Behind the Scenes: The Minimum Timber Bench
Added 2022-09-15 17:32:26 +0000 UTCFriends:
With the price of wood so volatile right now, I think the world needs a striped-down, super-affordable bench that keeps wood and money to a minimum. It's a difficult job that I've already been working on for 9 months.
It's time to build a prototype and I hope you'll come along with me as I road test my design. This is the first in a series of behind-the-scenes videos and I'm doing an extended thread over on the forum. In that thread, you'll find more information and pictures from the 3D model.
If you're not already on the forum, this is a great time to join.
If you've had any trouble getting on, email Nic@woodworkforhumans.com and he'll get you sorted out.
Take a breath; it's almost Friday.
--Rex
Comments
Rex has already responded to my question but thank you.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-09-23 10:52:52 +0000 UTCJennessa, if you are still reading comments a week later: do try the forum, as Benjamin. I don't have recommendation either, but there is an entire tutorial thread about Japanese saws: https://forum.woodworkforhumans.com/t/fundamentals-of-japanese-saws/13219
John Shufelt
2022-09-23 09:08:02 +0000 UTCI’ve been complaining about the price of wood for over 2 decades…so I tend to do wood turning with the birch trees that fall in my yard.
Jason Bailey
2022-09-21 02:47:40 +0000 UTCThank you. I kinda knew that already. I've gotten responses on here from Rex before but it's usually the same day he shares videos to his patron's.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-09-16 22:27:19 +0000 UTCYou’d be better off asking on the forum. I’d answer but I don’t have one for you 🙂
Benjamin Fouty
2022-09-16 21:08:39 +0000 UTCWas wondering if you have any Recommendations on a decent inexpensive Dozuki Japanese saw? I already own a Ryoba Japanese saw but find that sometimes the blade flexes a bit too much when I don't want it to.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-09-16 17:40:08 +0000 UTCI'm looking forward to this. I know how I would approach this challenge, and I'll enjoy seeing how you approach it. Our experience and biases always take us down different paths.
Brian Taylor
2022-09-16 10:36:15 +0000 UTCWell look at that, white wood 2x4x8 at $3.98 at the Cleveland Heights Home Depot!
Todd Maurer
2022-09-16 03:21:09 +0000 UTCThis is going to be a fun series. Looking forward to it. I have built my last bench as I have no room for another. But there is always the chance a smaller, lighter bench could creep in and replace my current bench. Have a good one Rex.
Matt Evans-Koch
2022-09-16 02:36:40 +0000 UTCLook forward to sharing this journey with you. Good to see the creative processes in action
Shane Thomas
2022-09-16 00:21:45 +0000 UTCBrilliant idea. I look forward to seeing what comes out of this!
Andrew Watt
2022-09-16 00:07:02 +0000 UTCBut the overworked and overstressed nurses will appreciate not having to care for another clumsy idiot in their overcrowded ward. ;-)
Michael Bennett
2022-09-15 23:12:50 +0000 UTCWith the economy turning sour, you might look at hardwood (yes, hardwood) instead. When COVID turned the world on its head, hardwood was actually selling for less than PFS (pine, fir, spruce). I heard stories of houses being framed in brown maple (sometimes called ambrosia maple) because regular construction lumber was more expensive and there's not that much of a market for brown maple. Check with your local sawyers as well.
Michael Bennett
2022-09-15 23:09:21 +0000 UTCthe only reality TV I will watch. Appreciate the information you are willing to share.
joseph severson
2022-09-15 22:31:43 +0000 UTCThis is exciting! Thanks for letting us in to observe. I think the project idea is very good, looking forward to seeing your ideas.
Robert Bullock
2022-09-15 21:43:54 +0000 UTClove the idea of sharing as you build and use! people so often only show finished, perfected things.. but 90% of learning a new skill is in the process of learning how to think about a project, how to design best for real-world use, and allllll the paths along the way that sounded good at the time but end up being not so useful. here's to sharing all our imperfections on the way to perfection!
ryan stuart
2022-09-15 20:08:38 +0000 UTCI notice Wickes in the UK is selling "Studwork CLS Timber - 38 x 63 x 2400m for $4.60 (yep - smaller than 2x4, likely not good quality and quite possibly not near you). YOu've probably tried a google search "cheap timber uk" and you've probably checked Craigslist or whatever the equivalent is in your area. Sorry aboot that (a former Brit, in Canada)
John Morrison
2022-09-15 20:07:37 +0000 UTC8ft 2x4 in Vancouver, BC Canada today - Rona - $6.10 (before sales taxes). Down on what it was earlier in the year. Was down below $6 pre pandemic, at some points, but probably prices were approx $6 (swinging up and down)
John Morrison
2022-09-15 19:59:07 +0000 UTCI went the Roman bench route. Absolutely fantastic. I use it for everything. Even built a small table that slots in the square hole so I can sit outside in the evening having a crafty beer.
ian Sandy
2022-09-15 19:31:58 +0000 UTCIt's a case of suck it up, really... I made your Low Roman Bench out of Construction 2x4s during Covid - at a point when the 2x4s were probably half the current price. Things may get better at some point, but we're talking inflation running close (or higher than) 10%, energy bills more than doubled for homes and multiplied even further for business, Brexit means imports of lumber from Europe dropping off or becoming more expensive and we don't grow enough of our own to keep up with demand - what we do grow and harvest tends to be Scots Pine and other softwood types. Construction Lumber is the lowest cost, but with wider boards rarer we're talking it's more practical to buy narrower boards and joint them together, that sort of technique. In fact, I made a version of your Cricket Stool a few months back, and had to do precisely that to get the width. Basically, over here it's either made out of softwood, or expensive, and sometimes both! It makes me more inclined to work on smaller-scale projects - our houses are often smaller in size too (my cousin, who's in California at the moment, confirms as much) so there's less space to work with and put stuff in. Right now I'm working out whether I can make a rack for Planes and other tools to mount on the Garage Wall - with old Bed Slats as my primary materiel as they were free!
Rob Weir
2022-09-15 19:27:15 +0000 UTCI'd say ply but that is over £ 70 per sheet
Chris
2022-09-15 19:19:16 +0000 UTCIn the same boat and don't want to pile on. Cause it ultimately isn't your fault or ours just differences in what is available. But what do you think about replacing the 2x10 with mdf or osb doubled up.
Chris
2022-09-15 19:18:53 +0000 UTCSo, how can I help with that? Do we need an English bench for the English? What's the solution as you see it?
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 18:53:18 +0000 UTCLess timber can equate to less effort which in turn reduces your exposure to injuries which cuts down on the hospital visits which lowers the demand for medical services and that is a key economic sector so you are contributing to the economic slowdown. ;-)
Richard C von Brecht
2022-09-15 18:16:08 +0000 UTCSadly in some parts of the world (like the UK) Lumber Choice and Price seems at a really bad place. A local Builders Merchant (Jewsons) is currently selling 8ft 2x4s, CLS (Class 16) for about £14 each - this is designed really for studwork, so not exactly best quality. Seven of those alone is about £100. As for a 2x10 - they don't sell them, and neither do most other Builders Merchants, B&Q - our equivalent of Home Depot - do some rounded edge stuff that's not far off that - quality highly variable, a 16ft length is £45. So already about $175 at current exchange rates, for poor quality pine or spruce. For a proper Timber Mechant, I have to drive over an hour, and while they do have some quality boards including hardwood, as it's seen as more of a specialist item over here you pay accordingly.
Rob Weir
2022-09-15 18:11:32 +0000 UTCBut, but I haven’t built the Krueger knock-down bench yet! It’s all good: always love a new bench design to obsess over!
George Page
2022-09-15 17:41:09 +0000 UTCstripped-down
Sean McGown
2022-09-15 17:37:45 +0000 UTC
