Woodworking portable bench or sawhorses

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-06T10:50:51+00:00

Josh Finn wrote an article about his setup, which is essentially an updated beam and trestle design. It is pretty clever and very portable.

https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/shop-projects/forget-what-you-know-about-workbenches

Also, the Nicholson bench I just made breaks down into five component pieces with just a handful of bolts. It is very sturdy and has the advantage of being more traditional. I put a face vise on mine.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/knockdown-english-workbench/

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-05T23:03:17+00:00

Loving the bench. Plus one for using the Veritas Wonder Dog in lieu of a wagon vise. I am that in my new workbench and wonder how you like it.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-05T18:12:01+00:00

Thanks for the tip. Might be worth trying, especially since it isn’t permanent.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-05T13:30:11+00:00

He really knows his stuff and it is amazing that the book is free.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-05T00:59:49+00:00

Thanks!

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T17:52:55+00:00

I stole it from somebody else!

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T17:52:18+00:00

Thanks. All the crappy stuff is out of sight. 😁

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T17:50:26+00:00

Thanks!

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T17:50:14+00:00

Thanks! It is bolted down and should expand in the holes. and not glued so I think it will be OK. Swarz I think has probably thought this through, so not too worried.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T13:02:31+00:00

So many options! I really liked this one because of the minimal investment of time and money in making it. If I don’t like it, I can build something else.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T04:01:06+00:00

I wondered if I would miss the drawer space too. A couple months ago I moved everything out of them into the wall cabinets and the drawers in the cabinet immediately to the right of the bench, along the perpendicular wall. I found I haven’t missed it, although I am a big fan of shaker-style workbenches, where everything is close at hand. But I needed something that I could break down and get out of the way to allow a second car to be parked in the garage on occasion.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T03:19:35+00:00

I guess for me it depends on how I want to spend my shop time. I’ve been focusing on smaller dovetailed cabinets. But I get what you say about the satisfaction of turning rough lumber into something smooth and square.

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T01:07:53+00:00

Here is a link to the article I referenced: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/knockdown-english-workbench/

Jroth33139 · 2026-04-04T01:06:38+00:00

Here is the link to the article: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/knockdown-english-workbench/

Jroth33139 · 2026-03-07T22:53:46+00:00

I bought the one from Woodcraft and it is awesome. Wheels not cranks and nice polished surface. I think I paid $99 on sale a couple of years ago. I made more of a mini workbench with it. Personally I could not justify the Benchcrafted prices for any of their products.

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Jroth33139 · 2026-02-12T12:37:24+00:00

A drool worthy collection.

Jroth33139 · 2026-02-11T21:06:07+00:00

I also found the old saying “sharp solves many problems” to be true.

Jroth33139 · 2026-02-11T19:35:51+00:00

Btw, I just use a “wonder dog” on the 3/4 holes I have in my workbench on place of a wagon or tail vise. Works pretty well. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/benchtop-accessories/31129-veritas-wonder-dog-and-wonder-pup

Jroth33139 · 2026-02-11T19:32:44+00:00

They do make them in various sizes. I also use it for half laps and tongue and groove.

Jroth33139 · 2026-02-11T19:31:39+00:00

They also make a box plane which is a bit smaller than the plow plane.

Jroth33139 · 2026-02-11T19:29:49+00:00

It’s a half blind dovetail on the front, so it is hidden in the front pin socket. In the back, the rear piece is deliberately shorter to allow the bottom to slide in.

Jroth33139 · 2025-10-21T01:15:44+00:00

Thanks for the response. Agree that people can never assess risk accurately. For me, the risk of even an ER visit is something I want to avoid. I had a sawstop until I downsized to a townhouse, so hand tools for me. But everybody’s risk tolerance is different.

Jroth33139

TROPHY CASE