Americans DON'T KNOW about this workbench

[@RexKrueger]

Get the plans: www.rexkrueger.com/store/p/chinese-work-bench-plans-1 ALL PLANS 50% off until Christmas: www.rexkrueger.com/store

[@hamiltonsantos8848]

I'm from Brazil and I've been watching your videos for a long time without understanding, now with translation I understand everything better.

[@MCsCreations]

Opa, sou brasileiro também. 🖖😊

[@salottin]

Eu tb e tô odiando e não consigo tiraaaaaar haushahshahs

[@Uncephalized]

Another thing about the bare faced tenon. On a splayed leg, the load on the bench will always want to rack the leg to the outside, never the inside. So a shoulder on the inside of the tenon will never see a load, and is therefore unnecessary. So you get more strength in the joint by putting one large shoulder on the side that needs it. Great vid Rex!

[@CuriousCrow-mp4cx]

Dear Rex, don't ever change. Your curiosity is your superpower. People without the space for a stand up bench could make this, and use it with hand tools. I'd like to see more of this style of wood working.

[@MrKumbancha]

one thing youve probably seen on those photos or grandpa amu's videos, is the workholding strap thats used, you just take a loop of cord , thread the bench through it, the top goes over your work, and you step on the bottom keeping tension, feels a bit like a chairmaker's vise

[@MrKumbancha]

another channel you might find interesting is XiaoXi's culinary idyll, he makes loads of stuff using traditional chinese methods, and has some nice woodworking projects. Its honestly impressive the variety of skills he has.

[@decorummortis5175]

i love grandpa amu

[@kazinix]

Same as my grandfather's workbench, I think it's a 2x6 and 3-4ft long. A V-shape stopper at the end for planing. His hand plane is like the Chinese hand plane but the handle is missing. They also sat on the bench when drinking after a long day of work 😂 I live in the Philippines BTW, must be influenced by the Chinese. I just want to add that we use a foot to press down the material when we're sawing instead of a knee, requires a little bit of flexibility.

[@thomashverring9484]

I've seen people from China use the foot as well. For someone from Europe (like me) it would be interesting to learn more about how the trades has influenced each other in Asia. We often talk about the Japanese, the Chinese, and the Korean way of woodworking, and how different yet similar they are. But then you have the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.

[@rawr2u190]

In Hong Kong this bench is called a "kung fu chair". Kung Fu is a broad term for craft, skill, stuff that takes effort to learn basically. Interestingly, the angle of the frame saw is similar to the angle of the wrists when using an EZ-curl bar. I guess it's just an ergonomic angle. Hand planes weren't common in China until partway through the Ming Dynasty, which started within a few decades of Columbus' journey. Before that, they used spear planes and something called a chan, which is kind of spatula or paint scraper shaped. This is mentioned in Curtis Evarts article "Traditional Chinese Woodworking Tools", online for free.

[@willclem8810]

Also because they featured prominently in early Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao films -- I think there's some great examples in Prodigal Son. Earlier than that, I'm pretty sure Kwan Tak-hing used a couple in one of the first Wong Fei-hung films.

[@destroyerkuroshiokai]

I came to love low work benches from my days living in an apartment. I built the top with laminated 2x4s that sat on some Japanese style low saw horses. It had so many uses ranging from wood working, assembly, to things I discovered like a work out bench for all sorts of exercises, or expanded outdoor seating at parties. The beauty of it was the top would slide under a love seat, and the saw horses paired with a scrap 2x10 section to form a step stool.

[@kimmosaarinen2780]

Long time fan, going to watch the vid tomorrow but the thumbnail raised my curiosity, so gotta say this: I've made two Paul Sellers style saw horses, those two have been my workbench for most of the stuff so far. Very useful sawhorses, with some thin rubber mat and clamps, you can do ton of stuff. Been planing on them, sawing, chiseling, glueing... gluing.. however that is spelled, etc :D And the other sawhorse has a simple planing stop, and the rubber mat ofc is for friction/to keep piece in place more easily. I'll say it again, mostly for the other people: if you don't have a proper joiners bench or such with proper vices, don't let that stop you. Also: thinking of doing this style of bench too, before I do proper joiner's bench.

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

Coincidentally, I've recently been wondering when you are going to introduce another new bench. I can't even remember how many you've unveiled to date but it must be one of the largest and most eclectic ranges on KZbin - and I have no doubt that more will follow. Well done Rex, keep it up.

[@thomashverring9484]

That's true! The range of benches is impressive!

[@timofeyzhukov-khovanskiy9173]

Should I build another bench? Why not?

[@Marjax]

Besides it's for historical reasons....

[@nicholaskrauss8191]

The same question and answer I give to myself

[@CrazyManwich]

Put a dowel across the opening of the can of poly when pouring. The poly will flow around the dowel and act like a spout of sorts and reduce the chance of the poly running down the side of the can.

[@EngineerMikeF]

Or use painter's tape across the lid channel from both sides to form a vee. Then paint doesn't accumulate in the channel or run down the can. Peel off the tape when done, voila: clean can & clean lid

[@theeddorian]

I have a 4x6 Douglas Fir timber about eight feet long that I use as an outdoor workbench by setting it up on saw horses. I plane it flat when it needs it, but otherwise I use it very much the same as a Chinese bench. I made a laminated oak stair rail, sitting on the work on the bench and planing with a regular Stanley no. 5. When not in use, it stands in the shop. I need a better place to stash it.

[@alexbob3305]

This channel is pure gold for any beginner, i wish i had access to all these different styles when i build my first bench that was sitting next to my bed in my 14sqm room. Also my next Bench certainly will be build with what i learned here. So THANK YOU for all of that!

[@A1goritmatico]

This is a fantastic topic and video. Congratulations! I was inspired by your first Roman bench video to make a low bench of my own and I have found this approach to be wonderful. Where previously I would want to put something in a vise, I just sit or step on it or use the strap/rope method to hold it n place. I also find the palm so handy at times. Thanks for all of these! Also, I have watched GP Amu all along. His Long Bench video was especially interesting. I have watched it over and over again to discern whether he puts any rake angle in the legs. It seems that when he cuts the mortises, there is none; only splay. But when he cuts those bear face tenons, I'm pretty sure I see rake. And when he turns the bench upright, don't I see that one side of each tenon sticks out more than the other; and isn't rake discernible in the legs --or is all this just illusion from camera angle? I wondered if working rake into the tenon but not into the mortise could be a thing --maybe a way of letting the wood and gravity work together to tighten the joints, with some gradual compression of wood fibers perhaps. Also, on cutting splay into the mortise, he doesn't seem to go to a lot of trouble to hold his chisel at the splay angle. Does he go straight in partially from the top, then bottom at the appropriate places only later to work out the wedge-like angles between openings to join them (Hard to describe my thoughts in words. Better if I had drawn a picture)? Anyway, I don't mean to turn this into a commentary about GP Amu; I just like learning from both of you, whose abilities I hold in high esteem and do inspire me. Besides, the questions of rake and simple tricks to cut compound angles really intrigue me.

[@robohippy]

I have been fascinated by Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and other "Asian" styles of furniture since I got into woodworking. They designed things to function without glue, so their joinery is like a jig saw puzzle. Nice project!

[@youzhou2946]

without glue, furniture is subject to movements, and not stable. I dismantled dozens of our own and neighbours when I was a kid.

[@elmouto3883]

Nah, we also use glue, made from fish gut.

[@DerekWoolverton]

If I had to guess, the original system for setting the angles was probably just doing it by eye. I've built a series of foot stools and I've cut a different angle for the legs on every build, just experimenting with what angle I like best. (Right now I'm hovering around 7-8°)

[@Fusion_Woodworking]

2 tips for chiseling. If you have a few narrow pieces to cut mortises in, put them together and sit on them so it doesn’t hurt you. If the piece is too short to sit on, put long piece on the end and sit in the middle of the long piece so your weight gets multiplied on the work piece. Since you are right handed, sit on the right side of the bench, with your right foot on the ground, left thigh on the work piece, rest the end of mallet/hammer handle on your right thigh and mallet/hammer head on top and close to your body. This way each swing you are lift less mallet/hammer weight.

[@kwahenghuat7219]

Hi Rex, I have done a few Chinese benches after watching the KZbin filmed in China. These benches have compound angle legs. The ones on your bench are only angled sideways. The compound angle legs are more challenging.

[@michaelweber1465]

Rex, thank you for another terrific video. When I started my woodworking journey a few years ago I built three work benches, all 900 mm high (I'm tall), which now houses various electric tools but I still have plenty of space for hand work. I enjoyed watching you make this Chinese work bench with hand tools (not including the band saw and electric drill); I like its simplicity.

[@jamesgwoodwork]

Glad to see you finally visit this. Made a number of these style benches over the years and the layout gets more intuitive as you do it. I wrote a recent post about the layout of you want the link.

[@RexKrueger]

Well, yeah i want the link!!

[@jamesgwoodwork]

@@RexKrueger It's not letting me post the link. Will email it to your website in the contact. Hopefully you get it. No need to respond.

[@SHENRAR]

truly interesting piece. I had no idea at all about Chinese traditional woodworking (other than watching Grandpa's videos, he is great), I like the shape a lot, I might build some furniture piece using it as inspiration.

[@surielmoon]

Here in Taiwan, Chinese workbench(作椅)also called horse bench (馬椅) often use thick square timber, about 15cm even more, to give bench stiffness,to withstand hammering mortise. And two pairs of legs will be different lengths to create slope, let gravity help flatting stock.

[@RexKrueger]

Woodworking in Taiwan is AMAZING. I watch all the taiwanese videos i can find.

[@ricos1497]

​@@RexKruegerany channels you can recommend? Thanks!

[@orbitalair2103]

Nice work Rex, interesting sounding book. I built a low roman bench and it fits my workspace perfectly, and is very versatile. I use it all the time.

[@andyc972]

Thanks Rex, we needed another bench, it's been a while !

Just built a little saw bench that was very close in height, just slightly wider on the top, and have been working on it in conjunction with a stump of about the same height for a few days now. It has been a real joy to work on as the foot print of mine is smaller owing to shallower angles for the legs that are also pitched outward along the long axis, threw a shelf on the cross supports with angled edges that match the leg angles to make for a very solid little surface. The only drawback I have found is that it is a bit light when vigorously working with a plane or drawknife during dimensioning, but that is probably because I am a slim fellow.

[@darodes]

Some people go from relationship to relationship. Some go through vehicle after vehicle. Rex goes through workbench after workbench. 😂😂😂 that’s your vise if you know what I mean

[@DasLeryl]

really great video, I love hearing about craftspeople's traditions from around the world

[@timothyvolkers5343]

It's the Jackie Chan favorite weapon stool.

[@TmitriZukowski]

So, my first inclination to secure an unglued joint, is to put pegs through it. That would seem to be especially useful in this case with the "puzzle" assembly,. Once together, drill, peg, and it should stay together and tight due to loading in use. And that seems comparatively quick and easy. In any case, great job Rex!

[@JohnWoods-m4c]

Great video. I really like this format with the build.

[@andrewkrahn2629]

This is wonderful, Rex! I might do a pair of these in place of the European sawbenches...

[@SH-fi8sn]

What a great video and topic! Love these builds with traditional and unknown-to-me workbenches. Thanks also for referencing the book, I'm definitely going to look for that one!

[@GrantHendrick]

I appreciate all your tips. Thank you.

[@TannerGwaltney]

I've got a bunch of your plans on my Christmas list! My main workbench is like your roman-style low bench. Thanks for your work!

[@FaidosWorkshop]

We need some more videos on this I think. Especially workholding

[@LittlePetieWheat]

Tip: put 2" coach screws into the feet of the legs, to stop moister wicking into the legs. Note also that in most of the pictures, the legs are also angled out in the long direction. Compound angles!

[@andrewkrahn2629]

@RexKrueger This is what I've found on Chinese woodworking, most of which is more about business, but might be relevant "Carpentry and building in late Imperial China: a study of the 15th century carpenter's manual Lu pan ching (Lu Ban jing)" by Klaas Ruitenbeek. I could only find it through the university near here.

[@brianerickson6775]

I think the Chinese even used the work benches as furniture. Restaurants, offices and home. I'm going by old Chinese movies.

[@SachaGreif]

Also as improvised weapons, if you go by movies…

[@aremuolayode8661]

This bench is perfectly simple and practical, especially for hand tool enthusiasts with small workspaces. I am looking forward to building one just like this as my next project. Thanks for the inspiration, Rex!

[@MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, Rex! Nicely done!!! 😃 But yeah, you could easily make a sitting bench like this! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@brucewaddle5914]

Great video. I also went a little crazy buying plans. Thanks. Ha.

[@prof.crastinator]

They are just smaller on average- especially 100 years ago. So smaller made sense.

[@brucematthews6417]

This will be a fun and informative series. One of the Granpa Amu work holding methods he uses on his bench is a simple belt loop or loop of rope as a hold down strap using foot pressure to hold items in place for mortising. It's a brilliant method in its simplicity and effectiveness

[@christopherharrison6724]

Excellent video love this great projects

[@dragonstonegemironworkscra4740]

Thats a bad ass saw! Err uhm. Well it is 😊. That a serious multi functional bench. Going to be an interesting journey in these Chinese woodworking ways. Thank Rex! 🙏🏼🔥⚒️🧙🏼

[@OldManSilencer]

It’s interesting that you do a lot of historical methods but don’t use hide glue. Hide glue is pretty common for furniture even in modern furniture because it can be removed non destructively. It also was the only glue available for most of history. It’s neat that you modernize techniques but this is an avenue that would be neat to see you explore.

[@RexKrueger]

I try to keep things accessible. Hide glue is great, but yellow glue is for everyone!!

[@OldManSilencer]

@@RexKrueger that makes sense. I was sure you had a reason that I wasn't aware of.

[@kadebroeske8143]

Ive been needing a workbench i might just build this one due to the simplicity. On another note glue ups give me a heart palpitation and i dont think that will ever change.

[@Davidsmithnunya]

Honey!!! Rex put out another work bench video!!! :D :D :D

[@youzhou2946]

I think the reason bench is so small is, back in time, carpenters need to travel to different places for work. The small portable bench can be carried on a long distance travel, along with very minial tools, a plane, a chisel, an axe and a saw. And maybe an oil stone. At least, if my memory correct, I recall when I was a kid seeing different tradesmen visiting and carrying similar stuff looking for work

[@arthurwong6667]

No, these benches are very common furniture in China. Most likely every family has at least one.

[@cyberwolf6667]

I’m in Columbus Ohio and my wife is Chinese. I really believe that the bench is customized to the user body size for comfort I noticed this when I visited my wife’s family and I wanted to see the local Locksmith since I’m a locksmith. And they had the same benches in the shop out in the back room.

[@user-vw6mu8gt6c]

I grew up in China and now live in America. I watched my grandpa and dad doing woodworker when I was a kid. One thing I’m pretty sure is they never used the glue. I think the wedge itself is strong enough. I grandpa had this type of bench and it brings me so much memory back. It was made in 50s and now it is in my parents basement as step stool.

[@jefftapp8991]

Feels a lot like another entry in the woodwork for humans series, which really jump-started my journey and will forever be some of my favorite videos. I go back and watch them sometimes just for the sheer enjoyment. Thanks for another great video!

[@HHH-nv9xb]

It looks like any ordinary benches used every day life for sitting. You will likely see them in movies showing of the old days. Benches are common chairs for restaurants and for the poor. I probably have sat on a few of those, too. They are still relatively common.

[@JohnLaudun]

I am convinced that in an alternate universe, where workbenches are animate, they make pilgrimages to your shop.

[@anthonyelder7158]

10:10 This is brilliant. Black bear is my spirit animal. Still helping me along!

[@harpintn]

That bench looks a lot like a shorter version of the saw horses that my late grandfather made.

[@paulhoward1800]

Hey Rex, wouldn't the Chinese carpenter just chop the mortises from the top and then work from there.

[@LeroyMclovin-dj9um]

I didn't know Ben Stiller went bald and started woodworking

[@deandupei2558]

enjoyed this episode Rex. the legs are supposed to be compound angles into the bench board though in case they were not when you made it.

[@bradgray6093]

I commented earlier about John Zhu's splayed tenon layout gauge. He also has two videos about its creation. One titled Half Moon Marking Gauge and the other is called Offset Plate. Less than 10K views for such a useful tool. Darn shame. Hope you enjoy. Maybe a future project for your channel????

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

First time hearing the TTS translation and it was shocking. Thoughr it was an ad. I wish Google didn't force us to have a bunch of things translated by default - on google play most of the time you have to know englisn VERY well to try to guess what mistakes the autotranslation made to get to such an unintelligible result...

[@rowb9449]

Is there a reason you were cutting the mortices while twisting at 90° rather than straddling the workpiece? I started woodworking at the beginning of the year after watching people of KZbin for far too long and have just been using the Perjohan bench from ikea after watching your low work bench videos. The seat and aprons for it are toothed together so they are a bit weak but adding a pair of secondary 2x1 apron has made it work well for me so far. With the price of timber it's unfortunately a fair cheap place to start.

[@nikmabc]

It can also be used as a weapon ala Jackie Chan movies, lol. You see them everywhere in historic Chinese movies.

[@ismaelgomez5649]

Great video! Thanks!!!

[@УзеирМамедов-п6л]

I have a really interesting workbench, that's really sleek and the working surface split in two and works like a long vise.

[@JuddMaltin7]

This is why I'm a patron.

[@RexKrueger]

Thank you. Really. Without patrons, this kind of video would be impossible.

[@agjld7]

Thank you

[@pavelow235]

I like that you're a woodworker that likes books.... Good combo.

[@RaccoonHenry]

at this point you've effectively turned your wife into a character in this show 😅

[@DHM_Creative]

you see Jackie swing these in "the Legend of the Drunken Master" 🤘🏽😆♥️

[@MrKumbancha]

yeah, theres actually a lot of martial arts that train fighting with it, kind of how some modern self defense schools train fighting with chairs

[@Kikilang60]

In the great leap forward, they melted down their traditional tools for iron. They did make anything.

[@dfa2691]

Literally a Work-bench

[@ianpearse4480]

Nice one.

[@ikust007]

6:08 would be so cool to know !

[@KindofBlues71]

I'm still getting all the Japanese tools and now I need to get Chinese tools?! Does it ever end?!

[@oldmantwofour5561]

Bro. You're killing me with the CAST IRON vintage hand plane hanging off the edge of the bench. 🫣

[@ralhmcc47]

I am about 20 minutes from East Liverpool OH. Closer if I could fly like a bird. Speaking of birds Have a Happy Thanksgiving

[@DraganIlich-r1s]

Thank you Sir.🎉

[@insanejughead]

Any information on woodworking practices in desolate Siberia, Rex?

[@RexKrueger]

No....so far.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@jennimcinnes2825]

Thank you for yet another great vidi Rex. I am confused by one of your later comments. "Patreons get all of our plans for free and even bigger discounts for courses." How can you get a bigger discount than free? Unless ... you are paying us to do the course. Now that is a great deal for us but i would never accept your payment to hang out with you. I like doing that well enough as is without you paying me.

[@crutch6991]

I'm 6'3" and 260, I just feel like I need something sturdier.

[@jamesgwoodwork]

Laminate a second 2x8 or just get a 3" thick slab for the top. Done and dusted.

[@crutch6991]

@ could be fun to build

[@TomBuskey]

I've been interested in having an outdoor bench setup for green woodworking. Something like this bench, but taller with a ratcheting strap to hold things down would work pretty well

[@Karpe_Deem]

Chinese woodworking youtuber John Zhu had been inactive. I think it'd be cool to ring his bell

[@RexKrueger]

I like John a great deal.

[@BakerVS]

It would be interesting to learn about Chinese woodworking, it's still very much under the radar. I can think of four big woodworking traditions off the top of my head: English (+American), Continental European, Japanese, and Chinese. I dislike the terms "Western" and "Asian" woodworking tradiotions. German and English woodworking have some significant differences, and so do Chinese and Japanese woodworking. Lumping them together doesn't make much sense.

[@elmouto3883]

Bring Chinese and watching Clara... And looking at Japanese woodworking... We're all quite similar, just adjusted for the different climates.

[@scottswineford6714]

Probably be another outdoor tool for me.

[@rogerprice4504]

Is the book available to read or look at? Maybe in libraries?

[@zidnyknight3611]

Thanks

[@metetong2065]

How do you turn off the voice over translation ??? It's horrible

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

On mobile it's the fourth voice in the options drop down menu, "audio track"

[@mirosawnowak4874]

Great job. 👏

[@mowlux-p8r]

i m french, and there is an automatic translation in french that happened for the first time, i want to say that it is really bad. i had to remove it, because it really is an offense to your content, wich is great.

[@keithbockmon3264]

Did you make any design modifications to account for the changing size of humans over time? If a 19th century man was around 5'4", and a modern day man is 5'9", you might want to increase the dimensions by 8-10 percent.

[@brianbower8515]

I don't think the traditional form would be so strictly dimensioned as to make this degree of size increase meaningful. When making a sawbench or low bench, you want to size the leg length to your body. Here you want to be able to sit flat on the bench with 90° (human) leg bend and feet flat on the ground. So you trim the legs with that in mind.

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

The size they had in the 19th century, for all we know, might itself have been a holdover from pre-colonial time, when people were bigger, and may have been oversized for the then-present.

[@SaintSpire]

This ‘wood’ be a great option for wheelchair users, or those that have difficulty standing for periods of time. 🖖😎

[@PaulGriffith]

My wife would put plants on it.

[@ikust007]

Love it .🎉❤

[@jsmxwll]

Grandpa Amu is such an awesome channel. 爸比铁铁Daddy Tietie is an awesome channel if you want to see plane making.

[@HHH-nv9xb]

What you got there is a Kung Fu weapon. Jackie Chan made a living using it!

[@KillerSpud]

It's also one of Jacki Chan's favorite weapons.

[@Jacob-iy1jx]

Gracias, por traducir al español tu contenido! Me interesa la carpintería china, casi no encuentro información sobre ella, sólo algo sobre carpintería japonesa.