Chris Schwarz has done it again…inspired me to build a new workbench that is better suited to the "blended" style of hand tool and power tool woodworking that I do these days.
My original bench has served me well, and will be passed on to my son, who needs to graduate from the very small bench that we made him when he was about 4 (he is 8 now). My son’s very small bench will be passed on to my daughter (now 4), who also loves to spend time in the shop.
My slave labor woodworking gang is growing. Plus, its more justification for me to build myself an honest-to-goodness woodworking bench.
This project started when I bought Chris Schwarz’s new book:
Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use
Click here to buy it from Lost Art Press (Chris’ own store) and Chris will send a signed copy of the book and a CD containing an electronic copy.
Don’t buy this book if you don’t want to build a new bench!!!! I guarantee that buying this book will force you to build a new bench, whether you want to or not. It is that well researched and written, but that is what I have come to expect from Chris.
Right now, I am looking to build a blend of the French Roubo bench and the Dominy bench at Winterthur. I am still working on my design.
I am likely to go with some sort of twin-screw front vise and a metal tail vice. I’m shooting for at least a 3.5" thick top. I also want a sliding deadman. Likely, I will not include a tool tray in the top, although I have been tempted to add one.
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About mattsanf
Matt Sanfilippo is the Chief Partnership Officer (CPO) for the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Co-Director of its Engineering Research Accelerator. In this role, Matt coordinates and enables strategic and sponsored research opportunities across the college, and stewards the development of proposals for major research opportunities along strategic themes. Additionally, he enables collaboration among the college's research institute/center executive directors, and industrial and government relations personnel in the pursuit of opportunities with industry, federal and state governments. Before becoming CPO for the College, Matt was the Senior Executive Director for Research Initiatives, the Executive Director of CMU's SII (Smart Infrastructure Institute) and ICES (Institute for Complex Engineered Systems), and Associate Director of PITA (Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance) and RAMP (Research for Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania).
Before CMU, Matt was Managing Director of Applied Technology for Michael Baker Corporation, an engineering and energy services firm. Matt managed Baker's technology division including Geographic Information System (GIS), software and web development, multimedia, virtual reality, visualization, Global Positioning System (GPS), mapping and surveying services. Before joining Baker, Matt was an Innovation Director for Redleaf Group, a Venture Capital/Operating Company focused on information security, supply chain and mobility solutions. While at Redleaf, Matt managed technical due diligence for seed-stage investments and coordinated relationships between Redleaf and their partner companies. Prior to Redleaf, Matt was CIO of GZA GeoEnvironmental Technologies, an infrastructure engineering firm, and operations manager for their Internet start-up that focused on web-technologies for health and safety and manufacturing metrics.
Matt is on the board of Larson Design Group (LDG), past Chairman of the Board for the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, current board member of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), current Vice President of the Sewickley Heights Gun Club (SHGC) and former member of the Information Sciences and Technology Advisory Board for the Pennsylvania State University Beaver. Matt is also former Vice President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association of Internet Professionals and former Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Baker Combined Charity of Pennsylvania.
A Learning Adventure in the Workshop 