Comments on: French Workbench Class – Day 6

By: Drumist

Drumist — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:33:11 +0000

These videos give me hope, it can be done! By the way Chris, what is the awesome music with this video?
Andrew

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:04:57 +0000

Anthony,

I have lots of knots in all my benches. You just have to know where to look. Like I mentioned before, old benches were not always made with the best wood. Some were. Some weren’t. Same goes with planes and other wooden tools. During the class, we were as selective as possible with the wood at hand. What looked best? What was most stable? How would it affect joinery?

Almost any wood is acceptable for building a bench.

By: AnthonyT

AnthonyT — Tue, 24 May 2011 01:25:31 +0000

Chris,
How important is it to have clear pine for bench tops and legs? Up until this past week, it seemed like you always found perfect boards. Now however, it looks like knots and other defects are acceptable.

Thanks,
Anthony

By: Marlon1

Marlon1 — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:51:49 +0000

I like that yard. I could set up a hammock & be in heaven. Of course It wouldn’t be heaven without one of those benches.

By: Justin Tyson

Justin Tyson — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:01:21 +0000

If you’ll notice the pictures, there are piths and checks aplenty in the timbers in these benches. Reminds me of something my 8th grade English teacher (who also happened to be my mother) said: ‘When you know the rules, you can follow them. When you understand the rules, you can break them.’ She was referring to grammar, and the irony that many of her favorite writers freely broke “the rules”, but I think it applies here nicely. If the check is not a structural defect, you can leave it be. If it is, you can stabilize it with epoxy.

By: Trent

Trent — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:18:50 +0000

I have enjoyed seeing the daily progress, it has given me a shot of reality about how long it is going to take to make my own bench (that’s a good thing). I do have one question that has been plaguing me and that has to do with the pith. In your book you mention to avoid it due to the serious threat of checking. How did you address it with these benches? My bench will be of similar construction. Thanks. Trent

By: romanstankus

romanstankus — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:29:40 +0000

Hi Chris,

Would you mind sharing some more info on the pine you were using. What was the moisture content of the pieces at the surface and core? Did any of the pine used include the pith as is typical in larger size pine timbers – or were they cut for your use to exclude the pith? Nice project and very fun to watch your short videos!

Roman

By: Niels

Niels — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:44:05 +0000

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the real-time play-by-play. I feel like a proper bench is going the first project (on the bench) after my impending shop move. It’s something I have been putting off for far too long, but seeing the speed of the builds is really encouraging. I sure as hell plan on prepping the timbers by machine (elsewhere) and using them whenever possible so I get back to the business of making the actual work asap.
Cheers,
Niels

By: Jay Pettitt

Jay Pettitt — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:25:19 +0000

What I’d worry about, with gloves, is a stray, dangling thread getting round around one of those spinning things. Doesn’t bare thinking about.

http://youtu.be/Jy2YhxXn7NY

Great series of vids though, looks like a fantastic week. Folk spend too much time making things in solitary confinement – makes a chap grumpy.

By: Al Navas

Al Navas — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:21:51 +0000

Thanks for sharing the journey, Chris! I am not sure why people *feel* you must use only hand tools. But I like the unapologetic attitude a LOT!

Al
The blended approach to woodworking,
with power tools and hand tools