Support my channel by purchasing Christopher Schwarz's Workbench Book on Amazon, with plans for this bench as well as the Roubo or French style bench: amzn.to/3hpQRhk
the author does like to from scratch, shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxD-QRFQz730FJEh4f9BYSf-nkIMIC9hL_ as another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us dont have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we wont be able to practice the full stack project, is still great.
Thank you! Really trying to push the hybrid woodworking thing to younger folks honestly. There’s a fair amount of craftsmanship culture being lost and I think it’s fair to say that learning the hows and whys of woodworking can help keep some of that alive. Thanks for watching!
First time I have seen your channel and I am impressed with your skill level. I have watched alot of people cut treaded rods and bolts but you are the first one to show putting on a nut first so it is easy to clean the end of the bolt or rod, a trick my Father taught me some 63 years ago. I was ten. Keep up the good work.
I’m finding myself wanting a new bench more and more lately. I’ve just been sitting on youtube stalking everyone’s awesome bench builds. Nice job dude!
I just bought a house and am turning the garage into a wood shop and have been debating on the bench I want. Pretty sure you’re video just made my mind up for me lol. Great job!
Thanks Terri! Fun fact: the lower shelf actually adds more rigidity to the bench as a whole which helps it be more solid. So it’s not only pretty but has structural value too.
This is me 3rd time watching this build and I've watched many woodworking bench build videos. I'm definitely buying this book and building it the way you did!! Great Job!!👍
Wow thank you. It may be my proudest build and I’ve done a bunch of videos since then… you can really see it’s utility, the patina on it, and how it’s truly become the heart of my shop.
Really nice bench .You built this extremely well. Probably the best design out there.100% agree with the quick release vice.I also thick flattening the bottom is a waste of time but each to his own.
Thanks. As for the bottom I agree in part. I don’t think it needs to be DEAD flat. But I think at least having it settle in a mostly flat posture works well and makes your life easier in the long run.
I just watched Christopher Schwarz build a Roubo bench with mostly hand tools and just marveled at the work he does. I still love your bench, and the seemingly ease in which you make it, but guys like Schwarz and Cosman drop my jaw to the floor every time they work. Wow. I still want to make yours though if I had all the necessary machinery to do the job.
Those guys are amazing. To make a weird comparison: those folks are like lebron James, magic, Jordan, etc. I’m like... Ricky Davis in 2012 who just maintains a really overly positive mindset to be able to stay in the NBA. 😂
Woodwork & the NBA are among my passions. I'll never be MJ, but hard work keeps me earning PT in the shop. (Think P.J. Tucker.) I relate to your effort & fearless pursuit of improving your game.
Yo Dawg. Absolutely love this video. I’ve watched it 5 times already just today. I also shared it with my brother. We are new to woodwork and realize we need a workbench. I have searched hi & low for the perfect one for our needs. I believe this work of art is it. I have used your Amazon link and ordered Mr Schwartz’s book. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for a great video and may I say you are a true craftsman.
Thanks man. A solid workbench is the foundation to a bright future. If you look at videos like my timber frame barn door or the Japanese shaker desk you can definitely see how versatile the work holding options are and how steady the bench is. It’s probably my favorite build I’ve done because of how it continues to serve me daily.
Quite a stunning build! Surprisingly, a mortised bench stop works better than that aluminum one, I regret installing in on my last bench. Also, Nicholson illustrations show leg shoulders angled (with matching housing cuts in aprons). It's for making a gap less apparent when aprons will shrink, learned that a hard way too.
I wanted to get the benchcrafted plane stop but the issue is location for me. You have to do a reach around (heyooooooo) the apron and where my bench is, it’s routinely blocked by the tablesaw because of my size limitations. With that being said, I’ve been using this stop for a few weeks now and I don’t hate it, although I can see it’s limitations. I’m working on a desk now and had to use my doe’s feet as plane stop extender because I was in this weird no man’s land where I was out of space to pin it in the back with a holdfast and doe’s foot yet it still wasn’t reaching the quick release vise.
What a gorgeous bench build!! I've been researching the Nicholson workbench and saw your video after watching Rex Krueger's video. I will definitely be building a Nicholson bench. I hope mine comes out as handsomely as yours did. Great choices in wood species for the vices.
Thanks man. Would definitely suggest the Schwarz book on workbenches. He’s got a ton of super in depth info on the build. Options for like a wagon vise, etc. good stuff.
Thanks Greg! It’s a great bench that should last until I outgrow it. And odds are if I move spaces I’ll just have this as my mini bench and I’ll make something else as a full time bench.
You actually said “scrap rosewood”. I had already seen a few green tool appearances and thought “this guy might be too rich for me” but hearing the phrase scrap rosewood really hammered it home.
If you think I was too rich for you when this video was filmed in 2020 I’m basically Jeff Bezos in terms of my tool arsenal… and I didn’t even need to get anymore green tools. Enter coupon code, “askmehow” at checkout. Thanks for watching.
Nice build! At 7:25, the function of that shape is to prevent spearing your knee with a sharp corner, or the back of your head when you bend down to retrieve an item from the floor.
Thanks man! It’a crazy how functional this is. I was chamfering some stair treads with a router the other day and I used the holdfasts to keep it in place and it was a dream. It’s not just a hand tool bench.
Thank you! I’ve been considering building a more simplified vice-less version for my back yard with the plane stops set up for Japanese hand planes. But that’s probably fairly far off.
In what way is it over the top do you think? Do you think, for example, that there are too many work holding options? or that as its a work bench it does not require the degree of craftsmanship applied to the joinery etc? If you can see a simpler easier way of getting the same degree of functionality, I for one would like to know what it is bcoz being unskilled, I need primitive easy stuff to make things work, at least fairly reliably.
Thank you! I forget why I did it that way. Typically I would cut a tenon to fit a mortise but if I recall I think Schwarz’s book said to do it the other way around for one reason or another.
Great job! I already own Schwartz's book and have similar plans for the autumn. I would love to get an update from you after you have worked with the bench for a while. In particular, I want to know how often you curse the handle on that leg-vise wheel! I can feel the bruises already. The strong bevels on the leg vise look fabulous. It's a beautiful design element.
Haha! Yeah that pivot handle is probably going to be a shin murderer. If it gets too uppity with me I’ll just take that handle off and leave the wheel itself... which makes it more benchcrafted-esque.
I must say - I am wanting to build my own bench and this one is now one of two - good hand skills and I am very much a hand tool kind of guy. Impressive to the very end. My only -ve is that as the bench will be indoors, don't use danish oil but use something lighter, like a linseed/spirit mix oil. As for the movement on your dog holes - that's how a bench like this weathers. Lastly, as I am in England, an English bench would, of course, suit very well indeed. Top Job.
Great tips and points all around and thanks for checking out the video! Hope you stick around and watch some later videos where you get to see the bench in action.
I can’t get this thing to shake if I tried. It’s a brick. I am considering taking the leg chop off and replacing it with a bench hook. Since this video I’ve gotten really into Japanese tools and the leg chop, while useful at times, tends to get in the way.
My first time watching any of your vids. GREAT job, man! (And for all the haters... I enjoyed the background music). What I really appreciate is the reality that one's work space doesn't need to be an empty three car garage to be an awesome woodworker. I quite admire the use of the hand tools. Very cool. I hope to one day learn that part of this craft. (I'm currently addicted and dependent on power tools). Again.. GREAT video and great narration.
Thanks Tracy. Should have a cool video on a shaker inspired desk with some random Japanese joinery coming up soon. Just trying to wrap the build up now.
I posted this video almost three years ago and the bench is still sturdy and amazing. A little less flat over time because of wood movement but still excellent nonetheless.
Thank you. Honestly if I had the room I’d built the eight footer. Width would stay the same though. The 27” top is just practical to work with and reach across.
Beautiful bench, great build and editing. One suggestion, just like you backed up the dog holes in the top with some additional material, you might want to do that for the aprons as well. In your first shot of using the holdfast in the side apron, you can already see it start to wallow out the hole because the holdfast is canting over too much and putting excessive pressure on the top corner of the hole.
Support my channel by purchasing Christopher Schwarz's Workbench Book on Amazon, with plans for this bench as well as the Roubo or French style bench: amzn.to/3hpQRhk
the author does like to from scratch, shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxD-QRFQz730FJEh4f9BYSf-nkIMIC9hL_ as another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us dont have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we wont be able to practice the full stack project, is still great.
Rip, cross, loin, flank, rib eye
I love the practical/hybrid approach to building this. Power tools, handtools, super glue, etc.
Thank you! Really trying to push the hybrid woodworking thing to younger folks honestly. There’s a fair amount of craftsmanship culture being lost and I think it’s fair to say that learning the hows and whys of woodworking can help keep some of that alive. Thanks for watching!
First time I have seen your channel and I am impressed with your skill level. I have watched alot of people cut treaded rods and bolts but you are the first one to show putting on a nut first so it is easy to clean the end of the bolt or rod, a trick my Father taught me some 63 years ago. I was ten. Keep up the good work.
Thank you! I appreciate it greatly. It’s an old trick but a goodie clearly.
I’m finding myself wanting a new bench more and more lately. I’ve just been sitting on youtube stalking everyone’s awesome bench builds. Nice job dude!
I’m hopefully bringing the Nicholson back en vogue.
Yeeeeeaaah man!! 🤘🏼💀 So good. The leg vise is out of control awesome.
It is cool to think that you’ve got like... the leg vise’s cousin in your house in the box. Haha.
Great build, turned out beautiful! Thanks for sharing your time and talent!
Thank you!
I just bought a house and am turning the garage into a wood shop and have been debating on the bench I want. Pretty sure you’re video just made my mind up for me lol. Great job!
That’s the highest compliment man. Thank you.
Very nice! I can’t add much to what everyone else said (and I totally agree) except I think that shelf looks natural and classy.
Thanks Terri! Fun fact: the lower shelf actually adds more rigidity to the bench as a whole which helps it be more solid. So it’s not only pretty but has structural value too.
This is me 3rd time watching this build and I've watched many woodworking bench build videos. I'm definitely buying this book and building it the way you did!! Great Job!!👍
A great build! I've watched it three times and really appreciate the effort you put in to creating a functional piece of art for your shop.
Wow thank you. It may be my proudest build and I’ve done a bunch of videos since then… you can really see it’s utility, the patina on it, and how it’s truly become the heart of my shop.
Really nice bench .You built this extremely well. Probably the best design out there.100% agree with the quick release vice.I also thick flattening the bottom is a waste of time but each to his own.
Thanks. As for the bottom I agree in part. I don’t think it needs to be DEAD flat. But I think at least having it settle in a mostly flat posture works well and makes your life easier in the long run.
Turned out great 👍 👌
Killer build, Chris! I love the way that thing looks and I'm sure it has all of the features that you were looking for!
40000000000 ways to hold things in place haha
I just watched Christopher Schwarz build a Roubo bench with mostly hand tools and just marveled at the work he does. I still love your bench, and the seemingly ease in which you make it, but guys like Schwarz and Cosman drop my jaw to the floor every time they work. Wow. I still want to make yours though if I had all the necessary machinery to do the job.
Those guys are amazing. To make a weird comparison: those folks are like lebron James, magic, Jordan, etc. I’m like... Ricky Davis in 2012 who just maintains a really overly positive mindset to be able to stay in the NBA. 😂
Woodwork & the NBA are among my passions. I'll never be MJ, but hard work keeps me earning PT in the shop. (Think P.J. Tucker.) I relate to your effort & fearless pursuit of improving your game.
Yo Dawg. Absolutely love this video. I’ve watched it 5 times already just today. I also shared it with my brother. We are new to woodwork and realize we need a workbench. I have searched hi & low for the perfect one for our needs. I believe this work of art is it. I have used your Amazon link and ordered Mr Schwartz’s book. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for a great video and may I say you are a true craftsman.
Thanks man. A solid workbench is the foundation to a bright future. If you look at videos like my timber frame barn door or the Japanese shaker desk you can definitely see how versatile the work holding options are and how steady the bench is. It’s probably my favorite build I’ve done because of how it continues to serve me daily.
Aaaaand now I want to build a bench like this. So awesome.
Thanks tamar. Collab!?
You two should totally do a collaboration!
Cow Dog Craft Works if that means I get to escape the north and go to Florida. Yes. Ha.
Tamar, do! Been waiting to see you have some such like to work on.
Yeah Tamara you should, we live to see more projects from both of you. Nice job
Amazing craftsmanship! I was in awe for the entire video.
Thank you sir. Much appreciated.
same!
Well done! I loved the dry commentary and complimentary sounds. Truly inspirational!
Thank you!
THis is a beautiful build and a very well made presentation. Thank you
Thank you for watching!
Absolutely beautiful work!
Thank you.
Great video Chris!
Thanks Mike! Really liking the new mirrorless camera.
Love this channel! Your explanations are clear and helpful to this hobbiest. Thank you very much!
Thank you!
Really enjoyed that building process - thanks for the detail and the tips
Thanks for watching.
Nice touch with the rose wood.
Thank you! Cheers!
Quite a stunning build! Surprisingly, a mortised bench stop works better than that aluminum one, I regret installing in on my last bench. Also, Nicholson illustrations show leg shoulders angled (with matching housing cuts in aprons). It's for making a gap less apparent when aprons will shrink, learned that a hard way too.
I wanted to get the benchcrafted plane stop but the issue is location for me. You have to do a reach around (heyooooooo) the apron and where my bench is, it’s routinely blocked by the tablesaw because of my size limitations. With that being said, I’ve been using this stop for a few weeks now and I don’t hate it, although I can see it’s limitations. I’m working on a desk now and had to use my doe’s feet as plane stop extender because I was in this weird no man’s land where I was out of space to pin it in the back with a holdfast and doe’s foot yet it still wasn’t reaching the quick release vise.
Excellent job! What a great looking bench!
Thank you sir!
That is a gorgeous build and very inspiring for future ideas
Thank you!
Awesome craftsmanship
Thank you!
Fantastic job. Serious bench envy here!
Well the nice thing about this bench is that anyone can make it! It’s literally about $150 in pine and the vises can be made out of any hardwood.
What a gorgeous bench build!! I've been researching the Nicholson workbench and saw your video after watching Rex Krueger's video. I will definitely be building a Nicholson bench. I hope mine comes out as handsomely as yours did. Great choices in wood species for the vices.
Thanks man. Would definitely suggest the Schwarz book on workbenches. He’s got a ton of super in depth info on the build. Options for like a wagon vise, etc. good stuff.
Beautiful work my friend thanks for sharing 👍🏼
Thanks my dude!
Nice bench, I haven't seen that style before now.. Thank you, love and light...
Thanks Greg! It’s a great bench that should last until I outgrow it. And odds are if I move spaces I’ll just have this as my mini bench and I’ll make something else as a full time bench.
What a terrific job !!
Thanks!
Beautiful
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Very well done; both the bench and video. Professional quality. Appreciate the no nonsense approach.
Thank you sir.
Excellent work. I hope you enjoy it for many years.
Thank you!
My favorite part is the leg vise.. because it’s rosewood.. and I remember the day that tree came down. Hand planes are lame. Ily fam.
I mean... the quick release is also rosewood... ijs
Cow Dog Craft Works No sapwood.. I’m out.
Incredible build...
Thanks! You should check out what I’ve actually been making since I got the bench. It’s a game changer.
You actually said “scrap rosewood”. I had already seen a few green tool appearances and thought “this guy might be too rich for me” but hearing the phrase scrap rosewood really hammered it home.
If you think I was too rich for you when this video was filmed in 2020 I’m basically Jeff Bezos in terms of my tool arsenal… and I didn’t even need to get anymore green tools. Enter coupon code, “askmehow” at checkout. Thanks for watching.
Love it!
Thank you sir!
Fantastic production and instruction!
Thank you!
Enjoyed watching (no disrespect intended) a youngster craftsmen creating with a spin on an old classic. Kudos for a job well done!
Thank you sir. Just exactly what I’m trying to do.
outstanding. answered loads of questions and assisted me on a shitload of decision making.thanks and well done
No worries and thank you! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Super amazing. Awesome job.
Thank you. Still holding up well.
great job
Nice build! At 7:25, the function of that shape is to prevent spearing your knee with a sharp corner, or the back of your head when you bend down to retrieve an item from the floor.
Good to know!
Wow awesome job!
Twas a doozy but easily the best tool in my shop to date.
Stunning and inspirational. Great video and better bench!
Thank you sir! I appreciate it.
Great job man, enjoyed this video and the bench looks amazing!
Thanks man! It’a crazy how functional this is. I was chamfering some stair treads with a router the other day and I used the holdfasts to keep it in place and it was a dream. It’s not just a hand tool bench.
Love it. I’ve built a few Nicholson benches and think highly of them. Yours is over the top
Thank you! I’ve been considering building a more simplified vice-less version for my back yard with the plane stops set up for Japanese hand planes. But that’s probably fairly far off.
In what way is it over the top do you think? Do you think, for example, that there are too many work holding options? or that as its a work bench it does not require the degree of craftsmanship applied to the joinery etc?
If you can see a simpler easier way of getting the same degree of functionality, I for one would like to know what it is bcoz being unskilled, I need primitive easy stuff to make things work, at least fairly reliably.
You had me on dope. The bevels on the leg vice are dope, so is the wood/contrast. Nice work! Nice bench!
Haha thanks. Easily the most used tool in my shop. It’s great.
AWESOME BUILD
Thank you!
Brave, cutting the tenons before the mortices!.
Nice job.
Thank you! I forget why I did it that way. Typically I would cut a tenon to fit a mortise but if I recall I think Schwarz’s book said to do it the other way around for one reason or another.
I'm ashamed of how long it took me to get here and watch this. But I'm glad I finally did. Nice video bud! And an excellent bench.
Thanks Justin! You da man.
Great job.
Thank you sir 🙏🏼
Very Cool! Great Job Young Man!
Thank you sir!
Excellent job! Beautiful bench
Thank you!
Great job. Your video and product is inspirational! Thank you!
Much appreciated!
awesone video!
Thanks!
Chris! This thing’s a beast! Nice work, my friend!!! 🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Kat! Gonna be hard to top it. But I’ll try nonetheless. 😉
Well done
Thank you.
Awesome bro thanks
Thank you!
Beautiful bench
Thanks Kirk. It’s become the heart of my shop.
Nice Bench!!
Thank you!
It's a beauty. Well done.
Thank you!
a just great bench very awesome
Thank you. It’s continuing to serve me very well.
Nice job. I hope to see more. Chapeau!
I’ve got a shaker inspired desk with some really interesting joinery coming up next. Should only be about another week or so.
congratulations on your build looks awesome.
Thank you! It’s working great! Check out the new video to see it in action.
Awesome bench.
Thank you. Best tool in my shop.
Great looking bench Chris. Enjoyed the video.
Thanks 👍 jus! You the man.
Well done. Thanks, d
Thank you.
Great job! I already own Schwartz's book and have similar plans for the autumn. I would love to get an update from you after you have worked with the bench for a while. In particular, I want to know how often you curse the handle on that leg-vise wheel! I can feel the bruises already.
The strong bevels on the leg vise look fabulous. It's a beautiful design element.
Haha! Yeah that pivot handle is probably going to be a shin murderer. If it gets too uppity with me I’ll just take that handle off and leave the wheel itself... which makes it more benchcrafted-esque.
That is an awesome workbench!!!
Thank you! It’s been serving me well and taking a ton of abuse from me as well. 😂
Beatiful, congrats
Thank you! It’s a great bench to this day.
Excellent video and a great looking bench!
Thank you! Appreciate ya.
very nice looks great
Best tool in my shop.
awesome job!
Thank you!
I must say - I am wanting to build my own bench and this one is now one of two - good hand skills and I am very much a hand tool kind of guy. Impressive to the very end. My only -ve is that as the bench will be indoors, don't use danish oil but use something lighter, like a linseed/spirit mix oil. As for the movement on your dog holes - that's how a bench like this weathers. Lastly, as I am in England, an English bench would, of course, suit very well indeed. Top Job.
Great tips and points all around and thanks for checking out the video! Hope you stick around and watch some later videos where you get to see the bench in action.
Hey nice. My current workbench is about 5 years old and has a nasty wobble. Nicholson WB is now on my list. :)
I can’t get this thing to shake if I tried. It’s a brick. I am considering taking the leg chop off and replacing it with a bench hook. Since this video I’ve gotten really into Japanese tools and the leg chop, while useful at times, tends to get in the way.
My first time watching any of your vids. GREAT job, man! (And for all the haters... I enjoyed the background music). What I really appreciate is the reality that one's work space doesn't need to be an empty three car garage to be an awesome woodworker. I quite admire the use of the hand tools. Very cool. I hope to one day learn that part of this craft. (I'm currently addicted and dependent on power tools). Again.. GREAT video and great narration.
Thanks Tracy. Should have a cool video on a shaker inspired desk with some random Japanese joinery coming up soon. Just trying to wrap the build up now.
I’ve been looking for a bench to build and think I’ve found it…. Thank you!
I posted this video almost three years ago and the bench is still sturdy and amazing. A little less flat over time because of wood movement but still excellent nonetheless.
Nice build!
Thank you!
Congrats - really beautiful job on the workbench and the video production was excellent!
Thank you! It continues to be an excellent tool in my shop. It’s the cornerstone of all my work.
This bench came out great! And awesome video Chris!!
Thanks Johnny! Remember when I told you back in February that I was gonna make this? Haha
Great build.
Thank you.
Great video man! I know nothing about woodworking but love watching videos like these… kudos!
Awesome! Thanks for watching.
Very nice bench. Thanks for the build vid.
Thank you!
a good functional bench at a convenient size
Thank you. Honestly if I had the room I’d built the eight footer. Width would stay the same though. The 27” top is just practical to work with and reach across.
Nice Job! I am jealous of your rosewood.
Thanks! I’ve still got some left. You’ll see it on a few more projects.
Good stuff. Nicely done.
Thank you kindly!
Keep this up Chris and you’re shop will be moving out of the ghetto garage. Excellent video and build
Thanks dean! Yeah maybe a bigger house with a bigger garage is in order. Maybe even get a little a/c in here. 😂
Me encanta el Moravian Bench. Excelente trabajo y explicación. Saludos desde Argentina. Muy buen video y producto final.
Gracias amigo. Agradezco que se tome el tiempo para mirar.
Very nice build.
Thanks. It’s the best tool in my shop.
Beautiful bud, great job
Thank you sir!
Beautiful bench, great build and editing. One suggestion, just like you backed up the dog holes in the top with some additional material, you might want to do that for the aprons as well. In your first shot of using the holdfast in the side apron, you can already see it start to wallow out the hole because the holdfast is canting over too much and putting excessive pressure on the top corner of the hole.
Sweet thank you!
Nice work sir !
Thanks!!
just found your channel through this video, one of the easiest subscriptions I've done!
Thank you!
Well done.
Thank you sir. Still serves me well to this day.
The 45° on the ends of the aprons do serve a purpose. It eliminates banging your knees into a sharpish corner.
Hmmm perhaps