Comments on: New Book Coming on Workbench Design, Construction & Use

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:07:47 +0000

The book is printed and we’re awaiting its arrival.

The original release date was Oct. 10. Now they are guaranteeing Nov. 1. It should be out sooner than that.

Believe me, as soon as it’s out, you’ll hear from us. You’ll get sick of hearing about the dang book.

Chris

By: Yves Gaudreau

Yves Gaudreau — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:56:07 +0000

Hello Chris,

Do you have any idea yet as when your book will be published.

Regards,
Yves

By: dave brown

dave brown — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 05:49:59 +0000

Hiya Chris,

Here’s a pic of the wagon vise clamping block. It accepts a Veritas bench pup. There’s a pic of it here:

The new oak bench vise clamps w/ brutal force.

Final pics of the bench are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ydb1md/NewWorkbench

cheers,
Dave

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:31:49 +0000

Dave,

I think your wagon vise is very clever. I’ve seen a few like yours that use the sliding block as a traveler on the rod. If I had to remake mine, that’s how I would do it.

I’ll be interested to see how your dogs work on the block.

One other comment, your jaw for the leg vise looks a little on the thin side in the photo. How thick is it and what is the material if I might ask.

By: Bill Wiese

Bill Wiese — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:56 +0000

Hi Chris:

I think it is hi time we readers make you a superstar. How about talking with your publisher and make arangments so that we all can order autographed copies of your new book on workbenches. You deserve more then the ordenary 15 minutes of fame that we all alot other authors.

Bill Wiese

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Sun, 06 May 2007 03:02:52 +0000

Dave,

I’ll be really interested in seeing your wagon vise. I’ve modified the one on the Nicholson Bench that works really, really well.

Chris

By: John Tarbutton

John Tarbutton — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:57:48 +0000

Chris, Count me in as another one ready and waiting to have your new book. Bravo, kudos, et cetera from me as well. Writing a book is HARD work, subject matter notwithstanding. I deal with physical limitations. So, a workbench that fits well should do well. I don’t have such quite yet (mine is an old heavy cast iron legs, tool shelf in back, Emmert vise on the left front), so your book may well fix my situation. While lifting and strenuous effort are mostly a no-no, it shouldn’t stop me from building a bench that really fits. (A half scale bench can be doggone handy to use too). Thank you for delving into research and doing all the work entailed writing a book. Put me on the waiting list if there is one. I’ll take two the minute I can get them. The article in the June issue was tantalizing. Now I will have handy reference at hand. It is so refreshing to consider workbenches which can really fit the work and worker rather than just stock items (though these do have their place certainly). Thanks for what had to be a challenge to do and yet keep happy family life plus regular work to boot. Your wife is to be congratulated too. So please treat her to a nice dinner, or maybe a quiet picnic down by the lovely Ohio river! We are never able to do this stuff without them. Thank God for a good wife! John T, Newark, Ohio

By: John Tarbutton

John Tarbutton — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:56:52 +0000

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:49:36 +0000

Jeff,

I don’t think this is as much of a chicken-and-egg problem as some people suspect.

I built the French-style Roubo workbench using only two sawhorses. First I glued up the top on the sawhorses. Then I built the base and used the top as an ersatz workbench with clamped-on planing stops.

Instead of a vise, I held my work on the workbench top for joinery using bar clamps. It worked great.

Another option: Almost everyone has (or should have) a Workmate in the garage. You can clamp anything for planing or joinery in a Workmate. So you can build the base first, if that suits your way of working.

Chris

By: Jeffrey Abell

Jeffrey Abell — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:07:28 +0000

Hi Chris,

Looking forward to both the book and the writeup on the Holtzapfell bench.

How are you able to build these benches using only sawhorses? Is there some special design that enables you to adequately hold pieces for planing, etc.?

Thanks for your work on the topic -

Jeff