Very pleased with this recommendation, this gentleman is very easy to listen to and follow, plain language, well presented, and the video shows everything perfectly, I wonder if this guy is or was a Teacher, he certainly has the knack 😊 Excellent work - Julie
I'm an expat American living in Indonesia. After 12 years I've learned a lot about how much ingenuity is underrated. There are no big box stores in every small town. I recently went to a tool store in the big city looking for a table saw. They knew what it was but didn't sell any. I was given the suggestion of buying a skill saw and making my own table saw or an electric motor and then I could make any number of shop tools. Of course I knew this was an option but wanted to recreate my shop back in the USA. I really appreciate tutorials like this because after living in America for half a century I was totally locked in to the materialistic /consumer/ disposable culture. It's been a real eye opener watching the ingenuity of workers on construction sites to kids making huge kites with the most rudimentary tools. I've seen RU-vid videos of guys making very large ocean going boats with not much more than an axe and a handsaw. Need a hole? Heat up a nail and burn it. Need a hacksaw? No need to buy the entire saw just the blade. I've seen kids stitch up a 1 meter by two meter polyester kites using sticks of incense and incredible multi story scaffolding from bamboo. I would really recommend everyone if you get a chance to travel to developing countries try to watch how people use their brains to accomplish what we can only do with our credit cards.
There is an old-but-mostly-forgotten tradition among woodworkers. Prior to the nineteenth century, an apprentice cabinetmaker would make his own set of woodworking tools under the guidance of a master cabinetmaker. Often, the apprentice completed his apprenticeship by fashioning an artfully designed tool chest to hold these hand-made tools. Both the tools and the chest attested to his skills and enticed potential clients and patrons. Unfortunately, both the apprenticeship system and the need to make your own tools evaporated with the Industrial Revolution, but the tradition is still echoed in the modern woodworker's fascination with jigs and fixtures. At their heart, these are shop-made tools fashioned out of necessity, economy, and ingenuity. To me, these embody not only the history but the essence of craftsmanship.
bagus sekali eh? Yeah, the number of times I've seen half an army of workers arrive to dig a hole for a pool, where we would have a digger, or set up expensive scaff for skyscrapers, and these guys do it without harnesses and floppy bamboo. Ingenious indeed.
@@WorkshopCompanionthanks for the great reply. I made the saw horses in this video but didn't make the slotted cross bars or the plywood lift. I just throw some cheap stock on top to support my plywood. I've built two boats since watching your video using these saw horses. Cheers from Indonesia.
I am very thankful for the ru-vid.comUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO that has been a tremendous help to me in building a perfect outdoor shed. I have been facing many challenges and difficulties for a long time, but this plan has guided me to correct the mistakes during the process. I am impressed by the projects and I express my gratitude to the creator of this collection of plans.
Your jigs for cutting miters and curves with a circular saw are ingenious!!! The plywood cutting grid will come in very useful to so many people. Always love your videos and of course Bella.....she is endlessly wanting you to throw her toy!
The absolute patience on this man to make all these little improvised tools is absolutely inspiring Make no mistake I’ll keep my miter saw thanks, but to see that jig and how well it worked out was a wonder to behold I’m subscribing because this is golden wisdom, backed by decades of hard earned experience
I built the cutting grid using steel saw horses like the ones you showed in the video. I did add the loading arms. Since I don't have a huge amount of room inside my workshop, I usually set the grid up on the patio just outside my shop. This also avoids the sawdust that my dust collector doesn't manage to suck up. Since I'm down here in Florida, I can do this all year long. The grid has made things a lot easier on my knees and back. Great design!
This is honestly outstanding content, and some of the best instructional/educational videos I've had the pleasure of watching. Informative, funny, and explained in just the right amount of depth. I rarely leave comments, but I had to express how fantastic these videos are. Extremely helpful stuff, thank you!
I'm happy with the easy to fold and stow sawhorses I made a few years ago, but I'm going to add Nick's excellent idea of notched 2x6 top rails so I can stand, instead of lay, the sacrificial 2x4 stringers across the sawhorses, giving much greater stiffness to my cutting surface. Thanks, Nick!
I'd already made the cutting grid as I had the same folding steel sawhorses you showed in the original plywood handling video. (Surprisingly heavy sawhorses I might add.) Still, despite not needing these knockdown horses, I watched this video and am astounded at the mind that came up with the collection of scrap jigs, and the process to achieve the necessary cuts. I rather wish I had you and William Ng as neighbors on either side.
Thanks for saying. And yes, it's long been suggested that I narrate professionally. A good friend of mine was in the business and she tried to draw me in on several projects, but we couldn't get the timing right -- when she had projects, I had no time.
Some people here are from another world , and others are from here ,from this planet. Know if you think about it some people want to start woodwork and don't know how to start. This here is the best place to start. This right has the best explanation I've seen ever. This here is for dummies. dum! dums!. Here, end of the lesson.
So many brilliant ideas. I’ve always wondered how to cut an accurate angle greater than 45 degrees. Now I know. Make a jig, you dummy. Thank you so much for sharing, you are a great teacher 🌞
i enjoy any video Nick makes. i love his teaching approach. i got over half way making this and went ahead and bought the plans. keep up the great videos
I find the channels I get the most out of is when the creator makes me like them. I wasn't hooked on the first video. But you and your dog has taught me a lot. I'd like to see a video where everything is made with a circular and a 12v cordless drill
Travis has come up with a brilliant jig that converts your circular saw to a precision tool, and we're planning a video on it soon. That and some information on drill guides would give you what you're asking for.
I bought the plans and made it. It's been super useful. definitely had to make some assumptions based on the plans, but solving problems is what some of woodworking is about, right?
More like all of it. As one of my editors once explained, "Woodworking is when you take large boards and cut them up into small boards, then then try to figure out how to put them back together into something more useful than a board."
Thanks for the ideas on jigs, Nick. My shop is the back of my Chevy Colorado, so having sawhorses and a table that will lie flat in the truck will really help with my handyman business..
I made one quite similar to yours but using one by material. I also used my 1956 Shopsmith and a $20 circular saw. I also have two 4' square "tops" so I can also have a portable work bench.
This cutting table is a great idea, so I bought the plans, but I made some modifications. The height of the working surface would be too low for me. First, i made the legs 3" longer and reduced the 15 degree angle to 13 degrees so the longer legs would not stick out to far. Still quite low, so instead of notching the 2x8 to receive the 2x4 spans, i added 2x4 sections, on edge on top of the 2x8, creating the gaps to hold the 2x4 spans, and thereby adding 3.5 more inches to the height. The 2x4 sections are attached with deeply countersunk screws so there is no risk of running a saw blade through them. The pivot point for the loading arms is moved up to the added 2x4. This modification has the following advantages: 1) increased working height 2) dont have to cut the notches 3) the working layer can be easily replaced if it gets cut up too much 4) the swing arms can be swung up and over to run compactly along the length of the 2x8 making for easier transport and storage.
For drilling square to a surface, simply smooth out a bit of aluminum foil on said surface. If the drill bit and the reflection of the drill bit are in line with each other, the hole will be square.
Good tip, except for one plane. If you tilt the bit directly back or toward you, the reflection will remain in line with the bit, even though the bit is angled to the surface.
Just found your channel. My only question is, how on earth does this channel not have a million subscribers?! Great content. Great presentation. Thank you!
What a brilliantly made video. I enjoyed it so so much. Took some deliberation but it looks like your going to OK Corral… both impressive tables… but given pallet wood John managed to make his using budget tools outside, he gets my vote!!! ❤
Absolutely FANTABULOUS ! !! ! Explained it so perfectly well a dumb old country boy, like me, can do it ! !! (and LOVE The Shop Smith Gear !! thought I was the Last One)
Great to see you at it again Nick! Hopefully you can come to New Jersey to do a woodworking class! It was a pleasure to meet you sir! You’re the Michael Jordan of woodworking and I’m a better person after meeting you! Thanks for all the great wisdom! Lbi Joe
I made one of these after your first video and I use it for everything. I also drilled some dowels into one side of the rails and sharpend them with a pencil sharpener and it's perfect for spraying paint. And a drying frame, love the channel you have some fantastic ideas
I purchased your plans and I am looking forward to building this for my garage to break down my plywood panels. Although, I am going to adjust the leg length to raise the elevation of the sawhorses for me so I am a little more comfortable. Thanks again!
Hopefully this helps those without those exotic tools! My alarm went off! One year ago today, you put out a video regarding drying lumber, and that it needed to sit for one year. Well, today is that day, one year later. I really look forward to seeing the video regarding this topic as I have been drying mine right along with you. As always, thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the kind words, and I hate to disappoint, but I doubt that you sold your shop right along with me. We are in the middle of moving out of one shop and building another, so we're severely limited in what we can do. When we get more settled, I'll unpack the lumber that has been drying.
This might be one of the best videos you've made, Nick; extremely useful information on building an extremely useful 'tool.' Well done, my friend, and give dog-o an extra treat !
After buying the plans, I connected the saw horse legs with sliding dovetails (for experience mostly). The gusset cover pieces became an after add as it was strong enough with those :) Great video!!
Thank You. Your skill in teaching and presentation are perfect. This was entertaining, inspiring, and informative without bing cheesy, boring or self serving. Be Well and Good Journey Richie.
Great jigs. A couple of suggestions: 1. Plywood isn't necessary for some of the cutting jigs. 1 x 2 strapping will do. 2. Slots in plywood cross pieces can be cut 1.5 1/8" x 3" to put the stretchers 1/2" proud. Saves cross pieces from being chewed up making long rip cuts. 3. Each stretcher can have 4 or 6 one inch deep equal spaced notches in them for cross cuts without chewing up the stretchers. Will make a great project a tiny bit better for me. Sheet goods lifter is genius, btw.
My old saw horses are getting to the point of needing to be replaced. I like this set up because they are easier to store and i will get more use for the cutting grid. I use an old door now.
This is an old, old design I copied from a pair my grandfather left to me. There are several commercial horses I've tested that are easier to store, but few are this sturdy.
We put some tinting film over them earlier this year which helped alot. But I agree, we are building a new shop and designed it with no windows behind Nick😅. Lighting has been a big struggle in our current warehouse size shop and its the first thing we will adress In our new shop. I think those windows are nice when the sun is on our side but they are more of a hassle than they're worth. - Travis
Fantastic as always. Your style of explaining, mixed in with your visuals (such as placing your combo square on the board to denote the angle of the cut) just makes it easy to follow. Thanks again.
Great video Nick! After the Holiday Craft shows are over I'll be making one of these and an assembly table. (I'll be using the two sawhorses as legs for the assembly table so I can move it outside of my small shop.) Thanks!
The world is full of failed crappy furniture, a source for single, dual, or triple use sheet material (almost always veneered particle board) for the base of those jigs. Craigslist turns up amazing stuff in the "Free" section of items for sale hour by hour. Also, Nick, I figure on using considerably lighter weight material for your design and anticipate no problems if those materials have their defects in non-critical locations and less than ton is stacked on top at a time. Love your videos. Thank you for posting them.
Just finished this--I was skeptical at first but when I put the first pc of 3/4 ply on and it rolled up with a finger push, I became a believer. Magic! Thanks for the idea. BTW, the plans do not match the video--legs called out at 27" on side view but 30" on edge view. Nevertheless, a fun build that will serve me well.
The 27" measurement shows the effective length of the 30"-long leg when tilted way from the viewer at a 25-degree angle. This is confusing, I know, and the measurement is unnecessary . As your own experience proves, it's not needed to successfully assemble the cutting grid. I'll eliminate it on future editions of the plans to avoid the confusion. Thanks for the input.
Great tutorial. I was just about to buy another expensive tool when I watched your video. Ha! Ingenuity - wish I had it. Most of the time I have to buy it!
I’m lucky enough to have a shop full of tools and I’d already made this based on your older video and it’s incredibly useful. But I love the standard “homeowner tool” approach you took to this because it reminds me of the conundrum I encountered when I first started woodworking and realized I needed a workbench … “How do you build a good bench when you don’t even have a crappy bench or many tools?” I’ve encountered that same problem a dozen times or more since … how do I build this thing that does x when I don’t already have a thing that does x?
We all came from that place. The entire art of woodworking came from that place, and it behooves us to reflect on it now and then. It always humbles and amazes me when I visit a design arts museum (my favorite is Winterthur) what can be accomplished with simple tools. Or that less than 200 years ago it was common practice for woodworkers to make their own tools!
Im not rich but I envy people's ingenuity more than their wallet when it comes to making stuff like this. Especially when they do it with fewer fancy tools. That ingenuity feels farther out of reach than just saving up for a new tool!
This is a great build done in a comprehensive and fun way iv watched a few of your videos but never thought of subscribing , now i have your video's a done so well and a joy to watch grazie Maestro bravissimo ;)
