Chris Schwarz Discussing the Roman Workbench

Chris Schwarz has written a fascinating article titled “Decoding the Roman Workbench” for Issue Two of Mortise & Tenon Magazine. His article, which looks at the practical usage of the bench, has been informed by meticulous research in ancient texts, surviving European artifacts, and in-the-shop exploration. As it turns out, this experimental archaeology approach has yielded some compelling discoveries about pre-industrial woodworking. You can order a copy of Issue Two at our website: mortiseandtenonmag.com/collect....

[@tonyalways7174]

For anyone interested in seeing how the Roman bench works you should check out the Unplugged Woodworker. He’s an English guy who builds some great stuff using the bench and just hand tools.

[@marcobettencourturbina1107]

Can't wait to read this article in particular. I really would like to build one of these as my first bench. (New to woodworking) Thanks for posting this.

[@Thom4123]

I always enjoy listening to Chris being interviewed and love to talk about benches. Do believe I need to get a copy. Thanks guys

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

You're welcome! It's an awesome article!

[@hyggeculture5007]

Wood love to see the old roman workbenches. Did a little internet digging on the Saalburg Museum site and its lacking in photo content. Very cool that Chris decided to bring back an old and almost forgotten bench.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Yeah. Can't wait to see those pictures!

[@michaelvalkevich6085]

Great perspectives on a fascinating topic!

[@timberbucketsphil6818]

I sure like to hear the interviews of Chris lots of info he has stored in that brain thanks chris

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Who might want to build one of these? I just might have a NEED for one of these. One of our places is in coastal central Ca and we don't have a lot of space, in fact the best place for me to set up a bench is in the concrete back yard. The weather cooperates most of the time and working with hand tools has never bothered any of my neighbors. (Ie Zyliss vise, sawhorses and a door for a bench.) Pairing with a saw bench is brilliant. The Schwarz has struck again! BTW, love the video of you two building your Roman Workbenches.I just noticed that Lie-Nielsen is selling your magazines, time to pick them up.

[@ecrusch]

A magazine definitely worth buying. Issue one was great.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Thank you! We think you'll love Issue Two then!

[@bench_doxie]

Chris jumps from Egyptian to Roman. I am curious about workbenches in the interim. What did the benches of the ancient Greek, Persians and India look like? Hard to imagine ideas were not borrowed. Oh, I anxiously await arrival of my M&T #2. :)

[@rolthox]

Wow! I wanna know more about Roman holdfasts

[@garyledford2901]

a question for the M&T crew- any idea if this is the kind fo bench that might have been used for maritime woodworking? I refer to the carpentry that was both done aboard ship and that was done when ships would dock and do repairs and other construction. I do early 18th century maritime reenacting, and I am looking for period accurate bench to take to reenactments and demo woodworking. I know these have been around forever (duh: Roman), but would it have been something that was taken on ship?

[@davevaness4172]

Your Roman saw bench looks a lot like my saw bench (except way bigger, better wood, and higher quality). It seems that a saw bench may have evolved from a Roman bench, Do you know of any example or documentation that would support this idea?

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

I hear what you're saying but know of no direct evidence for that.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

And, that's why its called a bench, not a table.

[@deezynar]

Why does he keep searching history for a fast and easy method to build a bench? We have materials today that come flat and straight from the store. If you build a bench out of solid lumber, you have to have a bench to make a bench. Instead of solid lumber, use MDF. Have Home Depot saw 3 sheets of 3/4" MDF into 2 pieces each, that are 2 feet wide x 8 feet long. Then have them cut 2 1/2 feet off of 5 of those. The 6th 2 foot x 8 foot piece gets cut into 1 piece that's 4 1/2 feet long and 1 that's 3 1/2 feet. The 5 pieces that are 2 foot by 8 feet are all glued together into one 3 3/4 inch thick slab for the top. The 4 pieces that are 2 feet by 2 1/2 feet are used to make the 2 legs by glueing 2 pieces together for each leg. The 2 foot x 4 1/2 foot piece makes the back panel that goes between the 2 leg panels to stiffen the bench. Attach the parts together using steel brackets and screws. A 2x10 can be screwed to the front to create an apron. Drill 3/4" diameter holes in the top and apron for holdfasts. BTW, it's easier to glue slabs if you clamp them up while dry, then drill a couple holes for indexing pins. Unclamp the pieces of MDF, apply the glue to one piece, lay another piece on it, drive the dowels into the holes to line them up, then repeat until all the layers are stacked.

[@bench_doxie]

Why? He says so right near the beginning. Did you actually *listen* to what Chris had to say? Some specific areas such as folks limited to wheelchairs having problems with the typical workbenches. They might find a Roman bench more adaptable to their limitations.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

it's not about just having a flat surface. its about the style of work, style of outcome, and learning that the ancient methods are more effective than we at first might think.

[@flashwashington2735]

@@bench_doxieWhy? Genius wizard deezynar has no time for watching videos, let alone comprehending or learning. Why look at all the time spent preparing his master piece post highlighting his intellectual, superiority in foolishness. I have sometimes appeared to be a notable fool, but now I can only bow to the GOD IDIOT. Have a good day.😏😏😏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@genem2768]

Why do people still hunt with bows and arrows? Or even hunt at all? The challenge, the fun, learning new things. Some people just like to try interesting things. An MDF bench would certainly work fine but making one out of rough lumber, using tools and joinery that have been around for 100s if not 1000s of years is a craft that gives a sense of satisfaction. I guess the answer to your "why" question is..."why not?"

[@deezynar]

@@genem2768 You are missing my point entirely. If anyone wants to spend extra time, and take extra trouble to build anything, they are free to do that. Schwartz starts this conversation off by talking about how benches today take a long time to build, and he is saying a Roman style is faster and easier to make. He is the one who is pushing for faster bench building so people "can get to the good part" of woodworking. I am pointing out the obvious, but apparently it is not obvious to people who have no ability to do anything but copy other people's work. You can buy straight and flat material from home centers and make a bench in a couple of hours.