Being an immodest 5’8” myself, I plan to take full advantage of your work so as to make my own saw-thru bench. My first thought is to call it the Banana Split bench, but that’s not really in the spirit of the thing, or so it seems to me. So I’ll try to come up with something more suitable.
As I type this, I’m watching the ManU-ManCity match, and Marcus Rashford just scored through the legs of Ederson, City’s keeper. So maybe I’ll call it Nutmeg. Which will confuse most everyone else, which could be fun. Then again, why am I even thinking about a name for a sawbench?
Ah, well. I think I’ll just make the Bifurcated Ripping Bench and be done with it.
I made a very similar sawhorse (Stumpy Nubs design), and I love this design, even though I have never made or used the other forms to compare against. I may make one of the staked versions for the exercise, if nothing else, however. The only thing I found with this, which I suppose would be a challenge for me with any sawhorse design, is that I find my body to be incompatible with the concept of work-holding with my knee. I think I set the height correctly for myself, but even still, trying hold the work with my bent leg, felt awkward, uncomfortable and at times painful. I don't know if I have an above-average bone protrusion directly underneath my knee-cap or not, but whatever it is, it hurts, and I don't like it. Problem easily solved with a lot of hold fast holes!
I actually find with the bench in the article that often I just grip the work to the bench with my off-hand and don't put my knee up at all. This is particularly true when ripping.
Yeah I don’t like using my knees either. I got one of those knee protectors they sell at the box store - tombstone shaped elastic mat material with an elastic/Velcro strap that you wrap around the back of your knee to attach it. I put in on the nearby shelf to the saw bench and reach for it when needed and just slide it under my knee.
Thanks for the post Ed. I just finished making War based on your design, hand tools only. Learned a lot and added a few more crimes against dovetails to the world.
I love the labels, and feel compelled to make another for my shop to do the same. One doubles as a saw till/chest so that one would necessarily need to be my “war chest” I suppose
Thanks. Really you only need one of this design. The one supporting the other end of the board could be a simpler version, such as the staked bench. But don't let me stop you making two if you want to.
Hi, I may be wrong, I’m wrong a lot, you can ask my ex and she will tell you all the times I was wrong.
But I think the CS first sawhorse, the legs on one side were vertical, which make sense when you rip on the outboard side. I read it in CS’s first workbench book, the one he doesn’t hold the rights to it, that’s why I won’t buy it again, my original copy sits at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, 600 feet under, with my other books and all my tools. But that is a very different story.
The saw bench I am referring to was from Woodworking Magazine Autumn 2006, which was symmetrically splayed. So the one you are thinking of is different. Jim Tolpin also recently posted about an asymmetrical version that sounds like the one you are describing.
I pulled out my copy of "Workbenches," and there's no mention of saw benches. CS may have written about one like you described, just not in "Workbenches."
Symphonies and chairs: you've been spying on my retirement fantasies (and my medical records, I think)!
I've never had a chair in the workshop, either, but am beginning to think I'd like one.
As for the cat, it's hard to keep him out, and I'm handtools only, though he still manages to find himself too close to sharp blades for comfort every time he accompanies me downstairs.
Anyway, I hope we are both making angular birch stools to Shostakovitch and luxurious mahogany armchairs to Mahler before too many summers have passed.
I see a whole new thread here - maybe even motivation for a future article - what music should we listen to whilst making things. I’m still at the stage in my wood working journey where any music is just a distraction when I should be concentrating on my chiseling, planning or whatever so it’s silence in the workshop for me. However I can see a time when the muscle memory is locked in that I’ll allow myself a bit of company - not the radio or podcasts though - they are fine for easy stuff like driving but not woodworking….
Being an immodest 5’8” myself, I plan to take full advantage of your work so as to make my own saw-thru bench. My first thought is to call it the Banana Split bench, but that’s not really in the spirit of the thing, or so it seems to me. So I’ll try to come up with something more suitable.
As I type this, I’m watching the ManU-ManCity match, and Marcus Rashford just scored through the legs of Ederson, City’s keeper. So maybe I’ll call it Nutmeg. Which will confuse most everyone else, which could be fun. Then again, why am I even thinking about a name for a sawbench?
Ah, well. I think I’ll just make the Bifurcated Ripping Bench and be done with it.
Good luck with the build Perry
I made a very similar sawhorse (Stumpy Nubs design), and I love this design, even though I have never made or used the other forms to compare against. I may make one of the staked versions for the exercise, if nothing else, however. The only thing I found with this, which I suppose would be a challenge for me with any sawhorse design, is that I find my body to be incompatible with the concept of work-holding with my knee. I think I set the height correctly for myself, but even still, trying hold the work with my bent leg, felt awkward, uncomfortable and at times painful. I don't know if I have an above-average bone protrusion directly underneath my knee-cap or not, but whatever it is, it hurts, and I don't like it. Problem easily solved with a lot of hold fast holes!
I actually find with the bench in the article that often I just grip the work to the bench with my off-hand and don't put my knee up at all. This is particularly true when ripping.
Yeah I don’t like using my knees either. I got one of those knee protectors they sell at the box store - tombstone shaped elastic mat material with an elastic/Velcro strap that you wrap around the back of your knee to attach it. I put in on the nearby shelf to the saw bench and reach for it when needed and just slide it under my knee.
I love the naming theme!
War looks a lot like a Japanese saw horse or a timber framing saw horse. Actually it looks like two of them stuck together. It’s a great idea though!
I do most of my ripping on the bandsaw or table saw, but if ever I find myself with out them I might have to build one of these.
Thanks for the post Ed. I just finished making War based on your design, hand tools only. Learned a lot and added a few more crimes against dovetails to the world.
That’s great, really pleased someone has made one. I’m sure your war crimes can be overlooked on this occasion.
I love the labels, and feel compelled to make another for my shop to do the same. One doubles as a saw till/chest so that one would necessarily need to be my “war chest” I suppose
War chest is too good a label to miss out on.
Beautiful, Ed. Will try and make a pair. And will wedge and draw bore the tenons as instructed - you can't accuse a saw bench called War of overkill.
Thanks. Really you only need one of this design. The one supporting the other end of the board could be a simpler version, such as the staked bench. But don't let me stop you making two if you want to.
See what you mean, Ed. I'll make a baby giraffe to go with it.
Hi, I may be wrong, I’m wrong a lot, you can ask my ex and she will tell you all the times I was wrong.
But I think the CS first sawhorse, the legs on one side were vertical, which make sense when you rip on the outboard side. I read it in CS’s first workbench book, the one he doesn’t hold the rights to it, that’s why I won’t buy it again, my original copy sits at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, 600 feet under, with my other books and all my tools. But that is a very different story.
That sounds like quite a story.
The saw bench I am referring to was from Woodworking Magazine Autumn 2006, which was symmetrically splayed. So the one you are thinking of is different. Jim Tolpin also recently posted about an asymmetrical version that sounds like the one you are describing.
I pulled out my copy of "Workbenches," and there's no mention of saw benches. CS may have written about one like you described, just not in "Workbenches."
I said I was wrong a lot
Symphonies and chairs: you've been spying on my retirement fantasies (and my medical records, I think)!
I've never had a chair in the workshop, either, but am beginning to think I'd like one.
As for the cat, it's hard to keep him out, and I'm handtools only, though he still manages to find himself too close to sharp blades for comfort every time he accompanies me downstairs.
Anyway, I hope we are both making angular birch stools to Shostakovitch and luxurious mahogany armchairs to Mahler before too many summers have passed.
Michael from Greece
I see a whole new thread here - maybe even motivation for a future article - what music should we listen to whilst making things. I’m still at the stage in my wood working journey where any music is just a distraction when I should be concentrating on my chiseling, planning or whatever so it’s silence in the workshop for me. However I can see a time when the muscle memory is locked in that I’ll allow myself a bit of company - not the radio or podcasts though - they are fine for easy stuff like driving but not woodworking….
The Anarchist Design Book is a free download, so if the sawbench is in there, you can download it from the lost art press store
For the record, I liked making war.