Build an 18th-century Workbench with Christopher Schwarz

Tool List & Notes

A note from Chris

Most of the woodworking classes I teach are all about improving your skills. This class is different. It's about building the best workbench with the highest class of craftsmanship in only six days.

Building a workbench in this manner is a team sport. Students work together as much as they work individually in this class. That's because everyone needs help when it comes to laminating a 300-pound top. And yet, the fate of your bench rests entirely in your hands and how much effort you are willing to put into getting every joint square and tight.

During these six days, you will learn as much about workbench history and heavy-lifting as you will about heavy-duty old-school joinery, including massive drawbored mortise-and-tenon joinery, plus the combination sliding dovetail and through-tenon joint preferred by French menuisiers.

All the benches in this class will be built on the basic French frame laid out by Andre Roubo. But there is room for a great deal of customization when it comes to workholding. In the months before the class, we'll chat individually (either on the phone of via e-mail) to design your workholding so it will suit the work you do (and the work you hope to do).

Then you can order exactly the vises and hardware you want and have it shipped to the school so it will be waiting for you.

The tool list below is by no means exhaustive. Bring what you can, but everyone should be prepared to share tools (I do) as well as the occasional strong back.

Marking & Measuring Tools
Cutting gauge
12" combination square
6” rule
12’ tape measure
Dial caliper
Marking knife
Winding sticks
36” wooden straightedge
12” try square
Sliding bevel square
Dividers, two to four pair

 

Cutting Tools
Jack plane
Jointer plane
Smoothing plane
Block plane, adjustable mouth, low-angle
Large router plane
Large shoulder plane
Bevel-edge chisels 1/8” to 3/4”  
1-1/2” paring chisel
Cabinet rasps or joinery floats

Striking & Fastening Tools
Chisel mallet
16 oz. hammer
Deadblow hammer
10”, 12" or 14" brace
Auger bits (at least the 3/4")
Brad-point bits (1/16” up to 1/2”)
Birdcage awl
Dowel plate
Drawbore pins, one pair

Saws
Carcase saw, crosscut
Tenon saw, thin plate, rip
Panel saws, 8 ppi x-cut, 7 ppi rip
Flush-cut saw

Sharpening Kit
Oilstone or waterstone set
Honing Guide (if you use one)

Also Essential
Gloves! Grippy ones
Paraffin wax
Bar clamps (bring five or six 24" long if you can)
A good circular saw (if you don't use handsaws)

 

If you have any questions prior to the class please call or write: chris.schwarz@fwpubs.com or 513-531-2690 ext. 11407.