Roy Underhill's Bench Hooks

Bench hooks are indispensable jigs for all kinds of hand tool woodworking tasks. Roy Underhill shows us how to make a pair of them using a number of different hand tools and techniques -- and offers his secrets to flawless woodworking.
Check out photos from our weekend workshop with Roy: www.facebook.co...

[@rubbersole79]

Been watching Roy since the 80's. I always had the feeling he'd made a conscience decision somewhere in his life to reject the negativity and cynicism of the modern world and inject positivity, joy, and humor into it instead. Wish I'd done that way back then....

[@jonathanechols9985]

He is definitely unique.

[@norocomgt]

Several years ago, I took a weekend class at The Woodwright’s School, and Roy was a regular person. He was very quiet, unlike his tv persona.

[@johnduffy6546]

Mr. Underhill is an American Treasure. In all of the videos & TV shows I have watched that he has hosted, I ALWAYS leave with a very positive heart and a big smile. He is the real deal. Such a precious commodity in today's world! Sharp tools, sharp minds and a genuine smile...Kudos, Mr. Underhill for your contributions to mankind. Thank you and, Bless you

[@randytellez2451]

Agree. I am recently fully retired nearing 72 and just now finishing a woodworking bench build while purchasing a variety of woodworking power tools. I come across this vid and now wish I had time to learn the old woodworking methods as such. It's getting more and more rare to come across these days. I hope Mr Underhill is passing it along to someone near and dear to him.

[@wortheffort]

This type of video does more to show a need for your tools than just product demos. Please make more.

[@emostorm7]

I found you ;)

[@rufusbucqett8085]

Used to watch RoyU on PBS quite often. This is the first time I've seen him make it through an entire episode without hurting himself!! Kudos!!!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Great information as usual from one of the few woodworkers out there who value the old school techniques but actually use them. Thanks Roy.

[@131dyana]

Love your since of humor. I used to watch you and your daughter on education T. V. . I am just starting my work in wood. I am 76 Years old this month. thank you for bench hooks.

[@suetr1]

What delicious serendipity: I had been admiring a photograph of these bench hooks in Garrett Hack's lovely Hand Tool book, and wishing I could make a pair. And here Lie-Nielsen and Roy Underhill are, magically, telling me how to do it! Thank you Roy and everyone at Lie-Nielsen for another priceless video! Now I just have to get that gorgeous bench...

[@paulmorneault5789]

Mr. Underhill is a wonderful man whom I have liked for many years. A little after min. 16:25, he states "And that's why, that's why we're all special, right". His use of the word "Special", said with sarcasm and intonation carries with it a whole lot of wisdom. To me he is speaking to the apparent need that so many have, especially in industrialized countries, to believe that they are special. More special than others. I suffer from this same condition myself and look forward to the day it no longer plagues me. That by having an interest, and developing skills in "something" unique and possibly obscure, we strive to acquire something that will define and enable us to feel a degree of specialness and uniqueness about ourselves. Honestly earned and developed skills in any medium are immensely valuable. Especially in this world of intense automation, dependence and disempowerment we find ourself it today There is actually so much more than just the acquisition of these skills. The very best craftsman know this. It is the genuine humility and desire to be of service to others while we ply our craft in the application of these skills that transcends the crafts itself. I suspect Mr. Underhill has known this for quite some time. :)

[@b1j]

paul morneault Well said.

[@danhartman9087]

Wow, I couldn't have said it any better. I am a new woodworker even though I am an older guy, but I find myself relying less on mechanized equipment and veering towards hand tools. I like this fellow also, along with Mr Paul Sellers and Chris Schwartz.

[@lxoxrxexnx]

Roy Underhill. It is always a pleasure to see you in action.

[@DickCamnitz]

Couldn't believe years ago that Roy was giving a class at my local Woodcraft store. Signed up since I'd been a fan since the old days and I was tinkering with wood. Walked in the door and Roy was at the coffee machine and we just started talking like he was an old friend. Just a super guy. Loved the class of just less than a dozen folks. He had time for all. Thanks Roy for your service to the woodworker though sometimes I think you would rather be in a small theater somewhere.

[@justing7631]

Absolutely love this guy. I attended an 8-hour long lecture/demonstration he gave on dovetails. Yep, only dovetails. And it was fantastic, like watching a super-long version of The Woodwright's Shop.

[@oldmarine312]

I miss the WoodWright's shop

[@lampoon154]

Great video! I just came back from the shop, feeling good about making a pair of these bench hooks. Made them out of fir, used a saw/drawknife/spokeshave to remove the waste, they are beautiful. The surfaces sheen from the blades. This is what woodworking is all about. Thanks!

[@mikewalton5469]

i'm curious to know what 64 people didn't like about this video? This master craftsman is taking the time to share his secrets and does it enthusiastically and genuinely. he's a gift to woodworking and his teachings are pure gold.

[@ToyProtecter]

Well, I'm one of them: I find him very annoying, subjective as these things are, but an irritating style can interfere with potentially hidden substance. Each to the own.

[@ToyProtecter]

Plus he needs a higher bench!

[@mikewalton5469]

You are welcome to your own opinion. i'm sorry that you can't get past your irritation to see this Masters messages and lessons. Perhaps you are more advanced than he and are palatable to every man alive?

[@ToyProtecter]

+m walton I'll give him another try, thanks.

[@mikewalton5469]

learn wherever you can!

[@roofermarc1]

what a great American and an inspiration to all. These are the kind of folks who get my respect.

[@totheknee]

What a great person in general. He could be from Mars and still be the best of us.

[@caelomarroquin111]

Oh man, I miss Roy Underhill! He takes me back to the good old days...

[@craigmonteforte1478]

It is so nice having You Tube and being able to watch Roys skills at work i was a faithful viewer of his shows on PBS and even got to watch him live in Williamsburg Va one time many years ago although i was a career Woodworker who used power tools his show and inspiration encouraged me to do a couple of projects and gifts without using any power tools at all the gifts i made were for someone in the trades and were very much appreciated one of my other passions in life has been boating and Roys skills have always reminded me of many Shipwrights from the past

[@pmchamlee]

I am delighted to rediscover you after some 25 - 30 years! I used to watch you [way back when] on PBS. You taught me gobs back then and I am eternally grateful, my friend. Happy New Year.

[@mugsymegaton3769]

I can’t believe this guy’s been on TV since the 80’s and I just discovered him less than a month ago, I must have been living under a rock my whole life, what an inspiration, and he has that Maine accent down to a T. Thanks Roy.

[@punisher6001]

Oscar for the Best Picture on workshops! This guy is an Artist!

[@bruceallen6377]

That was fantastic, thank you Roy!

[@stewartcleland3640]

There are times when I am so glad to see the likes of Mr. Underhill working the craft. It gives me reason to believe that the old ways of doing things are still the best ways of doing things. Keep on keeping on Mr. U.

[@johnwatson8192]

Great idea, thank you. I'm just replacing my old bench hook that my Dad made for me when I got married and got my own cellar workshop 50 odd years ago. I'm halfway through (glue drying overnight) but I think that I'm also going to make a pair of these as I can see the advantages. Why not drill a small hole at the junction of the vertical and the "horizontal" surface to reduce the stress concentration and thus reduce the chance of splitting along the grain when going down the grain with the chisel?

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Watching this on January 6 2020 reminds me how much i enjoyed watching Roy Underhill on PBS for many years ironically i remember the Bench Hook episode and because i was a 20 year resident of Maryland i got to see him down in Williamsburg Virginia that was a favorite spot to visit for myself and the Mrs

[@CMP-tr2ws]

I made my own bench hook many years ago when I first seen it on the woodwright shop. I made mine 8" wide oak and mortised the hooks into the base. It's rock solid and I've used the heck out of it.

[@bighands69]

My grandfather had a shop full of them because they were made out of scraps and leftovers. All pegs and wedges were made out of left overs and nothing was wasted. Even the sawdust was used for fillers.

[@davetarrant6888]

Thanks Roy for many wonderful memories. It’s good to see you still got it!

[@TheMartialArtsFan]

Best part starts at 9:10, when he's talking about the one secret that will guarantee your woodworking is flawless.

[@JoshBabin]

TheMartialArtsFan clearly the best, most valuable lesson in this video :-)

[@CarabnrFilms]

Ha

[@CarabnrFilms]

Ha

[@Frankowillo]

@Snuffy Jenkins: You're obviously as thick as two short planks with no sense of humour.

[@mikespaulding1118]

Yes, Snuffy, you are the only one.

[@ikust007]

LOVE that man, craftsmanship, sense of humour, knowledge!

[@roswalt1]

I am so happy that I found this channel. I used to watch Roy on the local PBS station every week. Roy is a true craftsman.

[@ronstudd3788]

My whole adult life I've been greatly impressed with Roy Underhill and his work. While he usually appears to be quite rushed, it is only because he is trying to share as much information (and enthusiasm) as possible, yet keeping his videos brief. I'll be sure to make a few of these bench hooks real soon - and look for even more videos from Mr. Underhill.

[@titter3648]

Your tools looks razor sharp. You must have some master sharpening skills.

[@intjonmiller]

As a teenager I thought Roy's show was goofy. I would occasionally watch it after The New Yankee Workshop just for laughs. Not because he wasn't skilled or anything, or even because he would do things so slowly (ha!) that could be so easily done with power tools now, but because he was just SO EXCITED about wood! Little did I know that eventually I would find it (almost) as exciting myself. :)

[@Blakhawk1703]

Same here. I remember my dad watching it on the weekend mornings and it would almost put me back to sleep. lol Glad i found him again. Woodwright's Shop was awesome. lol We also watched The New Yankee Workshop. Good shows. They don't make shows like this anymore.

[@manbunnmcfanypakjustacoolg4965]

I guess I was weird as child. My dad would watch New Yankee Workshop but i couldn't wait for Roy to come on. I liked the history he told during the project build. Plus dad wouldn't let me use any of his power tools at at nine or ten years old but I could use gis grandfathers plans and brace and bit or what ever hand tools as long as I took care of them and put them back.

[@davidrustylouis6818]

@KelMaster Construction i agree. Plus the fact that PBS is tax payer funded, the commercials they do choose to/are required to run should take up as little time as possible.

[@coldblu357]

Thanx Roy. Love your tips and watch your show whenever it's on.👍😉

[@KD-lq1sr]

I've not heard of Roy before this, myself not being in the realm of fine woodworking. But I enjoy his positivity, enthusiasm, and skill.

[@AndrewFisk]

You missed the next part of that adage, "Sit down, have a cup of coffee and figure out how you got both measurements wrong!"

[@kentcostello8099]

Hay Roy I love you on PBS and your videos . You keep the old woodworking live on thank you keep it up and going please 👍👍👍👍🇺🇸

[@spendtimesavemoneydiy]

Never seen this guy before! But I will be watching more of his stuff!! Very entertaining 👍🏼

[@keithfaulkner6319]

He's been doing this for at least 40 years.

[@tomwakefield301]

I watch Roy every Sunday morning on PBS, he is a true master craftsman!

[@MaghoxFr]

That bench is exactly what I'm looking for... And that shop with such a view. A dream.

[@ricksspringfield45]

I remember watching Roy back in the day on PBS...Master craftsman. Been a long journey but Im now using these tools and building using these methods now.

[@jh1859]

This elucidating tutorial really 'hooked' me ;-)

[@bullettube9863]

I remember making bench hooks when I took wood shop back in 1967, used them for years before giving them away a few years ago to another wood worker who then made a couple more. That rounding off on the top made them very durable!

[@davidcantrell9870]

Bench hooks are indeed very useful. I do not have proper wood working benches, just old science lab tables in the Art room I teach in. When I introduce wood carving/block printing to the students I bring out the ones i made, which resemble very much the first one he showed. Mr. Underhill I always believed was about the traditional craft of woodworking. Personally I prefer power tools when I have/can afford them as well but to understand how hand powered tools work which he demonstrates superbly is necessary to deal with creating and crafting new wood pieces in the simplest most efficient way.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I'm on it. I've got some maple that I've been making utensils from, it'll work for these too. Simple brilliance! Of course, I'll be buying a paring chisel and chisel plane. Now that I've actually seen them in action. Great lesson, thank you for passing on the knowledge.

[@DIY-DaddyO]

I've made and used these for years, made from 3/4 inch plywood. Met Roy and he's a really genuinely nice guy, very shy humble guy but get him talking about woodworking and he lights up. Interestingly in class he just grabbed any tool to hand, be it Lee Neilson or the schools cheaper tools and just got on with the job. Very skilled hands.

[@jamescrew5460]

I love the humor I used to watch this with my father he’s gone now but still got good old Roy

[@ahbushnell1]

I think this is better than the show. With the editing he doesn't seem to be in a hurry. Nice.

[@hkimsey]

Might be the best video in all of woodworking! How many techniques did he cover?

[@jamesart9]

This guy is a treasure. Just a joy to watch.

[@petersaupe7455]

First class craftsman,brilliant sense of humour.

[@GauchoWoodworking]

Leave it to Mr. Underhill to bring great new ... old stuff. Great content. Thank you Mr. Underhill and thank you Lie Nielsen to make this possible.

[@davedegan12]

I wonder if his old shop is still around. It should be considered a national treasure.

[@jenggo4ever]

this is the best video so far from LNT......especially with this champion of the wood

[@sgtokie]

this is a great. Roy brought the subject to a simple to understand format

[@xinwang9099]

Great adquisition!

[@Bob_Adkins]

Roy is a treasure, and I'm thankful he lives on through his videos. I used to watch him on PBS, and he drew blood so often it would have made a good drinking game. I was waiting for an injury on this one, didn't happen.

[@therealzilch]

Very amusing and informative, thanks, Roy. I think I'll have to make me one of them there bench hooks too.

[@rizgarpenjweny7522]

his works are all intresting, i like his french workbench, it's really practical

[@robertchall8576]

Yes I liked the wood Wright work shop . liked watching him use all the old tools and his foot powered tools and bow drill.

[@warrentomberlin]

Roy Underhill is the most masterful hand tool woodworker I,ve ever witnessed!

[@michaelr2526]

then apparently you haven't seen many

[@elizabethcartner2005]

This has been a very informative tutorial & I have learned a lot. Thank you

[@tmghn1]

I made 17 of these with my bandsaw while watching this video lol. I wish I had Roy's skill with hand tools, he is amazing

[@whome6764]

You made 17 or you are 17.😒

[@azul8811]

I see what you did there…

[@r.kusumi8085]

Roy at Lie Nielsen...thats like taking Aqua Man to the water park.

[@ianmoore525]

Love the way your workbench is all cluttered. Just like real life ( for me anyway) these other woodworkers that make videos, must spend more time making sure everything is exactly where it should be than actually doing anything. Love ur wrk

[@sheilamaclean968]

Great guy...I love his humour and a bit of eccentricity!!

[@mfgwolf]

it's like "wish you a happy painting my friend and god bless you" :) :)

[@cheryldawkins7486]

I love your sense of humor!

[@SAHBfan]

No way would I do any woodwork on that bench, it is more beautiful than my dining table... I might scratch it :-o

[@MikeyDreamerLam]

Totally agree, do you know what kind of benches it is ? TIA

[@tonyy5482]

A useful introduction to paring with a long, slim paring chisel (and with a regular bevel-edged bench chisel), and other techniques, while showing how to make an unusual but useful, more evolved, old variation of the common bench hook. And with humor. :)

[@nosefirst]

I'm glad to see the Woodwright is still around! (gotta subscribe)

[@nerdanderthalidontlikegoog7194]

Mr Underhill makes everything more interesting.

[@krabenaldt7605]

Notice the cars passing by through the window? Old school in modern times. Love it!

[@jc51373]

this guys' technique is amazing.

[@Jamesfoleyjr]

Thanks again Mr. Underhill

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

I read a comment about someone who went straight to the bandsaw and mad a bunch of these. That really defeats the whole point of Roy's programs. To learn the old ways takes the woodworker to a level of understanding that can't be achieved with power tools. I don't mean the product, I mean the understanding of how the work was done before power tools. Very therapeutic.

[@memo1269]

What, exactly, is gained by making a utilitarian bench hook by hand vs. using a band saw? Does it perform any better or worse? No. You hand tool fetishists really need to go away.

[@stauffap]

You learn about grain. By just reading about grain you certainly get an understanding of it, but by working with handtools you'll get a much better, more intuitive understanding of it and you'll be able to use it to your advantage. It's just nice to know at what angles you can attack grain and how much effort it takes. You really can get a lot done this way with handtools. For example you can make a paddle from a log in about an hour or two by using only an axe and a draw knife. This is only possible if you understand grain and know how to use it to your advantage. Of course you can do the same job with electrical tools but it will often be quite noisy, you can only do it indoors(most of the time), you'll get dust everywhere and such equipement is expensive and takes up a lot of space in your home. You could also say that handtools are a more sustainable way of working wood in a lot of cases. So handtools have their advantages as well and that's why a lot of people, who do wood working as a hobby like using them. It also teaches you to think more creatively about how to do a job which many of us enjoy as well. It trains your problem solving skills. But yes you're right whatever you make it probably won't be any better if you use handtools. So the end product is probably the same. And of course handtools are often slower and therefore not economical. PS: Hand tools really aren't that bad if you have the right tools and if you understand wood. I used to hate working with hand tools it was too slow to me, it was too hard on the body etc. But the problem weren't the tools, the problem was a my lack of understanding of wood and a lack of understanding for the tools i was using. Now it's a joy to work with hand tools. It's really not that hard on the body and often not that much slower either.

[@adamtheheavyequipmentmechanic]

you take away the ART of the craft.

[@raysmith1992]

If you make something by hand, a part of you is invested in what you make, I have bought a table saw but by the time I have set it up, I have already sawn it by hand, plus as someone else has said you learn the grain formation. If you look at Tom Fidgen's the Architect's Table you will see the art of a truly gifted carpenter and joiner. When you go round the old buildings here in the UK where some were built in the 9th and 10th century you will see the craftsmanship of the stone masons and carpenters were did not have power tools and you see their ornate work which is still standing because they understood the materials they were using.

[@chahahc]

​@@memo1269Enjoyment and money savings. Some people enjoy whacking off chunks of wood with a chisel and mallet. I enjoy it in the same sense of how smacking tree trunks with sticks was enjoyable when I was a kid. And good quality bandsaws (and power tools in general) cost many hundreds to thousands of dollars. Most people don't have one, can't afford a decent one, and don't really even needs one in the first place because of how little hobbyists produce (commercial operations are an entirely different matter). That being said if you already have one then you'd be a fool not to use it. And the fact that the guy made "a bunch" of them (idk about you but I generally only need two bench hooks) makes me think he was producing them as products to sell and not merely for enjoyment.

[@ibelieve1674]

Great video. Thank you for the tips.

[@KarlBunker]

Roy Underhill with jump cuts -- that's something i've never seen before. :-)

[@3112magic]

great character as well as very skilful - thank-you

[@raysmith1992]

Great video are there any plans available, also love your dry humour.

[@purocuyu]

I would love his videos even if I didn't like his woodworking.

[@brianfreeman8290]

Only just found you. I have a new mentor.

[@JeanClaudePeeters]

How to clutter up your workbench in no time. Underhill is a master !😆

[@mercoid]

Thank you Roy Underhill!

[@LLCoolJeanLuc]

I love the little squeak as he drops a gauge at 15:09

[@SirKks1]

roundocity...and then some really satisfying to listen to an expert talking about fine details and then see him in action

[@LuizAntonio-mg4xp]

Parabéns pela sua habilidade e sem falar no arsenal de ferramentas que você tem parabéns mesmo ótimo trabelho

[@jeb419]

Roy is a master. I've got to build these smaller bench hooks. Im also embarrassed to say I've never tried his paring technique of using your body to push the paring chisel.

[@maydanlex]

@ m walton...... I wholeheartedly agree with your comment. Sometimes there's just no pleasing people. Although you do say his teachings are 'pure gold'..... I prefer white gold. LoL. Love the presenters enthusiasm as well!

[@garychaiken808]

Great job. Thank you 😊

[@bandit1bandits]

Roy is such a corndog. I watch his show, when I can find it. I also have many of his books.

[@gothnate]

To Ma Ja, I remember watching Roy every weekend on PBS when I was a kid. He's never used safety equipment, because he doesn't need it. He's not using power tools so there's virtually no chance for him to be blinded by debris.

[@colt4667]

Compare with Norm Abram who uses power tools for EVERYTHING.

[@tr33m00nk]

@@colt4667 Yeah, Norm is a good carpenter but his program is mostly promotions for all the tool subsidizers the support the program. The tell-tale is that you NEVER see all the setup time that goes into using all the machines. It's not uncommon to see him do a task that could be done faster and cleaner with hand tools then by setting up a complicated expensive jig/machine.

[@superrodder2002]

I love seeing old techniques that were common before electricity. working with hand tools has a more human element to the work

[@fredpierce6097]

Interesting process on these traditional bench hooks. I must say that even though I have the skill to do it this way, I would not choose to put my saws, chisels and planes through hard maple or white oak. Truth is, a quality bench hook can be put together from easier and even more accurate ways in half the time. Anyhow, very interesting video.

[@stewartmatthews1551]

Love this show 😄😍❤️

[@ConfusionWood]

very nice work!

[@kevinorr6880]

I love you, just because you are you. I wish that I lived near you...if you promised to never use the silly accent. I realize this has been a few years and you have learned your lesson. I still love you from waaay back. The bench hooks...awesome. Learned a lot from such a simple video.

[@maciejtrybilo]

This is a great advert for bandsaws ;)

[@mrlafayette1964]

we treasure Roy here in NC

[@rickreed123]

Seems like it would work better to glue end blocks to each end of board.

[@pier-ricklamontagne275]

You miss the point about creating something from a single piece of wood. and gluing 3 parts together. the second one is for pre-school grade the first one is for high school.

[@WatkinsWoodWork]

LOVE IT!!! Are there any planes in this place!!! I built a few hooks after watching his "book of sloyd" Wood Wrights episode on PBS, so very handy when they're paired.

[@SomeRandomPerson163]

Divine view from the window. In this place it is not a pity to die.

[@edcaffey4248]

Thank you for sharing. Great Video and thank you for jokes. It's good to laugh will your having fun. Keep up excellent work.