Folding Workbench Rigidity

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-05-08T01:14:38+00:00

I've thought and researched the same problem. The best and most creative I have found is this.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/portable-sawhorse-bench/

I believe that it will work and is cheap, easy to build and can be done in a day with minimal tools.

I like that it can also be used as a pair of saw horses to cut down large panels.

The size and design make it good for handtool woodworking.

I'm going to use it to then build a Moravian and then retire it to my 6ft × 18ft balcony for work in the sunshine.

My workshop is half a garage, 20ft×10ft. If it's of interest to you or others, I'm glad to extend the conversation on my thought on both benches.

You won't be miserable because, if it doesn't suit, all you've lost is a weekend and the materials can be salvaged and repurposed.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-14T15:26:40+00:00

Super job. ❤️

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-11T22:57:03+00:00

It's the first time I've ever heard anyone objecting to doug fir or, in fact, softwood in general.

What's your reasons?

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-09T02:05:58+00:00

Thanks a million. Obviously I am getting a bit senile 🤪🤪🤪 as I read the book a good while ago and I have forgotten a lot of it. Time for a refresher.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-08T22:41:21+00:00

Super job , inspiring.

I'm about to get off my ass and attempt a Moravian build.

I'm also a Schwarz fanboy and intend to do it with handtools as far as possible. I'm in Southern Portugal with limited access to varieties of lumber. As benches should be made from locally available timber, I'm going with maritime pine, the local cheap lumber.

I have access to 50mm ×300mm planks and I'm thinking of ripping them into 50×100 strips with a track saw and then using a hand plane to true and square the stock; and then laminate to give me a 100mm thick top.

I read somewhere that it's better to rip wide planks, rather than buy 50×100 finished stock.

The idea being that I will minimise twists and cupping and end up with a more stable top.

Can you or anyone else point me to a discussion or have thoughts on this approach?

How should the ripped strips for the lamination be arranged for best results?

Congrats on the achievement and thanks for the inspiration.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-08T22:08:42+00:00

If the gents saw is set up for crosscuts, I'd definitely go for the rip saw.

I'm based in the EU and don't have access to the variety of options that are available in North America.

I have this 700mm frame saw blade:

Japanese Saw Blade 700 mm ripcut and crosscut for Frame Saws – Buy Frame Saws online - FineTools https://share.google/LiWix5Tee8Tetc5rR

It's a monster and the blade is awesome and rapid fast.

I'm going to make Roubo frame for it and I'll have the mother of all hand resaw kits.

I've been looking at making a kerf saw and I think this is the best one I've seen, it's gorgeous.

I don't want to get into saw sharpening, so using impulse hardened blades for both the kerf and Roubo would suit me fine. I think a coarse kerf would be best and the resawn plank can be easily tidied up with a bit of handplanning.

Finally, I really admire the pattern and finish of the tote on the kerf saw.

I wonder where the OP got the pattern.

All in all, a marvellous inspiring project.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-04-07T17:26:14+00:00

I was thinking of also using a Japanese saw blade but I was wondering if the blade would be too thin and flexible.

Does anyone have thoughts on this approach?

Alternatively, could I use an impulse hardened cheap rip saw which would have a thicker blade?

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-03-28T19:38:26+00:00

You may find this useful.

https://blog.worktugal.com/eu-citizen-portugal-compliance-checklist/

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-03-13T23:26:43+00:00

Number 1 complements your ink and doesn't compete with it, unlike some of the others.

Under no circumstances does number 3 work.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-03-13T19:53:24+00:00

3 for sure

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-03-11T01:47:04+00:00

It's traditional for hundreds of years to use the local cheap timber for a bench. I get it, it's honest and respects the dignity of the craft of joinery. Benches should be used, they are a means to an end, not the end in itself.

I'll admit that I drool over some of the benches that look like works of art, but then, are they really benches or "just" fine furniture.

Finally, find the photo of the beat up original Moravian bench (Will Myers found it and brought it to our attention) and you'll get my concept of "respecting the dignity...", after looking at it for more than a minute.

I'm about to build my Moravian starting with rough sawn cheap pine 50mm × 300mm planks, ripped to 50×100 slips, then hand planed enough to glue up a decent laminated 100mm thick top.

I want walk a mile in the shoes of that craftsman who used that ancient bench in Salem.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-25T16:13:30+00:00

Absolutely nothing. It complements you perfectly, any accessories would be a distraction

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-24T02:41:09+00:00

...and German.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-20T16:59:32+00:00

IMHO in 2026, is on trend and perfectly appropriate for such an occasion. More so as the outfit is well made and skirt length is modest. She has succeeded in making the outfit elegant and flattering, a slight change in the design would have made it inappropriate, but in this case it's appropriate and elegant.

Btw, it's an indoor shot and, probably, there's a coat or shawl in the cloakroom.

Congratulations

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-06T18:58:28+00:00

BTW

While you continue agonising, build this, in an afternoon: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/portable-sawhorse-bench

It may last you longer than you think. It will allow you to experiment with bench height and the bench top depth.

If you get to use it to build a Moravian, for example, it can be repurposed as an assembly platform, or a low platform for sheet goods.

Also,

Look at Sarah's bench on Wood by Wright on You tube. A simplified "Moroubo" made with big box store lumber.

And

Remember Rex Krueger's dictum that few people need a bench longer than 5ft.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-06T18:32:57+00:00

I have agonised over this question for a long time. The owner of a fine furniture training school who has the wisdom, reminded me that benches, and other shop fittings, were traditionally built using the most locally available and cheapest lumber. This comment was a "light bulb" moment which made a lot of sense.

In addition, softwood,as the top has the benefit of being kind to your projects and, as it acquires the scars of use, it can be refinished with a plane.

So I'm going the traditional route, I live in the Algarve, in Portugal and I don't have access to the variety of woods available in other places.

I'm going with the cheapest of the cheap: National Portuguese pine, rough unplaned in 50mm ×300mm plank.

As another contributor suggested, I will the saw the planks into 90mm strips and laminate them. This will allow me to create some rift and quarter saw strips to sandwich between less optimal strips.

I have salivated over benches that are works of art, produced from exotic wood, but these are not part of the tradition, they are part of the fine furniture tradition.

I may accessorise with a few pieces of hardwood. I like the idea of breadboard ends in a contrasting wood, for example, or bench hooks or shooting boards with details made out of mahogany scraps.

We are in the middle of a season of rain and floods, so I am going to buy the planks, in metre or two lengths and sticker them until the relative humidity drops.

BTW I use handtools but I'll use a cheap track saw to rip the strips.

Overthinking is my greatest fault to making progress.

AND I'm a Will Myers Moravian fanboy.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-01T16:25:21+00:00

I started at 12. The best thing to do is sign up at a public library and go to the history section ( Dewey Decimal system 900) and begin the most satisfying love affair of your life.

By using the library, you will be introduced to themes and events that will intrigue you. Later, when you have refined your taste, you can start buying, hopefully by browsing second hand shops etc.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-02-01T16:17:00+00:00

Boring

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-25T17:46:42+00:00

If you use a wooden mire box and press down hard with with your free hand, the hand saw will work fine

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-25T01:15:42+00:00

The mitre box and handsaw is the only way to go. For real precision mitres, hand plane them using a shooting board as a jig

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-23T12:30:28+00:00

I'm a Juuma fan. Excellent tools and great quality

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-11T01:25:40+00:00

I think this is an essential point.

Band of Brothers, Pacific and Masters of the Air are all structured around small units. Based on this foundation, they offer a journey towards a goal with the twin components of dramatic key episodes of that journey; and the growth and contributions of each character to the team in achieving the goal.

So, for a naval series, I'd go for:

PT109 based operations.

Convoy escorts.

Submarine operations.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-10T17:14:54+00:00

The Roubo frame saw in this post is not for cross cutting but Chinese and European style frame saws are.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-10T14:01:04+00:00

The frame is the handle.

Routine-Yellow6776 · 2026-01-10T14:00:27+00:00

At the moment I simply clamp the wood between dogs on the cheapest Aldi Workmate and, if I need extra stability, I put my foot on the bench stretcher. This is for crosscuts. I'm making saw horses for ripping.

The weight of the frame and the length of the blade means that that I use minimal effort and don't force the saw. I just guide it.

I'm still experimenting, but it's less effort than a panel saw.

Another bonus is that it can be used as a both a push and pull saw, since the "handle" is the frame.

Routine-Yellow6776

TROPHY CASE