Kale Vogt April 24, 2024The Anarchist's Apprentice is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. To prop up my newly built tool chest, Megan suggested I build sawbenches. Practical and multi functional. I wouldn’t say I was immediately attracted to building them, but since Megan had an extra unbuilt set of parts from a recent sawbench class I figured why not? The idea grew on me.
This substack is simply the best reading I do every day. I feel like I'm an "Annoying Over-Commenter" but I am unable to help myself and so, I throw myself upon the mercy of the court. "Your Honor, if it please the court, I would assert that YouTube videos are also lying bitches. The defense rests."
The staked sawbenches are more of a chair-building primer than a sawing and chiseling primer (which is what I consider these to be), so different lessons. The staked ones are plenty strong – but not as strong as this form with the braces underneath.
When I made my pair of sawbenches, I made the top of one much wider. I added a couple of cutouts on the side, so I can use it as a short Roman workbench. It comes in very handy.
Kale, thanks for sharing your journey with us. Brand new adventurous starts seem to get scarier as age/family/life-stuff accumulates but it's great to hear your thoughts as you move through and figure out which parts make sense to you! (Thanks to the editors too, for having the ... Um.. chutzpa to do what you do and to share so much with us all)
The only people who never make mistakes are people who never do anything.
This substack is simply the best reading I do every day. I feel like I'm an "Annoying Over-Commenter" but I am unable to help myself and so, I throw myself upon the mercy of the court. "Your Honor, if it please the court, I would assert that YouTube videos are also lying bitches. The defense rests."
I am really enjoying this substack. Thanks for sharing your learning journey.
I do have a question, why build the jointed saw benches over the staked ones? I don’t think one is better than the other I’m just curious.
The staked sawbenches are more of a chair-building primer than a sawing and chiseling primer (which is what I consider these to be), so different lessons. The staked ones are plenty strong – but not as strong as this form with the braces underneath.
That totally makes sense. Thanks Megan!
More sawing practice! All's well.
When I made my pair of sawbenches, I made the top of one much wider. I added a couple of cutouts on the side, so I can use it as a short Roman workbench. It comes in very handy.
Kale, thanks for sharing your journey with us. Brand new adventurous starts seem to get scarier as age/family/life-stuff accumulates but it's great to hear your thoughts as you move through and figure out which parts make sense to you! (Thanks to the editors too, for having the ... Um.. chutzpa to do what you do and to share so much with us all)
Any chance you'd share a photo of the mentioned Danish modern book collection?
Kale, you are short. Did you cut the legs shorter?
Ohhhh yes haha the height of my benches are at ~17 inches. The shortest in the shop, I believe. Perfect height for my tool chest!