the saw bench…looks like you must have “passed” the class ;)...

Did all your saws get in on the action?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Cool bench!!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Great looking bench, and a great course reminder!

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

Looks good! It looks like Chris has updated his design once again. What is that half lap/half dovetail joint called? Does it eliminate the need for screws there?

-- Kevin

Hi Mike;

This is a handy little bench, and you did a nice job on it.

The best way to get good at woodworking is to master hand tools and it looks like you’ve got that covered.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Chris was a great teacher, I highly recommend his classes if you have the opportunity.

Dorje – Everyone of my saws and then some :). Chris brought quite a few saws and tools with him and we were welcome to try all of them out. The students were also very nice and let others try out their tools too. One guy brought several turning/bow saws. We used those to cut the curved cutout in the top.

Kem – I don’t think it has a special name. A half-lap dovetail sounds good to me :). I didn’t use any screws on the dovetails. Chris said it wasn’t needed, but some people added them just in case. The legs didn’t have as much glue surface on the top joints, so we screwed those. There are also screws on the small stretchers. Chris also said he has a few different designs for the bench. Depending on which class he teaching and how much time he has for the project dictates which bench he builds. This is one of the move involved designed. We spent about 2.5 days on it, with lectures and other breaks. I plan to build a second one, so I can put something across it and use it as an assembly table when needed.

Lee – Experience does breed confidence. Spending that much time just using hand tools, has really boosted my confidence level. When I got home I still needed to cut the legs to the proper height. I marked them out and whacked them off with a handsaw, without even thinking twice about.

-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/

Hey Mike—

Very cool bench. So cool, I’m wondering if I can find plans somewhere—I realize it’s “The Schwartz’” design, but I don’t have his workbench book yet.

This one really appeals to me, and I think you did a first-rate job. I’ve got a carcase saw that needs a workout…

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

Chris has quite a few different designs for these sawbenchs. Here are some drawings on Chris’s Lost Art Press Blog. This design is very close to the one I built, but without the dovetail joints. Everything on the bench is done at 10 degrees, including the dovetails. I’m sure you could work those in pretty easily. The bench height is customized for each person, and is cut to size after it is built. It should come to just at your knee or slightly below the knee. Mine ended up being about 20” high.

-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/

very nice! i saw a video about the sawbench by Christopher Schwarz on-line. its looks great! thanks for the post!

Nice bench!

-- jeanmarc manosque france