How to build a workbench - (Part 5) Making and Preparing the Legs | Paul Sellers

[Paul.Sellers]

We've added English subtitles to this video.

We work hard to reach as many people around the world and help them learn woodworking. We need your help to translate our videos subtitles to your language and progress our work.

[cowleshome]

Paul thank you I'm a stay at home dad and want to do something to make some money on the side. I've done some cabinet work and some framing when I was a teen, early 20's and I remember really enjoying it. This is perfect thanks a lot I can tell you really love your work.

[FinnBearOfficial]

Oh man! I had no idea I was up for an excellent wait!!! Thank you for editing your videos, I haven't had the time to look at all of them, but seeing these workbench videos I gather that you've seen your fair share of rambles on youtube. Thanks for keeping it to the point and pleasant to watch.

[photo]

Thanks so much for going to the trouble of making theses videos. I spent quite a while searching for tutorials on the subject of making and affordable workbench with a minimum amount of tools. Now I've found your page!

[mornrise]

I shall be looking forward to video 6, I hope it shall be coming out soon, I was somewhat panicked when I couldn't find video 6 . Your last 5 video's have been a wonderful experience, its nice to know that one doesn't need a shop full of expensive power equipment to build a finely crafted piece of woodwork, keep up the excellent work.

[Paul.Sellers]

We will and we are committed to this work. We are in it for the long haul.

[TheSage]

Thank you Paul - I've missed you and was hoping you would be back to finish the workbench! I must tell you that I think the yard behind you is wonderful. It seems like a calm place to work a nice environment.

[hochbob]

Your incredible woodworking skills are equally matched by your ability to explain what you are doing. Your videos are brilliant! Thanks for sharing your genius.

[Paul.Sellers]

Yes, I am English but live in Wales part of the year and also in the USA. This build was in our garden (yard) and was done there to show the minimalist perspective for woodworking as most British woodworkers are unlikely to have any access to machines.

[Paul.Sellers]

On it's way soon. Thanks for your patience.

[MrMichaelButler]

Thanks for the videos. I always look forward to new uploads. I love your real woodworking.

[drsbrettsavage]

You're a true "man" Paul...using your skill and elbow grease to get it done...I feel bad I'll be forced to use my power saws and power planer, power sander to finish my bench...you're my hero!

[YawningDad]

Really enjoying all of your videos. Thank you for all the hard work!

[Diissiident]

Yes thank you for these, enjoying it tremendously.

[duringthejourneyi]

Just saw it in the video description.... my apologies!!! Can't wait to see the rest!

[retinascann]

@xrateduser(from a year ago)

$1, 500 is a fortune for hand tools.

The tools Paul has used up to this point can be had for under $50 at garage sales every weekend. I was just handed an old, dulled, Diston hand saw by an elderly friend whose days of woodworking are over ... at 86, he has neither the strength nor the eyesight. To make the best of a find like that, you'd need to locate a saw set and a small file or two. The files are cheap, buy them new and take care of them. If you'll do that, you'll be using them for many years into the future. Most of my files were bought new ~20 years ago. Take care of your tools and they'll take care of you.

Saw sets can be had either new or off eBay fairly cheaply. Keep in mind that even if you are buying an antique you aren't collecting them - so don't pay for the 'antique', just for the used tool. Paul has a video showing how to modify one. 

Paul uses a set of three large diamond lapping plates to sharpen his plane irons. My son tells me that they go for about $60 each ... so he has been using estate sale oil stones to good result. (I think I just got an idea for a Christmas gift for him.) I have a motorized water stone (Tormek), but mostly use that for the speed in taking a bad piece of steel to an "almost sharp" state. Other tools can do the same job, some faster, most slower ... but the result is the same and the final sharpening is done at the bench in any case.

You can spend hundreds for a fancy plane without knowing how to use or care for it. Watch all of Paul's videos and I think you'll make much better tool buying decisions. 

Why spend $300 for a plane when you can get the job done for $20 and put the rest of the money into some gorgeous lumber? :~)

[shadedred]

What do you do if you are using 2 x 4 from Lowes that have rounded edges? Do you plane them down until the legs are square?

[BondiMacF]

Hi Paul,
Truly beautiful mortise.

Why do we need a haunch either in this piece or any other piece? I saw one on a friend's table, and wondered at its purpose.

In this case it's not going to be visible, is it?



thanks

[BondiMacF]

Two more questions if I may be so bold, Paul.

In the first video you laminated the beams along their long sides thereby making the table top incredibly thick.
What issues would we encounter if we laminate the beams along their shorter edge? That would make that table not so thick, but use fewer beams and thus be cheaper.

I'm about to build a new bed. A friend has given me some old reclaimed oak but said their incredibly hard.
How would I make a mortise in something so hard?

Thank you

[smfield]

Any use for matching quarter sawn end grain?