Building a bench from Paul Sellers book

[john davey]

Well, I saw Paul Sellers speak at the woodworking show in VA last weekend. I had been following him on the internet for a while now. I purchased his book and it has a chapter on how to build the bench he was using at the show. I gave it a good look and thought it was something I could work with. I have been planning a bench for a while and had gotten as far as cutting down 2 2x12x16's to 64' and placing them on a pair of workmates. I know lazy :). Well reading this chapter of the book and seeing that I basically had the exact wood needed to build it I started. Paul's bench has a 10 1/2 inch solid 3.5 inch top of laminated pine and a well at about 12". He also seems to like it high as it is 38" high. I am going lower and swapping the well and bench sizes to give me a 13 1/2" solid top with 9 " well. I can't seem to find a pic of Paul's workbench online but if you Google Paul Sellers workbench it brings you to a youtube vid that shows it. Here are a few shots of my glue up. I'll post more as I progress.

Thanks, John

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[Jim Matthews]

Now that's a workshop!

Nothing lazy about the planks on sawhorse design. It's flexible, and easy to build.
Shoptime spent on making tools is gone forever. Shoptime invested in furniture is a legacy.

I love the parallel glue lines on the floor - just like my shop!

[Mark Dorman]

is it kind of like this?http://www.sawmillcreek.org/webkit-fake-url://EB6A0A66-2D4A-4996-A1EB-6FD99DBFE85B/imagejpeg

okay that didn't work try this link. http://www.newlegacywoodworking.com/2012/01/02/workbench-assembly/

[John Powers]

I never heard of the guy till the recent posts but his u tubes look great. I wonder about a school east of saratoga springs ny. I love that area and go to the adirondacks twice a year but still.....maybe they did an in-depth study. But then i guess Roy underhills packing them in.

[Jim Matthews]

The accent has "sizzle"...

I'm a Connecticut Valley WW school fan, my own self...
I think you should consider the housing costs, for any school you plan to visit.

[lowell holmes]

Paul was one of the founders of the school at Homestead Heritage near Waco Texas. If Paul is still in England, it's difficult for those of us in the Staes to attend.

The school at Waco is teaching the same methods that Paul teaches. You might want to look into the school in Waco. The woodworkers there have prize winning work out there.

[Leigh Betsch]

Shoptime spent on making tools is gone forever. Shoptime invested in furniture is a legacy.

I don't agree with this statement at all.

[john davey]

Yes Jim it is a mess. Those are not glue lines it is a new high tech non slip flooring the Borg is selling :). Mark, yes that is the bench I am building and from your links it looks like he has modified his dimensions as well. Looks like he is going even wider with the top and smaller with the well than I am The beauty of this design is I can easily add a few more inches to the top any time I want by taking from the well space. Lowell, Paul is opening a school in upstate NY. Going to work on the legs this morning.

[Jim Matthews]

I don't agree with this statement at all.

Do tell. I'm clearly in the minority, and an admitted hack.
What I don't know (in my ignorance) is why I'm wrong.

Perhaps a thread devoted to the topic is appropriate?

Any geese, this year? They didn't even fly by, in these parts.
Our Winter, wasn't.

jim
wpt, ma

[Leigh Betsch]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I believe there are plenty of high quality tools made that take as much time and skill to make as furniture. Lots of examples of infill planes and handsaw that deserve to be passed down to heirs. Teaching the "youngins" to use the tools build by their "elders" and even more , how to make these tools only adds to the legacy. I don't disagree that furniture can be a legacy also but I don't consider building tools to be a waste of shop time.

Geese, just beginning to see some come back north. Mostly Canadians, no Snows or Blues yet. I don't know how far south they went to winter though. Where are you at?

[David Weaver]

I don't agree with this statement at all.

Neither do I. Not that I get excited about benches.

Furniture itself is just another tool. It just doesn't get used in the shop.

[Bryan Schwerer]

is it kind of like this?http://www.sawmillcreek.org/webkit-fake-url://EB6A0A66-2D4A-4996-A1EB-6FD99DBFE85B/imagejpegokay that didn't work try this link. http://www.newlegacywoodworking.com/2012/01/02/workbench-assembly/

That bench doesn't look heavy enough to me. Maybe I need to sharpen my saw a bit, but I have a bench somewhat like it, but I have a larger bench and I can rock it if I clamp a board vertically to rip, but I'm interested in building a new so I will check out the video.

I'm coming off my first bench and decided it doesn't optimize to the way I work. Google "Bob and Dave's Good Fast Cheap Bench". Forget that just click this (http://tinyurl.com/6nomsjo). It's not a bad bench to start out with, but I made it too small and I hate the tool tray. I did a miserable job on it, but it's heavy and easily changed. I added a leg vise and would like a wagon vice, but if I do that I might was well start over and correct some fundamental problems like the miserable job I did on the dog holes.

Now I want something that will improve my workflow a bit and look much nicer.

[john davey]

Bryan, you are most likely right that it will not be as heavy as others. But if you look at my pictures I am kinda limited on space and this is dimensioned to fit my space well. I just cut the legs out of the boards that I did not use on the top. Good reason to not sue them on the top as they are bananas and I would lose to much planing them straight. So I need another board to finish this. I will cut up an apron to finish the legs and get another to replace the apron. It's all just 2x12 borg lumber.

[mike holden]

Any geese, this year? They didn't even fly by, in these parts.
Our Winter, wasn't.

jim
wpt, ma

Jim, where are you at? You want geese, Canada geese? Come to Michigan and we will fill a truck up for you, maybe even throw in a few live ones, they are less welcome than rats here, and wont go away.
Mike

[Bryan Schwerer]

When I made that comment, I was looking at the picture in Mark's link. Yours looks to be 2x4's. A good solid base should make that heavier.

[Jim Matthews]

The hard part with Canada geese is hiding the feathers from Fish and Game.

Here's what I mean to say about tools and bench time;
tools are for my use - furniture is for my family.

Time spent making one takes time from the other.

I will gladly trade money for time, when it comes to tools.
I build jigs - if and only if - I can't figure out a down and dirty way to accomplish the task with the tools I already own.

For instance...this little number (http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/Anji12305/Backyard%20bench%20in%20IPE%20and%20Teak/P1000138.jpg).

[Leigh Betsch]

Good looking bench Jim.
Why would you want to hide Canada goose feathers from the Fish and Game, they are totally legal to hunt and eat. Just don't take more than your limit.
Jigs are quite a bit different from tools. I don't like to spend time making jigs either, but sometimes is a necessity. Heres a few tools:

[Jim Matthews]

Awesome.

The high angle infill is VERY cool - is the mouth adjustable?
I think I need to clarify my stance on tool making. I would pay serious money for a hand tool, like these.

I recoil at the thought of shop fixtures that have furniture - grade finishes.

I know too many "woodworkers" that only make things for their shop.
When the shop is "ready" they stop making things.

I don't get that, at all.

But what do I know?

jim
wpt, ma

[john davey]

Finally I can get back to the bench. I had to much crap in the way and needed to do a little organizing before I can move to the joinery on the legs. All made from the scrap bin so looks was not a priority but strength was. Now I can get the legs done :)....

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