When we set out to build a workbench for the Cincinnati Museum’s Center’s exhibit on Henry Boyd, I figured that Megan and I would do most of the work. Yes, we had invited the public to help, but usually that involves them heckling us: “I bet that would be easier if you had a nail gun!”
But these were Lost Art Press readers.
About 15 minutes after we unlocked the doors we had a small crowd in the bench room looking over the parts and my construction drawings. I glanced at Joe Grittani, one of our loyal local readers, and I asked if he’d saw the workbench’s aprons to shape. He took the panel saw from my hands and went to it.
I looked over at another pair of readers. “Would you plane up these legs?” They took my jack plane and went to it. Within a couple hours, we had entire teams of people sawing, planing, boring and nailing the parts of the workbench together. I had to put the brakes on the activity to make sure we didn’t finish it before lunch so that other people could help work on it.
For me, this felt like the first ray of sunshine since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Here we were, working as a community to build a workbench that would help educate others about one of the most important (and lesser known) black furniture makers in the Midwest.
During that morning, we talked about Boyd and the hardships he faced. And the historical stew of 19th century techniques, tools and materials we were using to make the bench so that it might have looked at home in Boyd’s workshop on Broadway Street in Cincinnati.
Sometime during that Saturday afternoon, we turned the bench onto its four legs, and I called the bench done (for now). I still have to clean up the joints and add a face vise and a planing stop. But the bench is solid and looks like how I envisioned it.
And the most surprising thing was how difficult it was to build: All I had to do was ask for help.
— Christopher Schwarz
As Clarence told George Bailey “No man is a failure who has friends.”
Best way to start a Monday morning: reading about positivity in action.
Thanks.
James
For me it’s Monday night. Still a good start for the week!
I was volunteering my time as a baker this weekend,, pulling loaves and cakes and buns from the stone oven all Saturday. It sounds like you had a similarly great group and great time!
Congrats on the work and your readers.
I t is wonderful to see many people come together over a passion. God Bless you all.
That’s great! Glad to hear the day went so well.
A most surreal and poignant account about the birthing of the bench by many hands.
Many hands make light work. Many people make for for many new jokes to be told.
I once made a guitar at a guitar making school , it took me six months of thrice weekly , four hour sessions to complete . There were five others in the group and I have never ever had such an experience of positiveness or seen such willingness to aid and assist as from those guys during that magical six months
For some of us, asking for help certainly is one of the most difficult things to do.
That sounds like a great day.
A few decades ago, Paulo Coelho wrote the novel “The Alchemist” about a young shepherd boy’s dreams. The most salient quote I retained from the novel is: Cuando quieres una cosa, todo el Universo conspirá para ayudarte a conseguirla. When you want one thing the whole world will get together to help you achieve it.
Millions of acts of kindness, like those from these helpers happen every day and we often forget to stop and acknowledge them. Thanks for the reminder, and of course their help.
That looks like it was a lot of fun. Well done everyone who chipped in.
That is a great story. Glad so many people came.
Seeing that first picture just makes me say…”YEEEAAAH!”
That was said indeed
A wonderful story, especially at this time in history.
I’m glad you are doing a book on Henry Boyd. He definitely deserves one.
Way to go, Chris!
It was a joy for all of us who pitched in, and a great excuse to spend a few nights in charming Covington. Chris and Meghan couldn’t be nicer or more welcoming. Thank you
We enjoyed it. When’s the next one? Sooner is better than later.
That is fantastic! I’m sure that bench is going to be a great part of the exhibit.
What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Question – the bench looks like a non-knockdown version of Chris’s Knockdown Nicholson bench from several years back. Any chance you’ll share some basics about the construction?
Thanks again for the story!
is it nailed together?
Yes. And the front edge is also glued, to force seasonal expansion to the back
Are you saying that the top of the apron is glued to the top? What do you mean by forcing the seasonal expansion to the back?
The bottom of the front edge of the top is glued to the top of the front apron. Expansion and contraction happens across the grain as the humidity changes in the summer/winter (wider in the summer…which is why drawers and doors can stick during wet seasons). So by gluing the front edge, that expansion is forced to the back (nails move enough to allow for wood movement), and the front edge of the top and the front apron remain co-planar.
Gluing the apron to the top makes the assembly a big L-beam which adds to the rigidity of the workbench.
This feature is also present on the Paul Sellers workbench.
Sorry I could not make it as I had another volunteer job. Unfortunately, there were only two of us there so.
❤️
Beautiful!
That looks so fun. If it went that easy, I think you could totally do the next one with pit sawing.
But seriously, reading this makes me want to start some kind of local bodgers group. It can be a real joy when do it yourself becomes do it with others. Nice work.
I hope everyone was allowed to sign their name on the underside of the bench.
It looks like a great cooperative experience.
Truly wonderful!
Wonderful day at Lost Art Press! Well worth the drive from Indianapolis. My husband, Pat, enjoyed helping with various tasks on the workbench, and being able to socialize with other hand tool lovers. We were also able to meet the lady in charge of setting up the Boyd exhibit at the museum. She was a wealth of information. Chris and Megan are definitely carrying on a lost art!