The first project in my next book, “The Furniture of Necessity,” is a Windsor-style sawbench. While some might think it’s a complex exercise in geometry and joinery, it’s ridiculously easy once you understand a few principles that have nothing to do with trigonometry.
In my mind, this project is fundamental to understanding chairmaking and building early Western tables and other pieces of “staked” furniture, such as backstools and formes.
To explore this form a bit more, John and I threw a sawbench-making party in Indianapolis this weekend where eight of us built sawbenches using a variety of hand- and power-tool methods. We also consumed a ridiculous amount of food and alcohol.
(If you are interested in this form – not to mention food and booze – I am teaching a weekend class in building these sawbenches at Highland Woodworking next month. Details here.)
Some of the highlights of the weekend (for me):
Raney Nelson of Daed Toolworks demonstrated a technique for adding a gorgeous charred finish to wood that will be the subject of an upcoming article in Popular Woodworking Magazine by blacksmith Seth Gould.
John, my partner at Lost Art Press, built a sawbench using four different and messed-up legs that had been sent to the burn pile by the rest of us. John assembled that sawbench, and then almost made me pee my pants by polishing the legs of the thing like it was on the cover of a woodworking magazine.
Narayan Nayar, the photographer for many Lost Art Press projects, demonstrated an offset turning technique that resulted in some beautiful elliptical legs.
Dr. Tim Henrickson made his first leg on a lathe that looked like it should be in an alien porn movie.
Megan Fitzpatrick, the editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, had a video chat this weekend with her 4-year-old niece. So we all took off our shirts and walked around in the background during the chat.
Dr. Koa, aka Sean Thomas, brought along some cask-strength bourbon and rye that triggered all of the above events.
This is the third party we’ve thrown to explore early techniques, and it was a bunch of fun. Not to mention useful. If you ever feel uninspired or stuck with your woodworking, consider throwing a quick build-fest to tackle a fun project like this.
But don’t be like us and go shirtless in December. Engorged man nipples are not pretty.
— Christopher Schwarz
When do you expect the book to be ready?
I have made a bunch of them but with round seats, never thought to use them as a saw bench.
I made them as milking stools
Then YOU difinately need a copy pattern of my bench leg!
I couldn’t even spell lathe before this weekend but by Saturday afternoon felt confident in turning 8 legs for my 2 benches in a somewhat timely manner. Not to mention the One Leg To Rule Them All that is featured in Hoffmans creation … which I will be selling patterns for on Instagram this week (18 and over only please).
If only I had six woodworking friends…
Or even two. :/
First coffins, now benches to lay them out on makes for a great book teaser. 🙂
Chris, what’s the dimensions of the beam on these? I’ve been thinkinh about making a pair since I made a shave horse at Roy’s place in 2013.
The tops are made from 12/4 poplar that is 8″ wide and 16″ long. The legs are 8/4 oak that is 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ x 24″.
Chris,
What’s your opinion of this sawbench vs the one you posted on the Popular Woodworking blog 8-ish years ago (“Traditional Sawbench”). I made one like that this past summer, and it’s served me well. I’m not asking for a blow-by-blow comparison. But are there any major yeas or nays that stand out to you?
Functionally, there is no different. They are both knee-high platforms. The difference between them are the tools and materials required to make them. One uses saws and dimensional softwood. The other uses chairmaking tools and chairmaking wood.
Any with stars tattooed around them or does that only happen in Alaska?
I’m thinking of added a pink, glittery heart to mine…of course.
I could be wrong, but give the fact he asked about tattoos and combined with the last sentence, I don’t think he was referring to the bench. (Then again, maybe you’re not either.).
Love the sawbenches! Especially the one with the turned legs.
It looks like the holes in the seat are just a standard drilled hole–not a tapered hole as is used in some chairs. Is that right?
I’m interested in more detail about the design and construction details. Your upcoming book will cover this, I presume. Will you also be including your Welsh stick chairs in the book? They seem to be similar in construction methods. I would definitely sign up for a course on making one of those chairs if you ever decide to do one. Just Beautiful.
They use conical mortise-and-tenon joints.
The construction process will be covered in detail in the book. As will two different Welsh chairs. But I don’t think I have the chops to teach Welsh chairs yet….
These are great. Love both your parties. I just need to find some way to finagle an invite.
How do you rip saw with saw benches like these? Don’t the legs get in the way?
There are three common ways to rip: English style, French style (sitting down) and overhand ripping at the workbench).
A little Googling will produce videos and blog entries on the process. I’m too tied down with book stuff to shoot a video on it now.
Goggle ‘french rip cut’ and this is one of the first hits.
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/video-other-ways-to-rip
Any reason why stretchers were not used? I’d expect these benches to get a lot of stress.
Welsh chairs have survived 500 years without stretchers. These will do fine, especially considering the thick top.
I broke one once – but it was because I dropped a 500 lb. slab on it from a considerable height.
Put stretchers on yours if you like!
How tall do you usually make these? The Highland Woodworking class description mentioned 17″ but I see above you are using 24″ legs.
Thanks
You start with 24″ legs. After you account for the angle of the legs, wedging and cutting the tenon flush and trimming the feet you end up with a sawbench that is the height of the lower edge of your kneecap.