I get a lot of odd email through my personal website, and most isn’t worth mentioning. But there’s one email I get every week that I want to put to bed. It goes like this:
Someone told me you host classes where people build a roubo bench for a week with you and take it home is that true
Sorry, no. It’s not true. We hold some classes at our storefront (complete list here), but I don’t teach much these days. And we don’t have the facilities to teach a workbench class.
I still love to build workbenches and research their history. But there’s no way I could manage a class like that in our little storefront. So if you see this rumor repeated out on the internet, would you mind stabbing it in the eyeball for me? I feel bad for the people who keep asking me with high hopes.
There are lots of people who teach workbench classes. You might ping Mark Hicks at Plate 11, who teaches some classes in his shop along those lines.
I’m flattered to be asked. But like I said, it ain’t me.
— Christopher Schwarz
It might have stemmed from this:
“As a result, I’ve continued to build benches from yellow pine since 2000 with no complaint. My first Roubo (2005) and Nicholson (2006) workbenches were made from yellow pine. And I’ve built at least 25 or 30 benches from the stuff during classes or at woodworking shows. (That actually was our gimmick for a few years – we built a bench during the show and gave it away at the end of the show.)”
That blog entry was in the “related” offerings of this post.
The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking (Australia) is running one in January 2020 – it’s your “18th century roubo workbench”. I signed up immediately to do this one- can’t wait! I’ve already assembled the Benchcrafted gear. I think Alistair plans to use New Guinea rosewood for the base and SYP for the top. Would be great to see you there, but I know you don’t teach much anymore.
Cheers,
Steve.
Since when do we have southern yellow pine in Oz.
What about a class featuring Windsor-style, bird chairs?
Or this https://blog.lostartpress.com/2019/04/16/failure-in-curly-oak-pine/
What if I don’t want to make a bench but this instead https://blog.lostartpress.com/2019/04/16/failure-in-curly-oak-pine/
Just kidding. I figure when I make my first few stools they won’t even turn out that good.
On a more serious note, can the french bench be built of soft wood (doug fir, pine, ect) or is it better to use something like oak?
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2018/05/02/one-tree-a-workbench-poem/
Ah thanks. Sorry about the double comment. Saw my question was answered and didn’t see my post. Reposted without the question just the jole in response to another post. Also without the question I come to see that my post might come off like a jerk. So sorry for that too. Not my intention. Ive been there too many times myself
Don Williams has offered them in the past. Im not sure if he still plans to but maybe you could send those requests his way. ( Assumimg you run it by him first.)
What’s the single oddest question you’ve ever gotten?
Bet the questioner was thinking of those classes/projects/groups you did in Georgia with Jameel Abraham with the oak from France.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. There’s been a lot of discussion about benches, and building, and classes, it’s not surprising they all came together in some people’s heads. Unfortunately for Chris it’s not as innocuous as “Elementary, my dear Watson”, or “Beam me up Scotty”.
Ted Harlen down in Louisville does a Roubo Workbench Class – I took his intro class a long time ago to move into handtools and he is a great teacher.
http://www.tedharlan.com/introductory-woodworking-classes/
I take my hat off to anyone who can deal with the general public on a daily basis!
Sam Cody
Knoxville, Tennessee
Jeff Miller in Chicago offers a class on Roubo benches as well, great setup and shop, and a good teacher.
The Wyatt Childs FORP class lists you as attending on Benchcrafted blog. I would assume that this is where it is coming from.
I feel lucky that I’ve taken a week long workbench class from you, Mr Schwarz. It was fun and informative. But that was long ago in a galaxy (Berea) far, far away.
I way be stupid. But your involvement with the French Roubo project Might lead to this.
I’m Someone. I travel the intertubes and the country sowing bench rumors and stealing single socks from dryers. I speculate in lumber futures; the socks are for saplings in Northern climes. It is truly a masterful plan.
I need the green and blue size medium smart wool hiking socks back ASAP if at all possible.
Thanks,
Josh
Richard Maguire is going to launch a French Roubo online series this week. If you cannot attend classes, be sure to check it out:
https://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/french-workbench-build/
What I want to know is whether you have the French Connection to acquire some of the unburnt ends of the 1200 year old beams from the Notre Dame fire?
Chris,
I think the misunderstanding of the
Came from at one time made the comment was from a post you took part in, but you weren’t there as teacher.
It’s a pleasure to be allowed to pick you r brain.
Paulf
I think some of your posts on PW may have been misinterpreted with people think you are teaching the classes you are visiting. Here is an example:
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/workbench-day-2-case-workbench-classes/
There is also this class listing, which makes it sound as if you are the instructor: https://www.schoolofwoodworking.com/woodworking-classes/37-week-long-classes/532-build-an-18th-century-roubo-workbench-with-chris-schwarz.html