Woodworking Magazine Weblog

Thanks for the heads-up, Chris! Can't wait to read your book. I'm placing my order today.

Chris,

I just tried to sign up for the Lost Art newsletter (on Chris's site, linked above), but the "Sign Up" button doesn't seem to work. I tried it with both Internet Explorer and Firefox, to no avail.

Thanks,
Gene

Just ordered your book Chris, and I had the same problem as the previous person regarding signing up for the newsletter on your website. Looking forward to the book....
Thanks,
Joe

Thanks for the notice Chris, I have been eagerly awaiting words of his impeding publication.
Just back from your site, and ordered the book and CD.

Now will just have to wait and see :-)

Bob, of the great white North, strong and free

Hey all,

Sorry that I've been tied up all day. Couple answers: Sorry that the newsletter feature of my site is buggy. We're working on it.

Similarly, some people are reporting issues with the security certificate at my site. The site is secure and legit. We'll get that problem solved quickly.

Chris

Congratulations Chris on the book!

I can`t wait to read it!

Chris, the book is tremendous. (I pre-ordered it and the CD and received the CD a few weeks ago.) It did give me an "I'm an idiot" moment when I read how you secure chair seat blanks to your bench for shaping. I'd been using a ridiculous clamping system. When I read your technique of temporarily attaching a piece of scrap to the bottom, to be held in the vice, I felt ridiculous. Such a simple solution. Yet so perfect.

Anyway, I hope you write many more. It's excellent.

Chris,
I have a question in regard to large workbench tops. How would I find out the max span (between legs) you could have for a given species if the the thickness will be 4" finished? This would be for a typical laminated workbench top (face to face glued). I am trying to figure this out to find out how long of a top I can make. I'm thinking that the max deflection would be acceptable if it were less than 1/32". Thanks Tim

Tim,

The published tables on deflection or the wood's e value don't cover 4"-thick material. I have some practical experience.

Relatively stiff woods (stiffer than beech) is rock solid at 4" thick over a 56" span.

Even red oak, which isn't all that stiff, can span long distances when it's thick . The Dominy workbench is very long and has a 5-1/2" thick top. Check out the photo at the bottom:

http://blog.lostartpress.com/2007/10/24/The+Dominy+Workbench+Under+Glass.aspx

Not the legs in the center (they're shadowy). That's the solution if you do have sag.

I'm sure there is a formula used by engineers and timber framers, but unless you are pushing out past reasonable limits, I think you have wide latitude.

Chris

I'm glad to hear that your thesis is that there is no such thing as a perfect workbench, as I was somewhat surprised at your PWW piece on benches to the extent it seemed a tad dognmatic about things like placing benches against walls and such. I built a close derivative of the Fortune/Nelson bench a few years back and have it in the middle of my shop. For me, I can't tell you how many times I have found it incredibly convenient to have access from all sides for clamping, sawing, etc. In short, we all have to figure out what works for us, and once we do, we must resist thinking that our way is best for everyone else.

Anyway, I look forward to your book. Thanks.

Hi Chris,

I'm sure this will be a tremendous book, based on what I've read on Wiktors site in the excerpt you graciously allowed him to post there.

I'm very much looking forward to it, although it'll probably be a few paychecks before my order goes in.

Thanks so much for putting in so much research and effort into what should be common sense among woodworkers in general. I agree that this is truly one of those "lost arts" whose neglect is traced to the commoditizing of almost every aspect of our work and lives.

--dave

I pulled out the June '07 (162) issue of PWW to try to remind myself of why I was left with an impression of inflexibility on some some workbench issues. Upon rereading the article, I notice a tension between a lot of your prose (which contains allowances for all sorts of variations and preferences) and the structure of the article -- titled "RULES for Workbenches" and containing 10 numbered "RULES" and 10 "PROBLEMS." Rule 10, for example, starts "Try to place your bench against a wall ..." and "Problem 10" is "I like my bench in the middle of the room ..." Let me hasten to add that your discussion readily allows for deviation from the "Rule" and allows that preferring a middle of the room location might not be a "Problem," but the presentation as rules and problems left me with a sense that perhaps you felt only an idiot wouldn't see that the wall was the obvious better way to go. For what it's worth in explaining my prior comment.

Samson, thanks so much for your comments, they really did prompt me to order Chris's new book last week after I read your position. I have been reading Chris's workbench evolution and read about it in PWW, Woodworking Magazine, one his blog, and on a couple other online venues, over the past 3-4 years, and I have never once got the feeling of inflexibility in any way. Quite the opposite actually, in that Chris has always been pretty open minded in regards to workbenches, but he is certainly one of the journalists that have brought solid workbenches to the mainstream.

In 2000 Chris created an inexpensive workbench, with a cost of $175. The same bench was modified slightly in construction and published in a PWW special issue "Workbenches and Toolboxes" which was available in May of 2005. Chris was the main force behind this special issue, IMO, and did much of the article writing (that spalted maple toolbox is the cat's meow). The $175 workbench was now $230, but improved. Chris did his best to keep the cost down to enable as many folks to build a decent workbench as possible. Then he built the Roubo a year or two ago, the Nicholson, and the Holtzapffel even more recent. Each bench was quite different but he tried to find as many solid designs that haven't been common as of recent, without being impractical. This has opened many woodworkers to different benches, and many folks are building Roubo, Nicholson, and Holtzapffel benches as I type.

While I have a couple benches I am using, I have another in progress, and I enjoy Chris's perspective on building a using your workbench, it is after all probably the best tool that any craftsman will ever own. I can build on the couple benches I have, but have been questing a different bench. I'm very much looking forward to reading his book as I am confident it will make me think, it will make me ponder on the work I would like to accomplish in the future, and just how I might perceive my bench. I hope it will give me some new ideas on holding work on the bench, and how I might make some improvements that will allow ease of crafting such. I think Chris has been very flexible, and I like the way he presents things. I don't expect his book to be a coffee table book, but rather a nuts and bolts type book with details and especially a different perspective than Landis or Scheining, albeit those books are good as well, IMO. I don't think Chris is trying to boil the ocean, but to get more people to build and especially understanding what a great workbenches is to each of us. You might see his points in PWW as being inflexible, but I certainly don't and suspect you might be in a minority with such a view.

Regards,

Alan, I don't think you understood my comments.

My first comment said: I'M GLAD YOUR BOOK TAKES AS A THEME "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT WORKBENCH." My second comment explained that while I had the vague recollection that a prior article had aspects that struck me as inflexible, UPON REREADING IT, I FOUND CHRIS WAS QUITE FLEXIBLE AND ONLY THE SET UP AS "RULES" and "PROBLEMS" WAS WHAT I WAS REMEMBERING.

For the record, Chris may well be my favorite woodworking writer. His articles have taught me plenty. His approach to tools and projects resonates with my own. I appreciate all he has done (and continues to do) for me and woodworking in general.

I wish I could by your book… ;o( I was anxiously waiting afet it for months. But your web site (www.lostartpress.com) keep refusing to proceed when I press “Place Your Order”. It always came back with the same message: “Declined”. The message is preceded by a “!” within a yellow triangle and it is followed with the date!!!

Any idea what’s going on?

Regards

Alan how many benches does one woodworker need. LOL.

Samson I am with you on this one,my shop is with the exception of my wifes scroll saw, and a 12 inch ryobi bench drill press hand tools only. My bench sits smack in the middle of the shop, and I often do work off boith sides at a time in a given project.

I note that in his comments on the hand tool shop Adam Cherubini also says to put the bench against the wall, and the Domineys did as well. HOwever in the Colonial Williamsburg shop the benchs are if memory serves in the room.

I can see the need for the wall placement if you have to rely on natural light, I do have modern lighting however, and find the central placement advantageous, so my vote goes with Samson.

Chris,

I bought the book and I've read about half of it. I think it is fantastic and I will never look at workbenches the same again!

Unfortunately, I live in Philadelphia and I can't find a good supply of Southern Yellow Pine. Do you have any suggestions for a good alternative cheap wood for those of us that live in the Northeast? I am looking at White Oak or Hard Maple as possibilities, but they are a little pricey.

Check out the entry on my personal blog about wood selection. You might want to check out ash. Or get some Doug fir and let it dry....

http://www.lostartpress.com/

or

http://blog.lostartpress.com/2007/11/10/What+Wood+Would+Be+Good+What+Wood+Wouldnt.aspx

Chris

Chris

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