Truly, the DIY gods have smiled on me! I just finished watching the other videos in this series a couple of days ago, and lo and behold, on the path outside work last night, was half a dozen dumped 4" square pine beams in great shape! $0 workbench project :)
I love this bench idea. I had an apartment neighbor years ago who had a smaller three foot bench (didn't have the split back end) and he had a moxon style vise worked into the center of the left side. Was the oddest looking contraption. He did have three square holes in it for bench dogs and hold-downs. Wish now I had taken pictures of it and taken measurements. Wasn't the steadiest platform, but he made a lot of small projects with that little bench.
I wouldn’t call myself a woodworker, in fact, this bench is probably the best thing I’ve ever built. I’m really enjoying the education I’m getting from just this build! Your channel offers so many tricks of the trade. Thank you so much for making me believe I can actually build something!
Rex: I just found you and became an immediate patron. I love how you teach and at 71 yrs. old I am an avid student who's primary goal in the remainder of my life is to become a true craftsman. Woodworkers like you can help me achieve that goal.
Where there's a will, there's a way... Where there's a won't, there's a whiner... I made my $30 bench 30 years ago using a fold-up steel table kicking against a tree in the garden as a work station. I mostly didn't have a clue what I was doing but with the help of magazine articles from the local library (not much internet in 1987) I ended up with a pretty decent bench, with which I spend more time than with the Missus (or so She says). Today we have guys like Rex prepared to share their knowledge and experience with all comers. Much appreciated. Thanks buddy
My first bench project, was the dilapidated black&decker workmate that a builder left at our house, 'cos he was going to get a new one. With all the sturdiness of the Blues Brothers car [on reaching the Cook County Assessor's Office] but I rebuilt it, and it got me started.
1987 was a good year. Before the internet. Well, the internet was great for a time. Now it's a case of "I wonder what, oh, wait, Google will never let me search such a thing."
seriously this is amazing. I understand that vices are useful but knowing techniques like this is stuff thatll just make your life easier and works really quickly.
I'm not going to make one of these because I've already got a bench. That said, THIS is the way to make TH-cam videos! You are clear, informative, light-hearted and funny. Furthermore YOU DON'T WAFFLE! You get straight to it and don't bore us with anecdotes about how your mum suffers from arthritis. Well done. BTW after watching one of your videos, I bought a wire wheel for my grinding machine - a great investment, gets constant use. Cheers.
Of the 20 bajillion 'how to make a bench' videos on youtube, this is by far my favourite. I'm a software developer by trade and my mantra is 'simplest thing that works, but no simpler'. This ticks all my boxes :-)
@@1truefreedomfighter vi stops being simple after you've installed all the support software I need to do my job. I'm using PHPStorm because it comes with everthing set up and works out of the box (simplest thing that works).
Freakin' genius, every last detail. I continue to appreciate your emphasis on hand tools. Haven't seen anyone else use a brace and bit for decades, but still have mine. Still the best way to drive big wood screws (with a screwdriver bit).
Great bench! I cut one face of the notch and square mortise at 5° and cut a few wedges at the same angle but different widths to clamp various thicknesses of stock. Also, I found my planing stop and pom soon lost their friction fit so wedges were required. Wasn't hard and I'm amazed at how well it holds. I love using this bench. Thanks for showing us how to make it Rex!
@8:50: If you make the mortise and tenon almost any shape other than round- for example, rectangular or triangular- you won’t need to put screws (or Roman nails) in to keep the post from twisting in its socket.
Two things: 1) Yor video making style, clarity, precise to the point, is awesome; somehow I got to one of your vids and can't stop seeing more of them. 2) Thanks to that I now feel the confidence to finally get into basic wood working that I intended during pandemic but felt overwhelmed for not having clear guidence of where and how to start; I even got some wood , different shape and sizes, and hand and power tools that have been geting dusty somewhere in my garage, and now I really feel I could get something done with them; I will definitely start by making this bench with most of the adaptations you have made into it; by seeing it in use there has been a lot of moments where I thought "If I only had found this channel before, how many things I could have done/done easier"... Thanks! New subscriber from Mexico.
This series has a lot of the same appeal the megapopular 'primitive technology channels' do - above all the sense of progression is something that's extremely engaging. As a bonus, approaching woodworking from a slightly different angle can really help distil some of the basic fundamentals for those of us who never received formal training or teaching.
This is such an excellent youtube channel. You are a born teacher Rex. I think I'm becoming addicted to these videos...I watch the ones whose subject I'm not all that interested in!
Your channel is soooo great. Your channel just became my favorite from all mechanic stuff. All those things you've shown - they sometimes replace pretty expensive, big machines - not only for wood working, but also metal or plastic working.
hi Rex another great video,this video reminds me of the time i worked with a professor of wood technology history and built an entire roman workshop with tools we built appropriate to the period for a museum in Jerusalem great stuff wedges and dogs are still just as useful today great information well presented keep up the good work Rustic David
What?! You live in Cleveland?! That's great news. I grew up in Shaker Heights but now live in Maine. I often go home to visit my family who have spread out around Greater Cleveland. I am psyched to have the chance to visit with you, if you're not too busy, or just walk by and say, "Hello!" Thank you for helping me carry on my Grandfather's tradition of woodworking. I especially appreciate your choice to work with mostly hand tools and figure out innovative and practical solutions and tools for woodworking. Hope to see you in August! Thanks again, Mr. Krueger.
Hi Rex... Great idea!!! One Comment: I am left handed... Has been a "problem" all my life to adapt normal (right handed) tools to work with. Your great $30 Bench is easy adaptable for Lefty's: Just advise them to make the same Notch, Crochet, Palm support, etc, in the same right side of the Bench, BUT in the other end of the Bench! We will just have to sit facing the back and we will have the work piece on our left hand side... Thanks a Lot!
I keep coming to watch this video series. Lots of value here. I found these ideas to have a deeper meaning as my woodworking skills improve. Thanks Rex!
Your videos really make me happy on many levels. The education, your personality, thenteviews, all great. But also, one of my oldest friends is a bald carpenter named Rex.
Even tho I cannot find an excuse to make myself such a bench (for now) as I recently built a modern one, I am really enjoying this series. Hope you have as much fun making it as we have watching it.
I really should have watched this series before making my own jank table.. one day Ill make a real table - but there's something about doing what you can with what you have that makes my brain happy. Cool stuff, Rex
I had watched Chris Swartz and Roy Underhill’s episodes. I was so fascinated that I went to North Carolina to attend Woodright’s workshop. Got back with a treasure of skills. Rex is a brother now!
Another awesome video. Liked it all, especially the comment about thinking as a craftsman. Lately I’ve completed a couple smaller projects using only an idea in the beginning; no plans, photos, videos, etc. it forced me to think more and be creative. I really enjoyed it.
You reminded me of Fred Flintstone when you held up the mallet and the plane. This whole series has been quite enlightening Rex. The answer to every workshop problem is not always a trip to the woodworking shop.
One more great holding piece would be a bench hook. I made mine out of oak and got a little fancy with it, but you can easily make one out of some plywood and 2x4's. I use mine all the time for cutting out notches and doing hand cut joint work.
You could also easily add bench hooks made from tree forks. Just requires you to drill some additional holes or just use the holes you have already. From all the videos i've been watching i like your bench the most. It's the only one that has the kind of simplicity i'm looking for and it's relatively small, wich is important as well. Great video!
Good cheap chisels, Walmart $7 you get three: 1/2", 3/4", & 1". Super cheap, actually quite sharp and work great with the mallet, perfect addition to the tool box. This is a fun video I was actually wondering what you were planning for griping work material and this was pretty stinking awesome.
Rex, I've been enjoying this series. I want something for outside that I can use to rip/crosscut my boards. I think this might be a better solution to a saw bench since on nice days I can enjoy working outside instead of in a cluttered garage. Maybe I can put a Roman bench on my front porch along with a shave horse instead of stupid porch furniture. I don't think my wife would approve, but it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission sometimes ;-).
I just wanted to say, over the years, I have watched more, than commented. I Love lost art press, This past couple of month, I used their plans to make a wood working bench, the one made with 2X12 for my little garage work shop. I have not done a video on it, but sharing this with you since the book you mention in this video build series, is from lost art press as well. I located the book and purchased it this morning. I am wanting to make myself a bow, why do I tell you this, I think this each wold work for general work holding for the staves used to start the bow build. Long story short, thank you for taking the time to make these videos, I will link back to your build series when I make my lower work bench and turn some of the work holding into a shave horse, for using the draw knife on the staves, possibly even in the field. I think this is the perfect base for a shave horse, with a lot more uses than just a shave horse when a guy is done making it, could potentially use it year around, not just when needing a shave horse I will figure out a way to make it happen. And if you get board, you may well want to do a video on it, I know a have horse is going to me more of a specific wood workers tool, but as creative as you are, I could see you using it as well, and showing how a quick and easy work holding option for making table legs etc,, My bench calls for a crochet as well on the end similar to yours, I have not made it yet and I will use your plans and ideas on how you made one for this bench in my video as well. I need some chisels and your chisel advice you gave us at the start of this video is the best tool advice i have ever come across. I love it, keep it simple go get a couple of chisels. hehhe. Thanks again sir and I hope you have a blessed week. I notice you added a vise on this bench, which is how I found this series to begin with, so you may not want to make a shave horse option, but it might be fun to add to this bench since you already have the bench and have mentioned using it outside this coming year with green wood, Might be something handy. Anyhow, Thanks again sir and I hope you have a blessed week. Dale
Just bought a set of good ol' auger bits I found on the other side of my country, now I just have to find a hand drill, those aren't that easy to come by here in Spain! Thank you so much for these videos!
I had the same problem (in France). If you are unable to find an antique one, you can find some new ones at a decent price on the finetools site. The cheapest does an ok job.
I don't know how well this would work, but I have an idea for the "wedge vice". What if you made the hole have one angled side, and make one of the sides of the wedge at the same angle. That way the wedge is wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. It will give full contact with the flat side on the work piece and the angled side. I imagine this would allow you to use one wedge for multiple thicknesses of wood instead of using shims. You might have to reinforce the bottom of the hole a bit though.
Rex tnx for posting. I built my first wkbench of laminated 2 by 4 /s from the lumberyard , in 1980 . . I find a cabinet scraper useful in cleaning it up to get rid of all the gunk, glue, dirt , etc .I also acquired in 1990 a ww2 wkbench made of lam 2 by 4 fir from san pedro ca. navy yard .Top was fir and apron and frame were made of metal . Keep up the low tech articles !!
I've been building this bench for a while now and just today I finished my palm and started working on the crochet. I had some scraps of ply lying around that were just big enough I managed to get 2 pieces by roughing one out first. Anyway, while I was roughing it out, I found another easy work holding solution for small parts that doesn't require modifying the bench. By placing the work piece off the side of the bench and a spacer of similar thickness on the other side, I could lay a 1x12 scrap across the top and kneel on that, and that held strong enough for me to use a rough crosscut saw without the board jumping around. Just wanted to share that ... while this is such a simple solution that it could easily be common knowledge, in all my searching on the internet I don't recall seeing this anywhere.
That v shape thing is genius. I'll have to make one for my bench to swap out with the bench hook. and the crotchet. The Roman bench will be great for my kids too.
I've watched this series with great interest. While I enjoy a few of my power tools, I've always wondered how our ancestors managed to do things with the most basic tools. Up until the 1800's this is pretty much the way things were done. Thanks Rex!
My question is why weaken the pegs by cutting the tops in half right where all the pressure is going to applied? Round bench dogs work just as well for holding work without compromising the strength of the peg. If you really need a flat edge just sanding or cutting a tiny flat would work just as well without weakening it.
How about adding dog holes along the entire side with the crochet, make a stopblock with fitting dowels and use the wedge 2:35 to secure long/tall pieces?
I have only started watching your videos recently and really like the stuff you show us. I'm on a tight budget and I like using hand tools, so you are showing me how to manage on my limited budget. :-) I'm going to start "binge watching" starting with the playlist you have linked, and will buy the book too! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I made a tight wad work bench over the last year and was stumped on some work holding options. I’m not going to cut a notch in it but I will look at using he other ideas you showed. Great video!
Love your series! This is just what I have been needing without knowing it! Even though I have an "okay" workbench, I am going to make yours, It will make it more interesting for my children when I am teaching them woodworking. Even if it is 2019 and I have 2 small girls, woodworking is a fun and important skill. :D
That is seriously amazing Rex! I'm a pretty new homesteader and needed a work bench - this would be perfect! I'm going to make it out of Cedar , since it will be outside mostly under a tent. Thank you so much for this video, its awesome!
Just wanted to share what I'm working on: a modular work bench. I'm a hobbyist with no space - my shop is half of a garage, and half of that half is a bicycle maintenance/repair shop and electronics/fine work station, so my bench needs to have maximum flexibility/capability in the smallest space possible, stow away in an 8'x2' space along the wall, and be able to roll out for use in the other half of the garage when I have access to it. The bench will start out as (and maybe grow from) four components: 1. A basic bench/assembly table with t-tracks on either short end for a fence to use with the miter saw (see below), and an end vise and holdfast/bench dog hole grid in the middle. 2. A flip-top square bench that will have my grinder, bench-top disc/belt sander, and a standard vise mounted, and be a flat work surface on the other side. 3. A miter saw stand, also flip-top with a flat surface on the other side 4. A contractor table saw stand. (See above about my space limitations. I'd LOVE to have a full table saw, but I've found that a properly adjusted/tuned contractor saw with a quality blade can do all the work I need and do it quite well) The benches will be height matched, and all on casters that can be lowered so the benches can sit on the ground for stability. I'll be able to configure any of them (even the contractor saw - blade fully down) as infeed and/or outfeed for the saws/planer/etc. The spreaders will be height matched and have notches so I can use removable spreaders between them to lock the tables together. I'm sharing because I've decided to add the $30 bench with some of your additions (definitely the planing stop and the crotchet for starters). Thanks for the great videos, keep 'em coming! Strongly considering becoming a patron after only watching a handful of your content.
Thank u for the crochet tutorial hav been wanting to put one on my homemade 2x lam bench for some time. I made my leg vice from all thread and few other things from tractor supply.
@@RexKrueger You came out with the cheapest plane video at the time I found a 1910-1918 Stanley #4. It was really rusty, your video helped me sort it out.
I'm just starting out on my woodworking journey. Earlier this week I finished adding these fixtures to my very own starter bench. Thank you very much for the thought and hard work you put into these videos, and for sharing them with us! I'm very proud of my work and excited for all the projects this bench and the holding options will make possible.
Coming from knife making this is a great project to venture into some wood working again! The crochet and tenants can bot be easily made on my belt grinder, so I even save some time and work by using what tools I have. And with this bench and holsing setup I can get to my first real project of making a six panel chest. Thanks for making me excited for trying new things and maybe rediscovering my love for wood working in the process!
I built my bench following a few makers on here. It is a twin screw tail vice with dog holes and an extendable end. I patterned the base from your knock down bench with sideways tusked tenon's from Katz- Moses. I think I'm going to make a crochet that fits in side dog holes so it moves and works with my vice. Just have to figure out how to avoid the feet on the side of the top that I put on when it was built to just go on sawhorses.
I'm dabbling in smithing and wood working, and something I've learned is I take a lot of joy in using hand tools and going the long or thoughtful way around... except for breaking down large stock. I would own a big beefy saw just to save 10 minutes cutting stock even though I know could happily spend 5 hours cutting joints. I'd choose these kinds of hold downs over a vise any day
How come i only now see your channel? You are darn awesome and you teach very well, the way you speak is also very clear and precise, i love it. you got a new subscriber
I saw this techniques used in table beside the french horn looking thing by carpenter in Bangladesh 30 years ago. I feel like ancient hand tools are amazing see and use :) .. great job man ... brings back so many memories :)
I'm going to say YES to the harbor freight chisels, but not the wood handled ones, the resin ones. They take a mallet blow like a champ and when I went to sharpen mine, ready for this? No BOWL OR BELLY on the flat side! I was SOOO happy! Sharpened them up using your rig and auto sandpaper.
Was looking at building an ultra modern compact Ron Paulk bench, but after viewing this and all its available add-ons, I think I'll go with the 2000 year old portable Roman Classic. (I have already invested in an old school jack place and Japanese pull saw, whats 30 more dollars? ) I won't be using it in a toga and sandals, so it should be much easier for me. Rex you are a great mentor to weekend woodworkers everywhere, thanks for sharing all your knowledge.
It's been a bit since I watched this the first time. The it works line reminded me of something a prof once said. "There are 2 kinds of beauty in this world. The first is aesthetic beauty or it looks pretty. The other is functional beauty or it works. Remember this; just because it's one, doesn't mean it's the other.
My low bench has a 1 inch x 2.5 foot gap in the middle for sawing. It allows me to rip or end saw with the off cut supported so I don't get the dreaded rip away at the end. It also doubles a a handy, balanced way to move the bench with one hand.
@@RexKrueger Videos like "how I made this cutting board" or "look at this epoxy river table" are what I'm thinking about when I use the word "normal." Your woodworking for humans series is great in that I think it combines a little bit of everything. 1. usually you're showing how to make something. (just like the "normal" videos) 2. You're showing it using methods that are attainable for everyone. We've all seen someone make a super nice workbench with their table saw, planer, large chop saw, router, etc... For a lot of people they want a workbench before they commit to buying the expensive tools 3. Because you're using attainable methods you may have to think a little outside the box or show cool methods that we may not have seen before when someone is using a fully outfitted woodworking shop. The crochet in this video is an example of that. You also have a good personality for video making.
Thanks, Rex. Always good to see simple, old fashioned methods for all sorts of things. A lot of that simplicity has been lost to modern tools & yet it can be put to use in so many scenarios where a more complex tool just isn't as versatile or the wrong size for the job.
I have some Harbor Freight chisels, and they aren’t “pretty good.” They are quite obviously worse in every way than, for example, my low-end Stanley chisels. However, the Harbor Freight ones do cut wood, and I would not hesitate to buy them again if I had no chisels and money were very tight. The reason I bought the HF set in the first place was that I needed a chisel when I was away from home and didn’t have any others, and the ones at Harbor Freight were dirt-cheap. Expect to spend some time sharpening and flattening the backs of any inexpensive chisels you buy- and even some of the expensive ones.
I buy some simple hand tools from Harbor Freight here and there, including a cheap chisel set. I probably wouldn't buy any power tools from them, but when I need an inexpensive C clamp in the middle of a brake pad change out, Harbor Freight is the place to go.
Thanks for sharing. Your $30 bench made me think of the evolution of woodworking tools and I think it all boils down to quality, time and cost. In ancient times we had hand tools that produced low quality or time consuming products, making furniture expensive. Today we have power tools making very high quality products quickly. The trade off is in the price of the power tools versus hand tools - professionals work 40 hours a week and buy high-end tools - DIYers work 4 hours a week using low-cost tools. Your $40 bench is for minimalist DIYers with a lot of spare time
I appreciate your thoughts, but you've got a lot of it backwards. Many old tools and VERY advanced and in the time of hand-tool furniture making, there was no such thing as a low quality tool. Hand-tool shops also produced work at a rate that would shock you. Modern power tools are faster, but only sometimes. Setting up machine tools is often very time consuming, making their time saving qualities only apply to production work. I'm a guy that owns a LOT of machines, but there's nothing about them that ensures quality.
Well you’re happy with you system and that is important. However, where I live there is no competitive shops without power tools and all the top carpenters such as Norm A are so equipped. Your system requires a higher skill standard and can be personally rewarding, and it is good that it works for you.
This takes me back to when we used to do public demonstrations of pole lathe bodging. I never really acquired the turning skill but I was a dab hand with the draw knife roughing up the rounds on the shave horse for my colleague to turn legs, baby rattles, honey dippers and the like.
This stuff is great. I really love the history that comes with these vids and the fact that it all works so well. Cost has always prohibited me from getting into woodworking but with the low roman bench and these added features I'll be banging out projects in no time. Thank you so much and thanks to Chris Schwarz for his inspiring book.
Im loving your videos and really growing my interest in wood working, so far im just starting my collection of basic tools, mainly vintage hand tools as well, they're cheap but i like them
Rex please PLEASE keep making "woodworking for humans" videos, this is gold
You keep watching them and I'll keep making them.
Truly, the DIY gods have smiled on me! I just finished watching the other videos in this series a couple of days ago, and lo and behold, on the path outside work last night, was half a dozen dumped 4" square pine beams in great shape! $0 workbench project :)
Perfect! Get to work.
Don't watch this dudes videos first thing in the morning. Your day won't get better. Thanx for breaking down how to properly use this bench.
😂🤣😅
If this isn't the truth. I just spend the rest of my workday thinking about how I could have spent it woodworking.
Lol its Sunday morning and i just got to this video and comment lmfao
@@max3d_0ut I've spent thinking about woodworking while at school all day :(
had me in the first half 😅
I love this bench idea. I had an apartment neighbor years ago who had a smaller three foot bench (didn't have the split back end) and he had a moxon style vise worked into the center of the left side. Was the oddest looking contraption. He did have three square holes in it for bench dogs and hold-downs. Wish now I had taken pictures of it and taken measurements. Wasn't the steadiest platform, but he made a lot of small projects with that little bench.
I wouldn’t call myself a woodworker, in fact, this bench is probably the best thing I’ve ever built. I’m really enjoying the education I’m getting from just this build! Your channel offers so many tricks of the trade. Thank you so much for making me believe I can actually build something!
Rex: I just found you and became an immediate patron. I love how you teach and at 71 yrs. old I am an avid student who's primary goal in the remainder of my life is to become a true craftsman. Woodworkers like you can help me achieve that goal.
Where there's a will, there's a way...
Where there's a won't, there's a whiner...
I made my $30 bench 30 years ago using a fold-up steel table kicking against a tree in the garden as a work station. I mostly didn't have a clue what I was doing but with the help of magazine articles from the local library (not much internet in 1987) I ended up with a pretty decent bench, with which I spend more time than with the Missus (or so She says).
Today we have guys like Rex prepared to share their knowledge and experience with all comers.
Much appreciated.
Thanks buddy
My first bench project, was the dilapidated black&decker workmate that a builder left at our house, 'cos he was going to get a new one. With all the sturdiness of the Blues Brothers car [on reaching the Cook County Assessor's Office] but I rebuilt it, and it got me started.
@HappyandAtheist
👍😈
1987 was a good year. Before the internet. Well, the internet was great for a time. Now it's a case of "I wonder what, oh, wait, Google will never let me search such a thing."
I dub thee a TH-cam dude. Thank you for your encouraging words.
You do get something if we buy the book, you get another slightly better woodworker in the world. And that’s worth being proud of
seriously this is amazing. I understand that vices are useful but knowing techniques like this is stuff thatll just make your life easier and works really quickly.
I think the true beauty is that these holding methods can work on.. any bench. not just the 30 dollar bench.
I'm not going to make one of these because I've already got a bench. That said, THIS is the way to make TH-cam videos! You are clear, informative, light-hearted and funny. Furthermore YOU DON'T WAFFLE! You get straight to it and don't bore us with anecdotes about how your mum suffers from arthritis. Well done. BTW after watching one of your videos, I bought a wire wheel for my grinding machine - a great investment, gets constant use. Cheers.
I'm so glad you think I get right on with it. Sometimes, I feel like I talk too much.
"...you know what, I am fresh out of Roman Nails.."😅😅😅that was truly awesome.
Of the 20 bajillion 'how to make a bench' videos on youtube, this is by far my favourite. I'm a software developer by trade and my mantra is 'simplest thing that works, but no simpler'. This ticks all my boxes :-)
lol, same here. Coding woodworkers ftw!
Mattias Wandel has a workbench video that is simple to build and rock solid, built one myself like $20
@@researchandbuild1751 I follow Mattias for the same reason :-)
You use vi too, right?
@@1truefreedomfighter vi stops being simple after you've installed all the support software I need to do my job. I'm using PHPStorm because it comes with everthing set up and works out of the box (simplest thing that works).
Freakin' genius, every last detail. I continue to appreciate your emphasis on hand tools. Haven't seen anyone else use a brace and bit for decades, but still have mine. Still the best way to drive big wood screws (with a screwdriver bit).
They really do drive a fastener very well.
Great bench!
I cut one face of the notch and square mortise at 5° and cut a few wedges at the same angle but different widths to clamp various thicknesses of stock. Also, I found my planing stop and pom soon lost their friction fit so wedges were required. Wasn't hard and I'm amazed at how well it holds.
I love using this bench. Thanks for showing us how to make it Rex!
@8:50: If you make the mortise and tenon almost any shape other than round- for example, rectangular or triangular- you won’t need to put screws (or Roman nails) in to keep the post from twisting in its socket.
Totally, but I'm trying to keep the skills here very basic and approachable.
Two things: 1) Yor video making style, clarity, precise to the point, is awesome; somehow I got to one of your vids and can't stop seeing more of them. 2) Thanks to that I now feel the confidence to finally get into basic wood working that I intended during pandemic but felt overwhelmed for not having clear guidence of where and how to start; I even got some wood , different shape and sizes, and hand and power tools that have been geting dusty somewhere in my garage, and now I really feel I could get something done with them; I will definitely start by making this bench with most of the adaptations you have made into it; by seeing it in use there has been a lot of moments where I thought "If I only had found this channel before, how many things I could have done/done easier"... Thanks! New subscriber from Mexico.
This series has a lot of the same appeal the megapopular 'primitive technology channels' do - above all the sense of progression is something that's extremely engaging.
As a bonus, approaching woodworking from a slightly different angle can really help distil some of the basic fundamentals for those of us who never received formal training or teaching.
Primitive Technology really is an inspiration for this series.
I really like the chisel advice: "Just go buy some chisels". I have to be more careful these days, but yeah, I'll do that.
"If it's stupid, and it works - it ain't stupid."
This is such an excellent youtube channel. You are a born teacher Rex. I think I'm becoming addicted to these videos...I watch the ones whose subject I'm not all that interested in!
I used to be an English teacher, so thank you!
@@RexKrueger I thought so...thanks again Rex.
I must say that your videos - specifically this one - are brilliant and well made . Simple , funny , efficient . Bravo
ikust007 Thanks so much! That means a lot.
Your channel is soooo great. Your channel just became my favorite from all mechanic stuff.
All those things you've shown - they sometimes replace pretty expensive, big machines - not only for wood working, but also metal or plastic working.
hi Rex another great video,this video reminds me of the time i worked with a professor of wood technology history and built an entire roman workshop with tools we built appropriate to the period for a museum in Jerusalem great stuff wedges and dogs are still just as useful today great information well presented keep up the good work Rustic David
That sounds like an AMAZING experience.
What?! You live in Cleveland?! That's great news. I grew up in Shaker Heights but now live in Maine. I often go home to visit my family who have spread out around Greater Cleveland. I am psyched to have the chance to visit with you, if you're not too busy, or just walk by and say, "Hello!"
Thank you for helping me carry on my Grandfather's tradition of woodworking. I especially appreciate your choice to work with mostly hand tools and figure out innovative and practical solutions and tools for woodworking. Hope to see you in August! Thanks again, Mr. Krueger.
Great bunch of bench holds. Thanks for sharing these forgotten gems.
Nice job Rex! Just figured it out: you are the Alton Brown of woodworking....and that's a compliment👍
I take it as a compliment. Alton is a badass.
I'm a leathercrafter, and have never owned a vice. This bench and its attachments make TOTAL sense to me.
Rex you really are a genius! Some great, simple, and cheap ideas.you must have a very analytical brain..
Hi Rex... Great idea!!! One Comment: I am left handed... Has been a "problem" all my life to adapt normal (right handed) tools to work with. Your great $30 Bench is easy adaptable for Lefty's: Just advise them to make the same Notch, Crochet, Palm support, etc, in the same right side of the Bench, BUT in the other end of the Bench! We will just have to sit facing the back and we will have the work piece on our left hand side... Thanks a Lot!
I keep coming to watch this video series. Lots of value here. I found these ideas to have a deeper meaning as my woodworking skills improve. Thanks Rex!
Your videos really make me happy on many levels. The education, your personality, thenteviews, all great. But also, one of my oldest friends is a bald carpenter named Rex.
Ha!
The cheap saw used as a square blew my mind. Nice work!
Thanks Rex. I believe I'll make myself a crochet after seeing how much fun you're having with yours...
Even tho I cannot find an excuse to make myself such a bench (for now) as I recently built a modern one, I am really enjoying this series. Hope you have as much fun making it as we have watching it.
I have both this and a modern one, and you don't need both. I'm probably going to take this one outside and do some green woodworking.
Bravo Sir! The whole human life is based on wedge. This video should be shown at schools (primary, middle, high) and be part of curriculum.
I really should have watched this series before making my own jank table.. one day Ill make a real table - but there's something about doing what you can with what you have that makes my brain happy. Cool stuff, Rex
I had watched Chris Swartz and Roy Underhill’s episodes.
I was so fascinated that I went to North Carolina to attend Woodright’s workshop. Got back with a treasure of skills.
Rex is a brother now!
Another awesome video. Liked it all, especially the comment about thinking as a craftsman. Lately I’ve completed a couple smaller projects using only an idea in the beginning; no plans, photos, videos, etc. it forced me to think more and be creative. I really enjoyed it.
You reminded me of Fred Flintstone when you held up the mallet and the plane. This whole series has been quite enlightening Rex. The answer to every workshop problem is not always a trip to the woodworking shop.
One more great holding piece would be a bench hook. I made mine out of oak and got a little fancy with it, but you can easily make one out of some plywood and 2x4's. I use mine all the time for cutting out notches and doing hand cut joint work.
The cross between functionality and simplicity/approachability is genius!
This video is terrific in countless ways. Worth watching every month for the creative inspiration.
You could also easily add bench hooks made from tree forks. Just requires you to drill some additional holes or just use the holes you have already. From all the videos i've been watching i like your bench the most. It's the only one that has the kind of simplicity i'm looking for and it's relatively small, wich is important as well. Great video!
Good cheap chisels, Walmart $7 you get three: 1/2", 3/4", & 1". Super cheap, actually quite sharp and work great with the mallet, perfect addition to the tool box. This is a fun video I was actually wondering what you were planning for griping work material and this was pretty stinking awesome.
That was awesome! Well done on that adaptation. That combo with the crochet is amazing
Thanks a lot for this. The simpler it can get, the better. Just love it .
Thanks!
Rex, I've been enjoying this series. I want something for outside that I can use to rip/crosscut my boards. I think this might be a better solution to a saw bench since on nice days I can enjoy working outside instead of in a cluttered garage.
Maybe I can put a Roman bench on my front porch along with a shave horse instead of stupid porch furniture. I don't think my wife would approve, but it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission sometimes ;-).
I think it's a great idea.
I just wanted to say, over the years, I have watched more, than commented. I Love lost art press, This past couple of month, I used their plans to make a wood working bench, the one made with 2X12 for my little garage work shop. I have not done a video on it, but sharing this with you since the book you mention in this video build series, is from lost art press as well. I located the book and purchased it this morning. I am wanting to make myself a bow, why do I tell you this, I think this each wold work for general work holding for the staves used to start the bow build. Long story short, thank you for taking the time to make these videos, I will link back to your build series when I make my lower work bench and turn some of the work holding into a shave horse, for using the draw knife on the staves, possibly even in the field. I think this is the perfect base for a shave horse, with a lot more uses than just a shave horse when a guy is done making it, could potentially use it year around, not just when needing a shave horse I will figure out a way to make it happen. And if you get board, you may well want to do a video on it, I know a have horse is going to me more of a specific wood workers tool, but as creative as you are, I could see you using it as well, and showing how a quick and easy work holding option for making table legs etc,, My bench calls for a crochet as well on the end similar to yours, I have not made it yet and I will use your plans and ideas on how you made one for this bench in my video as well.
I need some chisels and your chisel advice you gave us at the start of this video is the best tool advice i have ever come across. I love it, keep it simple go get a couple of chisels. hehhe.
Thanks again sir and I hope you have a blessed week.
I notice you added a vise on this bench, which is how I found this series to begin with, so you may not want to make a shave horse option, but it might be fun to add to this bench since you already have the bench and have mentioned using it outside this coming year with green wood, Might be something handy. Anyhow, Thanks again sir and I hope you have a blessed week.
Dale
I love watching this bench grow from nothing to finished. :) It's so satisfyingly and I learned so much!
best channel on woodworking, period
Just bought a set of good ol' auger bits I found on the other side of my country, now I just have to find a hand drill, those aren't that easy to come by here in Spain! Thank you so much for these videos!
I had the same problem (in France). If you are unable to find an antique one, you can find some new ones at a decent price on the finetools site. The cheapest does an ok job.
@@Castow I think I found one, it's hour and a half away by train, but hopefully it will be worth it.
I don't know how well this would work, but I have an idea for the "wedge vice". What if you made the hole have one angled side, and make one of the sides of the wedge at the same angle. That way the wedge is wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. It will give full contact with the flat side on the work piece and the angled side. I imagine this would allow you to use one wedge for multiple thicknesses of wood instead of using shims. You might have to reinforce the bottom of the hole a bit though.
Rex tnx for posting. I built my first wkbench of laminated 2 by 4 /s from the lumberyard , in 1980 . . I find a cabinet scraper useful in cleaning it up to get rid of all the gunk, glue, dirt , etc .I also acquired in 1990 a ww2 wkbench made of lam 2 by 4 fir from san pedro ca. navy yard .Top was fir and apron and frame were made of metal . Keep up the low tech articles !!
Your bench is great! I have the exact same crappy shelf above my laundry. Seriously made me do a double take.
I hate that shelf. Too busy to build a proper one.
Great video and clever ideas.Great bench for anyone building a cottage/cabin in the woods where there is no hydro.
I've been building this bench for a while now and just today I finished my palm and started working on the crochet. I had some scraps of ply lying around that were just big enough I managed to get 2 pieces by roughing one out first. Anyway, while I was roughing it out, I found another easy work holding solution for small parts that doesn't require modifying the bench. By placing the work piece off the side of the bench and a spacer of similar thickness on the other side, I could lay a 1x12 scrap across the top and kneel on that, and that held strong enough for me to use a rough crosscut saw without the board jumping around. Just wanted to share that ... while this is such a simple solution that it could easily be common knowledge, in all my searching on the internet I don't recall seeing this anywhere.
That v shape thing is genius. I'll have to make one for my bench to swap out with the bench hook.
and the crotchet.
The Roman bench will be great for my kids too.
I've watched this series with great interest. While I enjoy a few of my power tools, I've always wondered how our ancestors managed to do things with the most basic tools. Up until the 1800's this is pretty much the way things were done. Thanks Rex!
I think going back to the old ways can help us avoid feeling like we HAVE to buy that fancy new whatever. The hand methods are slow, but they work.
@@RexKrueger And they are quieter.
My question is why weaken the pegs by cutting the tops in half right where all the pressure is going to applied? Round bench dogs work just as well for holding work without compromising the strength of the peg. If you really need a flat edge just sanding or cutting a tiny flat would work just as well without weakening it.
When friction no longer holds your palm post, simply drill a set of holes and insert a cross pin/dowel.
A small wedge might work too
How about adding dog holes along the entire side with the crochet, make a stopblock with fitting dowels and use the wedge 2:35 to secure long/tall pieces?
That's a totally reasonable approach.
I have only started watching your videos recently and really like the stuff you show us. I'm on a tight budget and I like using hand tools, so you are showing me how to manage on my limited budget. :-) I'm going to start "binge watching" starting with the playlist you have linked, and will buy the book too! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
My pleasure!
I made a tight wad work bench over the last year and was stumped on some work holding options. I’m not going to cut a notch in it but I will look at using he other ideas you showed. Great video!
Love your series! This is just what I have been needing without knowing it! Even though I have an "okay" workbench, I am going to make yours,
It will make it more interesting for my children when I am teaching them woodworking. Even if it is 2019 and I have 2 small girls, woodworking is a fun and important skill. :D
Agreed! Do it for the girls! (My little girl is 6.)
This channel is a breath of fresh air.
I’ve gotta say, Rex must have lots of practice speaking and presenting, or has a job where he does that a lot. Dude is spot on!
I was an English teacher for 11 years, so that's the answer to the mystery. Glad you think I communicate well.
Rex Krueger Don’t be modest, Dr. Krueger
That is seriously amazing Rex! I'm a pretty new homesteader and needed a work bench - this would be perfect! I'm going to make it out of Cedar , since it will be outside mostly under a tent. Thank you so much for this video, its awesome!
Just wanted to share what I'm working on: a modular work bench. I'm a hobbyist with no space - my shop is half of a garage, and half of that half is a bicycle maintenance/repair shop and electronics/fine work station, so my bench needs to have maximum flexibility/capability in the smallest space possible, stow away in an 8'x2' space along the wall, and be able to roll out for use in the other half of the garage when I have access to it. The bench will start out as (and maybe grow from) four components:
1. A basic bench/assembly table with t-tracks on either short end for a fence to use with the miter saw (see below), and an end vise and holdfast/bench dog hole grid in the middle.
2. A flip-top square bench that will have my grinder, bench-top disc/belt sander, and a standard vise mounted, and be a flat work surface on the other side.
3. A miter saw stand, also flip-top with a flat surface on the other side
4. A contractor table saw stand. (See above about my space limitations. I'd LOVE to have a full table saw, but I've found that a properly adjusted/tuned contractor saw with a quality blade can do all the work I need and do it quite well)
The benches will be height matched, and all on casters that can be lowered so the benches can sit on the ground for stability. I'll be able to configure any of them (even the contractor saw - blade fully down) as infeed and/or outfeed for the saws/planer/etc. The spreaders will be height matched and have notches so I can use removable spreaders between them to lock the tables together.
I'm sharing because I've decided to add the $30 bench with some of your additions (definitely the planing stop and the crotchet for starters).
Thanks for the great videos, keep 'em coming! Strongly considering becoming a patron after only watching a handful of your content.
Thank u for the crochet tutorial hav been wanting to put one on my homemade 2x lam bench for some time. I made my leg vice from all thread and few other things from tractor supply.
That sounds great. I want to build a leg vise at some point.
I heard it once, it is in my brain forever. That wood holder will always be known as a crotchet to me :D
Bonus point if you name your specific crochet "Davey"
I haven't enjoyed a series on woodworking this much since I was a kid rushing to watch The Woodwright's Shop every Saturday morning
Love this video. Comprehensive and jam packed info. Already have shared it with family and friends. Great job. You the man! 😬
Thanks for sharing it! That's a huge help!
That is a really cool, effective bench. Thanks for doing this series.
My pleasure!
@@RexKrueger
You came out with the cheapest plane video at the time I found a 1910-1918 Stanley #4. It was really rusty, your video helped me sort it out.
I'm just starting out on my woodworking journey. Earlier this week I finished adding these fixtures to my very own starter bench. Thank you very much for the thought and hard work you put into these videos, and for sharing them with us! I'm very proud of my work and excited for all the projects this bench and the holding options will make possible.
Coming from knife making this is a great project to venture into some wood working again! The crochet and tenants can bot be easily made on my belt grinder, so I even save some time and work by using what tools I have. And with this bench and holsing setup I can get to my first real project of making a six panel chest. Thanks for making me excited for trying new things and maybe rediscovering my love for wood working in the process!
I built my bench following a few makers on here. It is a twin screw tail vice with dog holes and an extendable end. I patterned the base from your knock down bench with sideways tusked tenon's from Katz- Moses. I think I'm going to make a crochet that fits in side dog holes so it moves and works with my vice. Just have to figure out how to avoid the feet on the side of the top that I put on when it was built to just go on sawhorses.
I'm dabbling in smithing and wood working, and something I've learned is I take a lot of joy in using hand tools and going the long or thoughtful way around... except for breaking down large stock.
I would own a big beefy saw just to save 10 minutes cutting stock even though I know could happily spend 5 hours cutting joints.
I'd choose these kinds of hold downs over a vise any day
I've really enjoyed this set of videos on the $30 bench. Thanks so much!
How come i only now see your channel?
You are darn awesome and you teach very well, the way you speak is also very clear and precise, i love it.
you got a new subscriber
Welcome!
I saw this techniques used in table beside the french horn looking thing by carpenter in Bangladesh 30 years ago. I feel like ancient hand tools are amazing see and use :) .. great job man ... brings back so many memories :)
I'm going to say YES to the harbor freight chisels, but not the wood handled ones, the resin ones. They take a mallet blow like a champ and when I went to sharpen mine, ready for this? No BOWL OR BELLY on the flat side! I was SOOO happy! Sharpened them up using your rig and auto sandpaper.
Was looking at building an ultra modern compact Ron Paulk bench, but after viewing this and all its available add-ons, I think I'll go with the 2000 year old portable Roman Classic. (I have already invested in an old school jack place and Japanese pull saw, whats 30 more dollars? ) I won't be using it in a toga and sandals, so it should be much easier for me. Rex you are a great mentor to weekend woodworkers everywhere, thanks for sharing all your knowledge.
My pleasure!
@11:44: Put a small wedge between the bottom of the bench and the bottom jaw of that clamp, and it will hold the sloped work piece better.
It's been a bit since I watched this the first time. The it works line reminded me of something a prof once said. "There are 2 kinds of beauty in this world. The first is aesthetic beauty or it looks pretty. The other is functional beauty or it works. Remember this; just because it's one, doesn't mean it's the other.
My low bench has a 1 inch x 2.5 foot gap in the middle for sawing. It allows me to rip or end saw with the off cut supported so I don't get the dreaded rip away at the end. It also doubles a a handy, balanced way to move the bench with one hand.
Hi Rex, love the series, and the simplicity is really refreshing showing you don't need to spend hundreds to get working
Very cool and such a good change from the normal woodworking videos that all the other creators make!
What would you consider a "normal" video? What am I doing that sets me apart for you? I'm very interested to hear your thoughts.
@@RexKrueger Videos like "how I made this cutting board" or "look at this epoxy river table" are what I'm thinking about when I use the word "normal." Your woodworking for humans series is great in that I think it combines a little bit of everything.
1. usually you're showing how to make something. (just like the "normal" videos)
2. You're showing it using methods that are attainable for everyone. We've all seen someone make a super nice workbench with their table saw, planer, large chop saw, router, etc... For a lot of people they want a workbench before they commit to buying the expensive tools
3. Because you're using attainable methods you may have to think a little outside the box or show cool methods that we may not have seen before when someone is using a fully outfitted woodworking shop. The crochet in this video is an example of that.
You also have a good personality for video making.
That's REALLY helpful. People pay money for that kind of analysis. Thank you!
Thanks, Rex. Always good to see simple, old fashioned methods for all sorts of things. A lot of that simplicity has been lost to modern tools & yet it can be put to use in so many scenarios where a more complex tool just isn't as versatile or the wrong size for the job.
I have some Harbor Freight chisels, and they aren’t “pretty good.” They are quite obviously worse in every way than, for example, my low-end Stanley chisels. However, the Harbor Freight ones do cut wood, and I would not hesitate to buy them again if I had no chisels and money were very tight. The reason I bought the HF set in the first place was that I needed a chisel when I was away from home and didn’t have any others, and the ones at Harbor Freight were dirt-cheap. Expect to spend some time sharpening and flattening the backs of any inexpensive chisels you buy- and even some of the expensive ones.
I buy some simple hand tools from Harbor Freight here and there, including a cheap chisel set. I probably wouldn't buy any power tools from them, but when I need an inexpensive C clamp in the middle of a brake pad change out, Harbor Freight is the place to go.
Obviously, I'm way late to this party. But I just want to thank you for putting together this step by step, escalating intro to woodworking.
Thanks for sharing. Your $30 bench made me think of the evolution of woodworking tools and I think it all boils down to quality, time and cost.
In ancient times we had hand tools that produced low quality or time consuming products, making furniture expensive.
Today we have power tools making very high quality products quickly. The trade off is in the price of the power tools versus hand tools - professionals work 40 hours a week and buy high-end tools - DIYers work 4 hours a week using low-cost tools. Your $40 bench is for minimalist DIYers with a lot of spare time
I appreciate your thoughts, but you've got a lot of it backwards. Many old tools and VERY advanced and in the time of hand-tool furniture making, there was no such thing as a low quality tool. Hand-tool shops also produced work at a rate that would shock you. Modern power tools are faster, but only sometimes. Setting up machine tools is often very time consuming, making their time saving qualities only apply to production work. I'm a guy that owns a LOT of machines, but there's nothing about them that ensures quality.
Well you’re happy with you system and that is important. However, where I live there is no competitive shops without power tools and all the top carpenters such as Norm A are so equipped.
Your system requires a higher skill standard and can be personally rewarding, and it is good that it works for you.
Very cool. Regarding the palm, it seems to me that you could turn it around 180 degrees and use the flat edge as a planing stop.
You can even use the notched edge as a planing stop for wide boards.
Also you can mount a bar clamp like a vise and add wood to make the jaws bigger.
This takes me back to when we used to do public demonstrations of pole lathe bodging. I never really acquired the turning skill but I was a dab hand with the draw knife roughing up the rounds on the shave horse for my colleague to turn legs, baby rattles, honey dippers and the like.
This stuff is great. I really love the history that comes with these vids and the fact that it all works so well. Cost has always prohibited me from getting into woodworking but with the low roman bench and these added features I'll be banging out projects in no time. Thank you so much and thanks to Chris Schwarz for his inspiring book.
Thanks for watching!
When I'm high I LOVE to watch your videos
your face always gives me a huge smile :D
What
This is the best workbench video I like the most. Simple and effective. Thank you.
Im loving your videos and really growing my interest in wood working, so far im just starting my collection of basic tools, mainly vintage hand tools as well, they're cheap but i like them