Chris Schwarz of Popular Woodworking was going to be making a DVD about making a sawbench. He decided to do it in a class format and opened the Popular Woodworking shop up to 10 people to attend. I managed to be one of the lucky few. I must say I really learned a lot. Before the class I couldn't tell the difference between a rip and a crosscut saw.
Thankfully Chris is a generous teacher, we got to use any hand saws and planes we needed in the shop.
During the class, Chris had a contest, several actually, but the first was to cut a 5/8 tenon 2 inches long. WHAT?!?! I've never cut a tenon in my life! I was feeling extremely anxious. I don't know how many beginners were in the class but the guy standing next to me and the guy behind me both had prior woodworking experience in cabinet shops. Before I even had mine started, the guy next to me had his laid out and was starting to cut.
Chris asked us all to write our birthdays on the blocks and Megan went into the other room to judge them. When he came out and asked whose birthday was Dec 2, my jaw dropped open and I was completely speechless. .625 is the decimal equivalent for 5/8 and I was the only one to hit it right on the money in at least one spot. That won me a poster of Roubo plate 11. At it's thickest, my tenon was .648 so I wasn't the most consistent. Someone else got that prize.
On the first day, we got the legs cut and attached to the top. Day two was spent cutting the half lap joints on the stretchers and trimming the sawbench to the proper height.
On the first day, we got the legs cut and attached to the top. Day two was spent cutting the half lap joints on the stretchers and trimming the sawbench to the proper height.
