64.The Bench

Your most important tool: its height, surface, vises, dogs, and holdfasts.
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Visit: www.blackburnb... to view books. To order, call 845-430-3417 or email:[e-mail].
To enquire about, and sign up for, individual and small group lessons in Woodstock NY call 845-430-3417 or email [e-mail].

[@DraganIlich-r1s]

Thank you Sir.🎉

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Thanks for another enjoyable video. Great tips, and LOVE the intro music. I always turn up my Hi-Fi.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you like them!

[@michaelemancipator8573]

Missed your content - glad to see it back!

[@gjbmunc]

Hey, thanks!

[@PeanutsDadForever]

Thanks for this information, very helpful. 🇦🇺👴🏻

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@haroldschultz5864]

Oh this video is perfect timing . I'm in the process of trying to draw up plans for my permanent bench . You've given me plenty of things to consider sir . So glad you've started another series of shows as I thoroughly enjoy them . Thank you Mister Blackburn and blessings to you .

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OZheathen]

Great stuff

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@MCsCreations]

It's great to see you back, Graham! Thanks for another lesson! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@ihosvaniarregoitia]

Greetings from Mexico, you are a teacher for me where I am always learning from your videos

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@johnford7847]

A great overview, sir. I've owned your book for several years now and agree that it's a valuable resource. Thank you for sharing.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richarde7432]

I am looking forward to your take on work holding methods. I do like simple hold fasts because they are a very fast way to work.

[@gjbmunc]

Coming soon!

[@dannywilsher4165]

I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I need to build a work bench. I've always worked on makeshift benches. Saw horses or folding plastic tables.

[@gjbmunc]

Cool, thanks. Go for it.

[@johnwillis3596]

Bench height is a subject of endless discussion, but at the end of the day it’s personal preference and what works best for the individual woodworker. You mentioned your tail vice for work holding. I have to say I am not a great fan of them and have used a holdfast and ‘doe’s foot’ batten successfully for many years. Perhaps you could do a video on making and using one.

[@gjbmunc]

Well said! Doe's foot can be very useful.

[@danielgeng2306]

Thanks Graham, great information and I bought the book:)

[@gjbmunc]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@danielgeng2306]

@@gjbmunc I have no doubt I will sir!

[@pettere8429]

A machinist's straight edge is a bit of a luxury item. You can make a wooden straight edge, straight to the thickness of the finest shaving you can take, by jointing three edges on separate boards tightly together until there is no light showing through the seam anywhere.

[@gjbmunc]

The machinist's straight edge may indeed be a bit of a luxury item if all you use it for is levelling the bench....

[@richardwilliamswilliams]

Good afternoon from Copperhill Tn.

[@gjbmunc]

Hello there!

[@BakerVS]

So glad to see you're back, I hope you had some nice holidays! Thanks for your videos, I look forward to more.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@jackofalltradesmasterofnon8069]

Gonna look forward to this series love watching I’ll school craftsman do their magic just admire the skill and dedication Could I be a cheeky chap and ask how big is your workshop

[@gjbmunc]

Never big enough - roughly 20 x 20.

[@jackofalltradesmasterofnon8069]

@@gjbmunc a fair old size better than my 3 foot by 5 foot shed/cell I am going to buy a shed just for my woodworking shenanigans lol just seeing what best size to get

[@pukinpaja1974]

Thanks to video! Greetings from Finland! ❄️☃️🎅🏻👍🏻🇫🇮

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you too!

[@ImOnAJourney]

Your tail vise is on the struggle bus! Wood-on-wood in the humid winter, eh?

[@gjbmunc]

Exactly!

[@ImOnAJourney]

@@gjbmunc It’ll get better soon, and then summer heat and humidity will sink in 🤦🏻We can’t get away from it, can we??

[@bearshield7138]

Thank you for putting so much detain into these about you are doing and why your do it that way.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@dougdavidson175]

Thanks for all you do sir.

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@thomashverring9484]

Great video as always, Graham! And to those who haven't read it yet, I can highly recommend the book!

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for that!

[@andrewmcgillivray1881]

well done graham! i also use a very small vise from ulmia (no longer on the market but there are many copies) to hold smaller workpieces. it fits perfectly in both tail and face vices. keep up the good work!

[@gjbmunc]

I'll do an episode on side snipes and snipe bills - they're in the same family but not quite the same as side rabbets.

[@nicocortez102]

Really enjoyed this video. Great job.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@donovancampbell7785]

That was a wonderful video. Thank you very much.:)

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@KOutOfMyYard]

I am surprised that you did not talk about the bench till…

[@gjbmunc]

Ah yes, the tool well - together with its cleanout ramp! Never enough tme to mention everything. Thanks anyway!

[@Robin-rr2ue]

Useful features on a bench. You could also make do with a simple bench hook and planing stop.

[@gjbmunc]

Of course, if 'making do' is all you're interested in!

[@gordoncrates3508]

Could do with some wax on that tail vice

[@gjbmunc]

It's the humidity this winter in New York.

[@lecadrebicycles]

Thank you for the great content Graham!!

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

Nicely done.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@iyamjc1258]

Reading through that book now. All very interesting. Somewhat new to this and learning. Thanks.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@GC-jh1uf]

Terrific video, Graham. Most of it I know and do but you had a few tips that were new to me. Much thanks.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yomismosoyelregalo2266]

I'm reading that book right now. It's just great!

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@ianpearse4480]

Happy New Year. I have a viceless bench and find I don't miss them much at all. That said I do have a bench mule and various clamping jigs. Nice share.

[@gjbmunc]

Happy new year to you too!

[@memilanuk]

Huh... never thought of using a holdfast from a block of wood in one of the vises. Might have to give that a try!🤔

[@gjbmunc]

Good luck!

[@memilanuk]

@@gjbmunc no concerns about hammering on the hold fast & block while in the vise? Seems like I've usually seen it advised to avoid that in, at least in general terms.

[@JamesSmith-su3oz]

So happy that you are back. Yes how high the bench is very important to the user and I think you explained the best way to find it. Oh, and HI from jackson, TN.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks, and hi!

[@MASI_forging]

Another great video 😄😄

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks again!

[@murrayglick8524]

Your videos are great. This video describes mostly vises. Can you please make comments on Wedge Holding methods too? Thank you..

[@gjbmunc]

Sure I will

[@ChiefTiff]

A Stanley Fatmax spirit level (or equivalent) makes an adequate straight edge. Additionally the aluminium will leave marks on wood; so if I’m flattening boards or jointing edges I simply rub the level against the wood and the resulting grey/black marks indicate the high spots.

[@gjbmunc]

Good idea!

[@מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

My most important tool is ny working bench. I built an English joinery bench. All made of pine. Because i am using dog hols it is very "flexible bench" . first I use a crochet and hold fast to hold long boards to the apron of the bench and later i built a leg vise.

[@gjbmunc]

Sounds good!

[@GS.Design.Australia]

Thank you Sir

[@gjbmunc]

Most welcome

[@abebeaku8369]

Its obvious Graham is not using tail vise all that much 😊

[@gjbmunc]

Tail vise swelled up because of all the rain around here.

[@HWCism]

Again,thank you

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@joegiotta7580]

How/why would you use a holdfast to secure a piece of wood to plane it with a shooting board?

[@gjbmunc]

Depends where you position the shooting board and how big the workpiece...

[@joegiotta7580]

⁠@@gjbmuncI’m confused. The way you showed it in the video the plane wouldn’t be able to shoot the board. The holdfast would be in the way. Can you clear that up?

[@joegiotta7580]

No answer?@@gjbmunc

[@lanetatom2701]

Perfect. What wood did you use?

[@richarde7432]

My bench is made from 2 x4 construction lumber. It works fine. Any wood will last a lifetime for a bench.

[@gjbmunc]

The bech is primarily hard Scandinavian maple.

[@gjbmunc]

O course, it's just that hardwood lasts longer and is less

[@richarde7432]

@@gjbmunc No doubt that hardwood makes a nice bench.

[@dannix1353]

I realize that you were not actually checking the flatness of the bench, but the subscribers should see you using the correct edge of the straight edge. The edge with the bevel (chamfer) on it is the straight edge that you should be using.

[@gjbmunc]

Of course, but I was hoping the label on the straightedge would be readable.

[@BakerVS]

Question: bench height is obviously also a personal preference, but what would you say about fellow woodworker Paul Sellers's suggestion of getting a 38" high bench, for a 5'10" person? It's a fair bit higher than your suggestion. (I have two benches btw, a Swiss Ulmia equivalent like yours that's fairly low, and a diy English style bench that's a bit higher. I can only use the latter right now, but I like them both for different things. One is better for planing, the other is better fir joinery.)

[@gjbmunc]

Two benches sounds great. I respect Paul greatly, but we learnt in slightly different parts of England!

[@mm9773]

These rules like the “flat hand” rule or the knuckle rule don’t work for me at all: a bench that low gives me back pain within minutes. I find a higher bench a lot more convenient and ergonomic: a good 4 inches above the wrist or so. A good way to put this to the test is to plane two pieces of wood that are different in height: see which is more convenient. Some people argue that a bench for planing should be relatively low in order to be able to push down on the workpiece, but you hardly need any force pushing down when planing; I can see where the idea is coming from, but it’s just not true - unless your plane iron is completely dull and you’re practically biting chunks out of the wood. I don’t seem to be the only one: Paul Sellers claims that most of his students are happier with a taller workbench. Just fyi. So at the very least I would say that everybody needs to figure out the best height for themself, and I really don’t think people should be scared of going against those rules of thumb.

[@gjbmunc]

Of course, we're all different, I'm just trying to give some rational guidelines.

[@corwind3888]

What's up at 8:27?

[@gjbmunc]

Example of using holdfast.