Introducing our new Lap Bench for Carving

[@Ashysand]

A great idea for working in my wheelchair. Thanks.

[@thejoyofwood]

Wonderful use for it. I could imagine it being very helpful in your case!

[@rickschuman2926]

Good to see gouges being used for the roughing out work. I prefer to stand though.

[@thejoyofwood]

Having been a Joiner for decades, I prefer to stand at a bench. However, that being said, I have also done a lot of time using a gouge with the lap bench. It works really well! It is good to be versatile and multi skilled, I reckon!

[@welshrambler1893]

That is one clever idea, well done Greg! So simple but so versatile. Your ideas have spread worldwide as far as the UK. Regards Keith

[@davidmorin7939]

Thanks for your tremendous tips! Much appreciated!

[@thejoyofwood]

You are welcome, David. The Lap Bench is such a simple concept, but very versatile in use.

[@stantilton2191]

That's a great tool to have. I will tell my friends. Thank you!

[@thejoyofwood]

Thanks, Stan. We also now have "Plans for the Lap Bench for Carvers" available to purchase as a digital download! From either our Etsy Shop or our Web Shop.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Very cool idea. Thank you.

[@susanp.collins7834]

That would be good for standing your cross stitch frame on too. Both disciplines require you to work double-handed.

[@tomevans4402]

Interesting lap bench

[@thejoyofwood]

Thanks,Tom. We love it!

[@diegobenzi]

Very useful! May I suggest to add some holes, so you can fix the wood with some pegs and work with both hands free? It would useful in the wild, where you have not a lot of tools, but you can make yourself pegs on the fly. 😉

[@thejoyofwood]

Gidday, Diego. Yes, we considered having peg holes, but the holes would best go all the way through the 3/4” thick bench. This could be a pest for the user’s legs! In due course I reckon we will add a few attachments to make the bench even more versatile! Thanks for your thoughts. Improvise! 👍

[@user-nx1rg9tn7z]

@@thejoyofwood do pegs actually have to go all the way through?

[@thejoyofwood]

@@user-nx1rg9tn7z I would suggest they do, to have enough lateral strength. The bench is only 3/4” thick, and you’d need all of that for the lateral grunt. A range of peg lengths would be helpful, depending on what you are holding, to minimise the amount poking below the underside. I reckon some “folding wedges” would be good too, to grip your work between the legs and the upstand.

[@sandrawillick6944]

I notice you are pushing the open curve hook knife. Is that a left handed tool or double edged? Most people seem to use the right hand tool with the pulling forward motion. I like the idea of pushing.

[@thejoyofwood]

Gidday, Sandra. I had to look at the video again! Yes, at the 2:30 mark, I was using a BeaverCraft SK1L hook knife. L for left. At the 3.40 mark I am using a BeaverCraft SK4L hook knife. The L vs R really has nothing to do with "handedness", I believe. It is all about the direction of cut. I am a very right handed person, so it happens. Working across your body with the handle pointing towards you, the L cuts from left to right and the R cuts from right to left. I use both L and R hook knives, as well as double sided hook knives, like the BeaverCraft SK5, to do the best cut at the time for the way I an holding the spoon and for the grain in the wood. I can use either L or R solely on its own to do a complete spoon bowl, of course, but sometimes is is just easier and more comfortable to change to a different knife. Having more than one knive also helps to share the wear around! In this case, I probably used the L knife so I was pushing the spoon against the upstand of the Lap bench. I did it instrictively,, with out even thinking about it, Hence I had to look at the video! There are so many possibilities with this wonderful Lap Bench. I hope this helps. Kind regards, Greg.

[@robertcornelius3514]

Nice, but it needs a slot to hold your beer. I'll send ya the bill.

[@thejoyofwood]

Now why didn’t I think of that?🤣🤣🤣

[@susanp.collins7834]

There's something missing from that little lapstand. I can't think what it is right now but somethings niggling at the back of my mind...

[@ivancho5854]

A string clamp? Look up Swedish Lap Vise. 😉👍 Some padding on the underside would probably help too. Maybe fabric filled with sand? All the best.

[@makenchips]

Well done great idea do you need to put it on a styrofoam pillow

[@thejoyofwood]

No. It sits nicely across the top of your thighs. No cushioning needed.

[@leroymontano9080]

I was going to buy One but you don't ship to usa

[@thejoyofwood]

Sorry, we don’t ship to the USA, but we do sell the plans on our Etsy shop, Thejoyofwood store.😁

[@reallyoldsubdude387]

I would have bought it if you shipped, but buy plans, no thanks. We can just build it after taking a good look at this or other video suggestions from Sweden. @@thejoyofwood

[@michaeldonahue2308]

how can i order one

[@thejoyofwood]

Gidday, Michael. If you are in Australia, you can purchase the Lap Bench for Carvers from either our web shop : www.thejoyofwood.com.au/shop or from our Etsy Shop : www.etsy.com/au/shop/thejoyofwoodstore Alternatively, or if you are outside of Australia, you can purchase the plans from us via either of those online stores as above. Then you can have the pleasure of building it yourself!

[@richardseabright448]

You probably have enough scrap laying around to make it for nothing, no costs and around an hour of your time.

[@richardseabright448]

3 bits of scrap, 4 cuts and a strap. time to make 20 min.

[@thejoyofwood]

Go for it, Richard. Make your own and customise it to suit your requirements. For those who people are not sure about the sizes of the pieces of wood etc, we also have plans available on our web shops. Kind regards, Greg.

[@andrewdennehy9458]

How did you go, Richard? Keen to see your lap bench.

[@LowlanderNurse]

A lot of product placement in this video. I love the bench idea but can do without branding.

[@susanp.collins7834]

Your attitude sucks! Do YOU work for nothing?