Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz *LINK*

Christopher Fitch@Memphis

>I can't speak for Mr. Schwarz, but I can speak for my first bench which was built on those plans, specifically the "$175 Workbench" article from the Winter 2001 issue of Pop. Woodworking.

It went together easy enough but I had problems keeping the top flat. It's quite solid and durability was not an issue for me.

I finally gave it away and made another Christopher Schwarz bench, the 24-hour workbench from Dec. 2003 issue. (budget from article is $180)

I built that with some wood modifications and some other additions such as the cabinet under the top. I also put a Veritas twin-screw on the end and a regular vise on the front. The top was built from layered baltic birch plywood per his instructions but I built the base and the top frame from White Oak. My version was far more costly than the $180 version from the magazine but that's to be expected given the differences. On the other hand, I think the method for building the plywood top for that bench is much better than the laminated SYP. Mine is still quite flat and I doubt it will move much at all.

So my advice is to make the 24 hour workbench instead and skip the SYP movement issues for the laminated top. The base is practically the same or if you wanted, you could make the base from the $175 bench and make the layered plywood top for it. The cost is only $5 more.

I've included a link to some images of my version.


Work bench

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Brint K in Atlanta

>Very nice -- thanks for the photos.

Local Sawyer

Jim in Burlington On

>Find a local farmer or saw mill and ask what they have cheap for a bench. There's alot of nut tree's in the area. I stopped into the place about 50 miles outside of Myrtle Beach that was selling reclaimed lumber chances are not all they saw up is prime and must sell some of it off cheap.

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Chris U.

>How do you like the veritas twin screw vise? Does it stay aligned for you?

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz

>Stuart,

After seven years that bench is still in service and is holding up nicely. I've made 10 (yes, 10) benches using Southern yellow pine. I think it is a good bench building material, with some caveats:

1. Its E-value (stiffness) is close to maple.

2. Its specific gravity (weight compared to water) is close to maple

3. Once dry, it is quite stable

4. It is quite inexpensive.

Caveats:

1. Its Janka score (resistance to denting) is fairly low. It will get dinged.

2. Even the best SYP needs to dry out a bit in your shop. It moves around when its wet and then settles down.

Does it stay flat? No, it's not like granite. But no workbench material stays flat forever. I flatten it once a year. And because its pine, it's easy to do.

Hope this helps!

Chris

Changed your "look"!

Tony - Memphis

>Hi Chris. I was digging out some old PW's and saw you building a project (can't remember what it was), but gosh you looked different!

Tony

Re: Local Sawyer

Stuart Hough

>Jim, Whereabouts was that sawyer? I 'm not real familiar with all of that area.

Thanx.

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Stuart Hough

>Thanx for the update!

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Tom Scott - Midlothian, TX

>Stuart,

I built a bench out of SYP about 4 years ago and it has held up great with very little movement. Like Christopher said, it does get dinged, but that's to be expected. At least I don't worry about it when it happens.

One good tip is to start with 2x8's or larger and then rip to width. The wider boards are generally straighter to start with and better quality wood (fewer knots).

Tom

Re: Mr. Christopher Schwarz

Glenn Madsen near San Francisco

>I built the $180 version, with the cabinet grade plywood top. It was a great learning experience, a good tool and the bench remains at the center of my shop.

Is it worth bragging about and showing off? Well, no. I've beaten the heck out of it, using it to make all sorts of projects that are worth showing off. And that's what I had in mind. Maybe someday there will be a nicer bench, with fancier joinery, but in the middle of my garage shop, this one works just fine.

I have no problem attaching temporary stops, cleats and hold downs with screws whenever and wherever they are needed. And my sons seem to have no problem dripping stuff on the bench, either. No problem. Most of it scrapes off easily.

Have fun with yours!

Re: Changed your "look"!

Christopher Schwarz

>Tony,

Indeed. Once I got promoted, my personal hygiene (shaving, mostly) was on the outs.

At least I don't wear a bathrobe to the office -- yet.

Chris

Yellow Pine

Robert R Clough - Thorncraft

>Christopher

I agree about yellow pine. Years ago, many years ago, we beuilt outdoor feed bunks out of yellow pine. Even the endless screw feed unloader case was yellow pine. Generally we used 2 x 12 and coated sinkers. We never had any breakage from the less than gentle behavior of the cows.

I have also used it for flooring and it worked well.