Did you build one?

[lowell holmes]

A saw bench that is. I did, it looks a lot like this one. I would not be without it.

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[Phil Mueller]

It's my next project Lowell. I've convinced myself sawing at bench height isn't doing me any favors. And my wife thinks I'm nuts when she finds me perched on top of my bench :rolleyes:
I'm considering a similar design, or the split top one.

[Kenneth Fisher]

Just finished a bench and bent based on Vic Tesolin's Minimalist Woodworker. Fun and quick to build, I still need to actually use them. In any event, I'm sure they're better than the bucket and board bench I've been using :)

[Brent Cutshall]

I actually prefer a sawbuck with a couple personal touches to it, it's one of the best things I've ever made.

[Jim Koepke]

I would love to see pictures folks.

Here are a couple of my saw benches:

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The little one on the right stays in the house and is mostly used as a foot stool. The excess wood at the joints on the top has been removed.

Here is my build thread on building a saw bench:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?146777-Saw-Table-Project

I built what I call a bucking horse for sawing limbs and firewood. It is at the front right in my last image in the thread.

Whether one prefers straight legs or splayed legs it is good practice for the joinery and a useful addition to the shop. Mine get used for sitting almost as often as for sawing.

jtk

[Kurt Cady]

I built three of the Schwarz style. Love them. I don't have a picture, but they are all varying sizes and stack/nest together and fit under the short bench overhang

[steven c newman]

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Build this about 2 years ago......comes in handy.

[Kenneth Fisher]

My saw bench and bent
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[Eric Schubert]

My interest is piqued! I've never run across a bent before. For what are they typically used?

I could definitely make use of a saw bench in the future. It's on my to-do list. Just need to finish my work bench first...

[Patrick Chase]

I think this is something that could only happen to somebody with small children, but when I saw this what immediately flashed through my head was:

"Did you build one in a house? Did you build one with a mouse...?"

[Jim Koepke]

I could definitely make use of a saw bench in the future. It's on my to-do list.

You will discover it is best to have two. Whether you are ripping or crosscutting it is good to have support for the work at both ends or crosscut cutoffs.

jtk

[ken hatch]

You will discover it is best to have two. Whether you are ripping or crosscutting it is good to have support for the work at both ends or crosscut cutoffs.

jtk

I agree, it is easy to make 'em stacking so the foot print is that of a single but whatever, they work best in pairs. Photos to follow.

ken

[Mike Holbrook]

I use mine a good deal. I just need to finish the second one:

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Mine is also a Schwarz design. The first exercise in "The Anarchist's Design Book". Sturdier than it looks. I stand on it frequently. Comfortable to sit on too.

[george wilson]

No sawing bench. But,I did build 2 oak saw horses that someone made into plans that are available on the Woodcraft site as "Williamsburg saw horses". When stood on end,they stand up straight,and are the same height of the work bench. Thus I could use them to support real long boards while I cut them to length.

[lowell holmes]

Here is another sawhorse from the old woodworking news group.

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[ken hatch]

Stacking Saw Benches:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/sawBenchA160715_zpsceplg0wh.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/sawBenchB160715_zpsutju68sx.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/stackingSawBenchA_zpstqbtgonq.jpg

They work better built in pairs.

ken

[Normand Leblanc]

I've built one many years ago and I hardly use it. Only for >4ft long ripcut. Otherwise it's in the vice.

[lowell holmes]

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Here are two horses I made. You've probably seen the small one. I have two that I use for wood that I am working with. I'm amazed at the load they will support.

The other horse is handy and it will hold the world. It is good for making strange cuts on a board.

Jim,you ask for pictures. You got pictures.:)

[Sean Hughto]

yep you can see there in the background of this shot:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3265/3124503186_acdb042c31_o.jpg

[Thomas Schneider]

Found this design on the web. I'll try to find out who came up with it and give them credit later (http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/viewer-projects/brians-improved-saw-bench/). I really don't know how I ever worked without it! All scrap 2x6 taken out of a construction dumpster near work. Dovetails and mortise and tenon joinery with some drawbore pins to boot! No nails or screws and this is and has been rock solid for three years!

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[Phil Mueller]

Thomas, thats the one I'm considering. A step by step build video is also at billyslittlebench.com

[Lenore Epstein]

What is a 'bent' used for?

[Joe A Faulkner]

Technically these don't qualify for a number of reasons. 1) They aren't really saw benches; 2) They were built using power tools; 3) While I have two in my shop, I only made one of them. My oldest son made the other as a 4-H project. For years we used his as an end table in the family room.

My wife finally got tired of it in the house, so I moved it to the shop where it is appreciated. This was his first and only 4-H woodworking project. He told me years later, after he graduated from high school, that he wished I had made him stick with woodworking all through 4-H. His younger brothers are now benefiting from his regrets. I am less sympathetic to their complaining armed with their big brother's new found appreciation.

These little benches are great. They were made out of #2 pine though. They've held up for 17 years, but some day I'll make a real saw bench.

[Kenneth Fisher]

What is a 'bent' used for?

It's used exactly like a second saw bench, but with a lot less work to make and less room to store :)

[Jason Lester]

What's the purpose of the v-notch in them? For drilling?

[Jim Koepke]

What's the purpose of the v-notch in them? For drilling?

It can be used for that. It also comes in handy when rip cutting.

jtk

[John Crawford]

I made a pair of the SchwarzBenches. They are very sturdy. I am forever banging my saw on the bottom cross brace and the splayed legs. I like some of the designs here where you can saw down the center of the bench.

(Image from Popular Woodworking)

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[lowell holmes]

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/80805

Actually the term bent refers to a Krenov design for a small saw horse. I have made two.
They are remarkably strong, not at all flimsy.

Fine Woodworking had an article about making them.

[James Pallas]

Here is my "saw bench". Built it out of what I had on hand because I needed it right now. It's 15 or so years old and was not intended for a long life. It has survived and gets used on most jobs around the house, not just saw work.
Jim

[Robert Engel]

Ala Schwarz. His design is faulty the legs need to be attached to top with screws/plugs or dowels because it is a xgrain glue. Or use epoxy.
I built have another except one without a notch.

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[lowell holmes]

My interest is piqued! I've never run across a bent before. For what are they typically used?

I could definitely make use of a saw bench in the future. It's on my to-do list. Just need to finish my work bench first...

You will find plans for the bent in an article "Sawhorses" in the November/December 2009 issue of Fine Woodworking.

[steven c newman]

I have used this one for a few years. It stays on the back porch year round. I even test out a few saws..
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And I also use it to break down full sheets of plywood. Makes it easier to carry the sawn pieces down the steps to the Dungeon Shop.

[Mike Holbrook]

So we are going to talk serious hand saw stations then:

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Sometimes this even comes in handy:

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[lowell holmes]

It sure looks like a shave horse to me. I've used them to build windsor chairs.

[Mike Holbrook]

Right Lowell, now that I have mine reworked as a dumb head, I find I can use it for other things as well. One of those other chores being holding small objects for sawing, say a tool handle I am shaving into shape. Another being holding odd shaped objects for sharpening, try positioning a scorp while you sharpen it. The advantage being that I can position and reposition the object I am sawing or sharpening quickly and precisely on the PDQ. As always YMMV.

[lowell holmes]

It is a fine looking shave horse. I can see that it holds wood for sawing. I never thought about using one for that. I've shaved a lot of chips making chair legs and spindles though.

[Paul Sidener]

I made a pair of the SchwarzBenches. They are very sturdy. I am forever banging my saw on the bottom cross brace and the splayed legs. I like some of the designs here where you can saw down the center of the bench.

(Image from Popular Woodworking)

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I made a pair of those as well, and I have the same problem with my 26" saws. So I use my 20" saws as much as possible. I am thinking about making the one that Tom Fidgen has in his book. Problem is my wife wants too many other things first.

[Jay Larson]

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/125305

I also built two. One Schwartz style. The second one was copied from the feature article in the Work magazine from August 15, 1891. This is a from a blog over at Tools for Working Wood (https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/blog/665/title/WORK%20No.%20126%20-%20Published%20August%2015,%201891).

I still need to take 1/2" off of the second one. Not a big deal, but awkward with shorter boards.

[Phil Mueller]

OK, I can cross this off the list.

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[Thomas Schneider]

That came out very nice! Let us know how you like it after you use it for a spell.

[Andy McKenzie]

I don't have one of just the sawbench, but it's at least no blocked in this shot. I ran out of scrap 2x4, so it got two legs on one end and one leg on the other. As an added bonus, it sits pretty well on uneven ground if necessary. Since my shop is so small (you can see all of the working space in the photo), the sawbench gets used as a seat, sawbench, and assembly table, and does a pretty good job at all of those.

That said, I'll probably put four legs on the next one I build. This sometimes gets a little wobbly if I put too much pressure on the wrong end.

https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8262/28621784771_bb480cae2a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/KBd8rM)My tiny shop. (https://flic.kr/p/KBd8rM) by a_mckenzie_4 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/amckenzie4/), on Flickr