My new saw bench will be used with for sawing boards the traditional way—by hand. And yet I built it entirely with power tools: table saw, compound miter saw, and band saw.
In my defense, my new Lie-Nielsen 7 tpi rip saw has not arrived yet. And using a crosscut saw to rip boards....well, it's just not done. So I was forced to use power.
In my defense, my new Lie-Nielsen 7 tpi rip saw has not arrived yet. And using a crosscut saw to rip boards....well, it's just not done. So I was forced to use power.
Either that, or I was being lazy.Sometimes you just want to build an instant gratification project—one that doesn't have to be pretty, or sanded, or have close tolerance joinery. One that can be designed, sawn, and banged together with hammer and nails in 2 hours.
I searched the internet this morning for saw bench plans and settled on one built by Dan Klauder, who found inspiration in Alex Bealer's Old Ways of Working Wood.
Now I just have to wait for the arrival of my new saw to give it and myself a workout.
Sometimes with tools and projects it's the old "chicken or the egg" dilemma! How do you make a saw bench when you don't have all the right saws? You use what you have!
ReplyDeleteNice looking bench too!
My mantra is mostly: worry less about the tools and worry more about design and the finished product.
ReplyDeleteI thought that bench looked familiar! I hope you love it as much as I do - it made all the difference in my sawing. Of course, that led directly to my selling my table saw - so be careful :)
ReplyDeleteFine results for a short, quick project. ... and you don't need a shim under one leg like Dan does. :)
ReplyDelete(Like so many of us, Dan is stuck with a concrete shop floor, and they are rarely flat throughout.)
OK, there's another day left for the weekend. Make a partner bench to hold the infeed / outfeed for longer rips.
Why you preferred to use nails instead of screws?
ReplyDeleteIs a functional or practical choice?
Doug, that's exactly why I had to use power tools--thanks!
ReplyDeleteBill, that's a wise mantra.
Dan, me, too. I'll probably just put my powermatic 66 out with trash tomorrow night. ; )
Bob, great advice. I made this the same height as another little bench in my shop, thinking they'd make good saw horses. Every once in a while, I plan ahead.
Auguste, that was just personal preference. I like the look of nails over screws.
No need to make excuses for using a power saw.
ReplyDeleteThey were invented to save us time and effort.
Nothing wrong with that - leaves more time for the fun stuff.
I don't know too many people who would say that they enjoy ripping long boards by hand.
Nice bench by the way.
Thanks for your website as well.
I really like checking in to see what's happening in Hultmanville.
Hi Kari - good little project, sometimes you need a 'quicky' just to get going...not sure about the LN saw though. Methinks you ought to throw the grappling hooks overboard and inflate the 'chute to slow your descent down the 'you know what'... though I don't think it'll do much good, I think you're way too far gone! - Rob
ReplyDeleteCould have sworn you left with a wide variety of rip saws from Tom Law, this past spring at the Patina gathering!!! Maybe you're just saving your arm power for the upcoming boring contest?
ReplyDeleteAnon--thanks for your comment and for coining the term "Hultmanville". ; )
ReplyDeleteRob, I think you're right! I'm a goner....
Tony, I only bought two crosscut saws from Tom and have been kicking myself ever since! Maybe see you in Valley Forge? Hopefully, I'll be a little more awake than when I talked with you at the Patina show. :o)
I was going to say that you could replace the " poor little 5 board stool that I absconded from the house " but then I read the response "I made this the same height as another little bench in my shop, thinking they'd make good saw horses." I'm assuming the little bench is the one absconded and has become a permanent shop fixture =)
ReplyDeleteJerm, you are correct! The poor little 5 board stool never found its way back into the house. It's quite happy there, though. I'm sure of it. :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm unsure yet about WIA--depends what work has in store for me! what is attractive about this WIA is the handsaw content! Could it be that our profession/hobby is entering major acceleration to the already started handsaw renaissanse? I am hoping to be there, at least to meet Mike Wentzloff. I now have three of his saws, including the Disston #16Mike posted pictures of in WoodCentral and WoodNet(?)a month or so back.
ReplyDeleteTony
I agree completely. I want to get started on a carpentry project or woodworking of some sort but I don't ahve the space for it yet. I do enjoy watching DIY shows on tv like THIS OLD HOUSE.
ReplyDeleteTony, a friend and I were just having this conversation. There seems to be no lack of choice in new handtools, including handsaws. And you can't go wrong with many of them. Sure wasn't that way 30 years ago, or even 20.
ReplyDeleteMichael, you'd be surprised how many woodworkers have a garage shop with many of their larger tools (planer, table saw) on wheels so they can be stowed when they need to park the car. And if you work with just handtools, you can get by with a very small shop. A friend even turned his entire house into his shop. Maybe your wife would be amenable to that? ; )
Did you build this with all 4/4 wood?
ReplyDeleteDpmohne, the top and sides are just .75", but the legs are 1.125". I would have preferred to use thicker wood for the top and sides as well, but didn't have enough in my shop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing trick on me or not.
ReplyDelete-Duane
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ReplyDeleteMichael,i have been kicking myself ever since!
ReplyDelete