I tried and failed for a year to het Rex Kruegers Roman bench vise design to work decently. Obviously you can do this, but it turned out to be harder than it looks. Just took a single afternoon to make the holes, pegs and dogs for this way of working. So stoked to actually get to building stuff.
I think people often forget, the whole reason to make one of these, is that there quick to make, simple and effective to use. People often add vises, which I think aren't needed, and I feel it takes away from the simplicity of the bench. There's nothing wrong with vises, there great, just not needed on a Roman workbench. Once you get to grips with the work holding, it'll come very natural.
Absolutely incredible video! You have figured out and shared far more uses and real world techniques using the Roman workbench than I’ve seen before, even more than the gentleman who wrote the book on it! I’m now convinced that I will build one as a compliment to my Roubo bench rather than a saw bench as it is more versatile. Thank you.
I have watched lots of videos about the low (Roman) workbenches. Yours is by far the most thorough in terms of real workholding. Keep up the great work 👍
I LOVED this video. I have a tight space, and the addition of the shaving horse attachment to the bench is brilliant and will make a very useful addition to an apartment woodworking space on the balcony. I am truly grateful to you for this. Christopher Schwarz wrote a book called "Ingenious Mechanicks" and sells it at $44 a pop. I was looking at the benches and jigs he came up with on Pinterest, and then RU-vid watched my searches there and recommended your video. In this case only, I was happy to be snooped on. New subscriber, and I'll be revisiting this and the series quite a bit. Cheers
Thanks very much. I do have a free ebook on the Roman workbench which may be of help, there's links kicking about all over my social media. Thanks for watching 👍
@@DW_woodworks thanks for that info. In the 5minutes or so since you sent your reply, I got your book and have read through 15 pages. I feel a sense of excitment and camaraderie, because your down to earth and approachable ethos are very appealing. I like down to earth people. No time for carrot up the rear types. Hope you have a great day and be encouraged that you are reaching people in meaningful ways around the world. In this case, a South African living in Canada. Cheers!
Це чудо-станок. Жаль, що я раніше такого не бачив. Шукаю Матеріал на такий станок. Думаю,що обов'язково зроблю собі. Це просто і оригінально. Хорошо,що є ютуб, багато чому можна навчитися.
Outstanding mate. What a great bench, great work-holding demo. Honestly, this is the best video I’ve seen on Roman benches showing how to actually use one. Cracking job!
After reading through Ingenious Mechanicks by Christopher Schwarz, I was well sold on the idea of the low roman workbench. I built one, been using it, but never saw the need to drill the peg holes like he did in his book. Figured I would never need them. Boy was I wrong! After watch you and your videos on this, I am convinced I need to drill some holes myself. Thank you for this awesome series on how the bench works!
The shaving horse adapter alone is worth it, but you obviously get a lot from the adaptations you have put into this Roman workbench. Thanks for sharing!
Just found this channel and video..... what great find it is too. I have used some of these techniques over the past 30 odd years but never in one bench 😀 Thank you for a brilliant video. All the best, Rob
Thank you SO MUCH for the extremely informative demonstration of the bench!!! Your use of pegs and wedges was ingenious! The addition of the shave horse was a perfect finale to end the video. The technical quality of the video was superb! The sound of a hand saw cutting through wood is music to my ears. The only thing missing was the aroma of freshly cut wood, but I can take care of that myself. Keep up the good work, but take care of yourself-you sounded a little out of breath...cold weather? Thanks again, jimbo
Brilliant. I’d seen a couple of things about Roman benches but always ignored them really because it just looked like a big trestle but you’ve actually shown what it can do and how easy it is to use. I’ve subscribed to see more of this. Cheers 👍🏻
Great video - and glad I found your site! I have actually been looking for videos of folks actually using a Roman workbench for various tasks, as I have limited space and I have to take my work outside more often than not. Thank you and God Bless!
The best video on this subject! Super interesting. Love the shave horse add on, it's genius. Going to blatantly copy your idea for my workshop if you don't mind sir! Thanks a lot for sharing and I look forward to more of your videos. Juan
Greetings o wise wood worker. Us older folks should be teaching you NOT the other way round. Total satisfaction has been guaranteed well filmed and illustrated. Thank for sharing total thumb up and subbed.
Your videos are the best I've found on using Roman benches. I'd love for you to walk us through the evolution of the different benches you've made. What worked, what didn't, what changed. Also how you made decisions on dog holes and how they have changed from bench to bench.
@@DW_woodworks Just FYI of your influence. I'm currently building a low Roman bench and your videos have been an invaluable resource helping me plan out the design. So THANK YOU.
I made a low roman workbench earlier this year. I also have limited space to work. Your ideas are genius about using just pegs and wedges for work holding. Can you show more of the capabilities you have used with your bench. Mine is similar dimensions. Also a video on the location of the dog holes would be very helpful. Thanks for your time.
Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. As I said, I may do a part 3, if I get enough request. The dog holes are a funny one, because different people use different sizes of wood. The bench dogs are to accommodate my work, which could be very different to your work. Every bench I've built, I've changed/refined the dog placement. All I can suggest, is to start with a few, and add as you need them. If I do another video, I'll definitely touch on this, since it can be a troublesome matter.
Hi David, you should be well proud of the bench and the video. Your shave horse addition is superb. You've definitely inspired me to build a Roman workbench.....outdoor working this summer I reckon. Thanks.
This is great. I’ve been trying to figure out what to build. Seeing how flexible and simple this is has made up my mind. The shave horse attachment was a real treat. I’d been thinking about that too. But what really impressed me was the usefulness of a simple notch. I liked the way you pointed out in your first video that you use a very shallow angle on one face of the notch and have wedges cut to the same angle. I’d recommend to other viewers to watch both. Subscribed.
Thanks a lot ! That was very interesting, especially the part with the shave horse. I'm building my roman worbench and I also wanted to have a shave horse in the futur. I'm very interested in a part 3 ! :)
How about making a drawer. You would have to cross cut, rip, flatten, square the wood then do dovetails, half blind dovetails and make a groove. Lots to do for a simple project on a simple bench. BTW thank you for the videos and demonstrations. Much appreciated
Thanks for watching, I appreciate it. I did build a dovetailed blanket chest on a low bench (one of my older videos) I do have a couple of builds planed on the bench, so hopefully they'll turn out good.
Thank you, it does a bit of both. It obviously depends on how much you have to do, and if you have sharp tools. It's one of the best beaches I've used, because it's so simple and versatile, I'd definitely recommend building one.
Very nice. I would be interested in its use in woodcarving. I like that you are in a position to use your weight when sitting to apply great downward pressure, but move yourself rather than move the piece. How about showing a few clamping situations where you’re holding a long piece, like a spindle, or an unusually shaped piece, like a slice from a log?
This is a much better video. I wonder if you oak table top warped or if you planed it to be curved. I would prefer a single piece of wood like you have to the laminated 2x4s that Krueger uses. Did you try it with 2x4s? Was it different from what you have in this video?
@@DW_woodworks Thank-you for your reply, makes perfect sense on a compact workbench with no tool well. You also know you have a new subscriber that pays attention.
I can't show you where to put your dog holes, because I don't know what your work consists of, but I can point you in the right direction. I have had a few requests for the placement, so I'm going to do a video on that. Keep your eyes open for that one, might get it out in the next few days.
Dislikes from vices only lol Great demo Sir of its versatility thsnk you very much. How did you choose its height? I've Got a bad (old ish) back... or make a stool first? I do like it so much though. Kindest regards AB
Such great ideas! The wooden holdfast and the shave horse addition was just what I was looking for. How heavy do you make your benches? When you were standing beside it and edge planing, the bench didn't even move. Was it the grass, or was your back foot stopping the bench from moving, or was it just the weight of the bench?
Thanks. This bench does have some weight but, yeah your right, it is the grass. Putting the bench on a yoga/rubber mat helps a great deal, on flat smooth surfaces. You can also use your back foot, as you stated.
@@DW_woodworks great idea on using a yoga/rubber mat. If you do do a third video on the bench, would you be able to talk more about the bench notch and the pegs/bench dogs. Is the notch tapered? Do all of your pegs/bench dogs have that spring mechanism you showed in the bench dog video? You also mentioned that you had wanted to make a wider bench, but was limited because of the oak slab; would a wider bench cause issues with the shave horse in terms of body mechanics or work piece holding?
How would you hold a piece 2 ft long. And you wanted to make a tapered octagon chair or stool leg.I tried to figure it out but had to go back up to my vise and dog clamping system on my normal bench.
I made a video on a Welsh stick chair, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-h5sMr6Dw7Nc.html that might give you some ideas, and I think it'll answer your questions. It's not narrated, but the visual information is there. Hope that helps.
I wouldn't say I research, but I do find the history very interesting. I have/do a lot of experiments with work holding, I use the bench nearly every day, so I've tried out a lot of ideas I've had, and will continue too. Thanks for watching
When I say each to their own, I literally mean it. The whole Idea behind any bench whether it's tall or short, is to make it suitable for yourself and the work you intend on doing (each to their own). This is discussed in my free ebook. The bench you see is of perfect height for me (5.6'), this would not be suitable for a person of 6.6', again, each to their own.
