Roubo: Almost Done

 Four months later, and I'm almost finished with this workbench.

I added a sliding deadman even though the span between the legs is only 27".

The top of the deadman has a 3/8" x 3/8" tongue that fits into a matching groove on the underside of the bench. The bottom skate of the deadman has a V-groove that slides along a V-shaped track that's glued to the front stretcher.

I shaped the wedges for the tusk tenons to match the wedge in one of my antique moulding planes. I still need to figure out what shape to make the ends of the long stretchers.

I may add holes to the front right leg, but will wait to see if I need them. I ran holes along the front edge of the benchtop in between the legs and added only one more opposite the front left leg.  I use that for a planing stop.

I'm finding all sorts of benefits to having a removable split top. For one, I can remove the back half of the benchtop if I need to clamp a board on both sides of the bench.  It's similar to a thinner, Japanese-style bench.

Also, I only need to lift it about 5/8" in order to remove the sliding deadman.

I still need to add a removable shelf, sand the base and apply finish, in addition to shaping the ends of the long stretchers, but that's nothing compared to the work that's behind me.

Oh, and the parallel guide works now without having to enlarge the mortise. I slathered it with wax and no longer jams.

Planing stop uses only one hole.

Tool Chest of Benjamin Seaton

The second edition of the book The Tool Chest of Benjamin Seaton is available for pre-order from the Astragal Press. 

Did I order my copy before posting this? You bet I did. :o)

This is a reproduction of the Seaton chest built by
the cabinetmakers at Colonial Williamsburg.

WIA: 2012

The Woodworking in America 2012 site is up and running!  

This year, you have your choice of two conferences:
one on the west coast and one in the midwest.

Registration is not yet open, but you can
peruse the lists of speakers, topics, and exhibitors, 

all of which are impressive for both conferences.

Roubo: Another Progress Shot

I promise to blog about all this when I've finished building my bench. In the meantime, I've installed the long stretchers and tusk tenons—the wedges will eventually have a decorative shape. Now it's on to the sliding deadman.

Questions From the Lighthearted Woodworker

Christopher Landy, the Lighthearted Woodworker, is starting a new series on his blog in which he features and poses questions to a variety of woodworking bloggers. Chris invited me to take part in his series and sent me some fun and interesting questions. He also asked that I send him a "unique" photo of me in my shop.  My answers and photo are below.  Read Chris' entire blog post here where he explains his intentions.  And check his site often for upcoming bloggers in his series.

12 Lighthearted Questions for Kari Hultman, The Village Carpenter

1- Was there a woodworker in your family growing up? Nope. My Dad is a retired nuclear projects engineer. I learned at a very young age not to ask him what he did for a living, because he’d tell me. In engineer’s details.

2- Who is your biggest woodworking influence? Probably Chris Schwarz. I discovered his blog soon after I started mine, and his enthusiasm for and research into traditional woodworking helped steer me in the right direction.

3- What book would you buy as a gift for a novice woodworker? If he/she were interested in working with hand tools, I would suggest Country Furniture by Aldren Watson. I haven’t read many power tool books, but the book that got me started in woodworking was The Complete Manual of Woodworking by Albert Jackson and David Day.

4- Does being a graphic artist influence your woodworking? Definitely. Principles in design are found in all the arts and crafts: balance, composition, negative space, pattern, hierarchy, contrast...

5- What flavor ice cream? Turkey Hill’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!

6- You seem to use a lot of pine, which most woodworkers won't touch.  What's your favorite wood to work with? I do love pine, especially the smell. My favorite wood is Pennsylvania cherry. Its workability, warmth, and depth are superb.  When it’s finished, it glows.  Plus, I can get it for a buck fifty a board foot. I’m never moving from this area.

7- I am a big fan of the drawer hanging jig you blogged about.  What is your favorite Jig? It’s a jig that holds thin and small boards based on a design I found in an old woodworking book. I wrote a blog post about it.

8- Do you compost your sawdust? I use it to line the walkways between my raised flower beds, and my dog (Daisy) uses it as a cloak of invisibility.

9- What is the 1st thing you do when walk into the shop? This is silly, but I’ll often walk through my shop with my arms outstretched, looking from side to side, ala Vanna White. It’s sort of the way I “hug” my shop. Crud. Did I just write that out loud?

10- What is the most complicated joint you have ever attempted? It’s not a complicated joint, but it was challenging for me—the through dovetail and tenons on my new workbench. The fit had to be such that the joints would hold the top tightly but could be pulled apart for transport. And look pretty.

11- What would woodworkers in the blogosphere be most surprised to learn about you? I once stood in line for two and half hours to get Norm Abram’s autograph.

12-  What project is on your bucket list? There are a number of antique tools that I plan to reproduce. Some involve engraving and inlay, neither of which I’ve ever tried, so I’m very excited.

Regarding the photo: I’ve been asked several times how I keep my nails looking so nice, so here is my secret. 

Less Dreaming, More Building

Vise chop, before parallel guide
installation.

That's my New Year's Resolution for 2012.

And that's why I've had so much stick-to-it-tiveness with this workbench build.

Several months ago, I realized that I don't have a whole lot of projects to show for my 20 years as a woodworker. Twenty years! I should have built enough things to fill a house.

Instead, I've spent a good deal of time thinking about the things I'd like to build.

I'll be 48 this summer, which means I may have a good 20+ years of woodworking in my future (or 40, if my genes are anything like Sam Maloof's).

And I intend to pack the next 20 years with loads of wood shavings.

Here are progress shots of my Roubo build. I'll start on the long stretchers this weekend.

Parallel guide profile.

Roubo: Progress Shots

My partner tested the stability
of the workbench (it's rock solid)
and tried out my new bench
dog.

Close up of bench dog design. Email
me if you want the plans.

Front of vise chop with
brass garter and vise screw.

I've been working diligently on my workbench every weekend and many evenings.  A proper blog post will follow with the vise screw installation, but in the meantime, here are some progress shots. The vise screw is from Lake Erie Toolworks and is a real beauty. Works great and is easy to install.

Leg vise chop design.

Back of leg showing vise
screw and nut.

What Do Our Workbench Designs Say About Us?

Mine says I'm bottom-heavy.

But really, it's more than that. Our benches are often a reflection of our personalities.

Maybe you used reclaimed lumber because you're concerned about wasting our natural resources. Maybe your bench is basic and functional because it's a tool, not a piece of furniture.

We've all seen workbenches that are so beautiful we'd be afraid to work on them.  Or, heavily used, well-loved benches handed down from generation to generation.

This is an old 18th- or 19th-century
 French workbbench I saw in an
 antique store. 

Early woodworkers didn't have the leisure time that we do, so they built their benches to fit their needs, not necessarily their desires.

And yet, I have seen antique benches with a bit of flair added to them, much as you might see in old wooden planes that sport a bit of chip carving.

My bench will be solid, sturdy, and practical, but will have some decorative elements. However, the biggest thing it will reveal about my personality is that I always try my hardest, but fully embrace imperfection. I'm leaving the dents and dings and gaps alone. I'll even point them out to people.

My personality is exactly the same. What you see is what you get; I don't hide a thing.

During this community bench-build, I'm seeing woodworkers personalize their workbenches even if they're working from a set of plans. I think that's a big part of why we love to see others' benches. It says something about the builder.

So, what does your bench style say about you?