New Video Launch – The English Workbench – Build Your Own Workbench

by | Dec 3, 2015 | 40 comments

 

Our English Workbench Series is Now Available – Build Your Own Workbench

Get immediate access to our video discussion with a biased mime on ‘Sizing Your Workbench’ to get prepared.

The full build is now complete, and takes you step by step through a practical hand tool bench build.

Pricing: £26.00 (approx. $36.00). A one time fee for the full series, download or access your videos without limits or time restrictions.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Existing Members should LOG IN HERE to make the purchase through their account.

Find more details HERE ON OUR PRODUCT PAGE.

Additional information on the series will be added over the coming months, but if you have specific questions then please ask away.

Build Your Own Workbench

 

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About Richard Maguire

About Richard Maguire

As a professional hand tool woodworker, Richard found hand tools to be the far more efficient solution for a one man workshop. Richard runs 'The English Woodworker' as an online resource and video education for those looking for a fuss free approach to building fine furniture by hand. Learn More About Richard & The English Woodworker.

40 Comments

  1. Chris Buckingham

    This looks very nice! Are these videos only available via computer link ? Or will they be made available in DVD form ? I would much prefer to have an actual disc that I can push into a player, old fashioned of me I know, but I do not trust computers.

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Chris, presently yes, computer only. However we do understand that there are people who would prefer the hardcopy so dvds are something we’ll be looking in to in the New Year.

      Reply
    • Polly Becton

      Of course you trust computers, Chris.

      Think you’ve got money in the bank? No, no! What you’ve got in the bank is a series of magnetic blips on a disk drive. There’s very little physical money actually in the bank. Or maybe you keep your money in gold sovereigns?

      Got a credit card? All your transactions and the resulting debt is a bunch of computer data.

      And so on.

      And what are you going to play that DVD on? A computer or a digital television (actually a purposed computer with a big display).

      Reply
      • Chris Buckingham

        Actually Polly I have one of those multi region DVD players, I have never found out how to “burn” these discs, and DVDs will not play on my new Sony computer, very disappointing, Happy Christmas to all!

        Reply
    • Dmytro

      Vimeo allows you to download videos, just look for the link below the player. You can burn them on a DVD or copy to a flash drive, this is how I actually watch them. No special software is needed, unless your DVD player is more than a decade long.

      Reply
  2. Rick

    Hi,
    Will the vise construction be covered too? Can you comment a bit about it?
    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Rick,
      Yes the face vice construction is covered in step by step detail including building all of the wooden running and discussing adjustments to keep it sweet over time. The bench itself could accommodate any other style of face vice as well so if you had an alternate preference then that could also be fitted.
      Cheers.

      Reply
  3. Michael

    Richard, Looking forward to your bench project – the preview looks like this will be a fun project!

    As an aside – what software do you use to do the sketches that appeared in the Spoon Rack and the start of the bench video.

    cheers
    Michael

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Thanks Michael, a massive amalgamation of incompatible software at the mo due to poor set up. The bench image was done with a stylus sketching over a photo for example. The plans are done on Sketch up mainly.
      Helen’s pretty handy.

      Reply
      • Michael

        Ah – that’s exactly my style of software 🙂

        Reply
  4. Matthew

    Hi Richard, Looks like a lot of fun. are the videos downloadable once paid for? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Matthew, as each video is released you can download it to your computer, or if you choose just stream it infinite times. You buy it you own it – no fooling around.
      The ‘Sizing Discussion’ is available right now and the Series starts on the 14th December with Chapter ONE.

      Reply
  5. Polly Becton

    You would have gotten this up much sooner if you hadn’t been frittering away your time!

    “UK Snooker Championship: Robertson crushes Maguire in York” http://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/35000783

    Looks like fun though. I wish I had room for a 12 foot bench.

    Reply
  6. Jeremy Stoltzfus

    Hi Richard, as soon as I am able I would love to purchase this series. When I finally can get a permanent work shop i would be really into incorporating some of your designs into a heftier workbench than the take apart one I work off of now which is a fine workbench, but I wish I would have used all solid yellow pine. Thanks for sharing this stuff. Peace to you.

    Reply
  7. Rob

    “The ‘Sizing Discussion’ is available right now…”

    What? what? where?

    / Rob
    Holland

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Rob, this is a video rant discussing how to choose the dimensions that will be right for your workbench. i.e the length, width and height.

      After making the purchase members should be redirected to the Member’s Home Page which includes a link to the video, just above the workbench photo.

      I hope this helps.

      Reply
      • Rob

        Thanks, found it.

        Reply
  8. Len Aspell

    Richard

    Excellent discussion piece objectively putting the case for someone to think carefully about the height taking regard of the most likely use of the bench. What a fabulous long workbench – afraid my workshop just wouldn’t be big enough for such a long bench but it would have looked at home in my late uncle’s barn.

    Looking forward to following this new series.

    Len

    Reply
  9. ralph boumenot

    Hi Richard,
    I read the comments and found the one on the link for the sizing mime – cant’ find that link. I’ve paid for the workbench and I’ve signed in and out 3 times but I still can’t find the it? I’m across the big pond in the US not that that should matter for this.
    thanx
    ralph

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Ralph, if you’re logged in then this direct link should work for you: http://www.theenglishwoodworkerjournal.com/?p=512

      There is also a displayed link on the Member’s Home page (click ‘HOME’ at the front of the menu list to access this page any time). The link is above the workbench photo in bold gold text.

      If this stills seems elusive then please let us know,
      Cheers.

      Reply
  10. Martin Belz

    Richard,
    I am looking forward to the bench build.
    I just have one silly little question.
    Where in the H–L did you boards that thick, wide & long & what looks like pretty darn straight. I’m not sure I’ve seen boards that size in the U.S.
    Thanks,
    Marty

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Marty, I got pretty lucky with the straightness but the size isn’t too difficult to find over here, they’re 10″ x 2″ redwood. I’m surprised to hear you say this, as I always heard of wonderful sources in the States for pine.
      Cheers, Richard

      Reply
    • Jeremy Stoltzfus

      Southern yellow pine from any local or big box store comes in two by ten or two by twelve and is a wonderfully strong lumber. For true two inches laminate a 1 by to the bottom of it.

      Reply
    • michael

      Martin,
      Here in Upstate NY Home Depot has 2″x12″ which are actually 1-3/4″ thick. and many lumber yards here also will cut wood to size and kiln dry . Good Luck!

      Reply
    • Paul Bartelt

      Martin,
      I found some poplar in rough cut dimensions at a local mill. the yards and stores are no dice on the east coast but if you find a mill around (which there should be some) they can cut you lumber to size im paying about 18 bucks for 2×10 10ft in poplar but pine was actually a buck or two more and the guy is cutting them a quarter inch over size.

      best of luck in your search, without rough cut the only other option is laminating a buch of dimensioned 2xs and that would suck.

      Reply
  11. Patrick

    How basic of a kit are you going to be using?

    Reply
  12. Scott Runnels

    Are you using a purchased wooden screw for the face vise or are you making your own with a threader?

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Scott, I made it with a threader and then purchased it off myself? Basically I make the screws commercially for my workbenches and for sale on their own. They’re made by hand (no cnc) with thread cutters and we also fill them with oil.
      There are of course other companies around making them.
      Cheers.

      Reply
  13. Jaime

    It doesn’t look as nice as most of the benches I’ve seen you make. I understand there are many reasons for that being the case but in my opinion most could find YouTube videos of workbench builds of a similar quality and complexity fairly easily.
    I would have purchased a series emulating your “proper” benches –
    Just saying that’s all……

    Reply
    • Richard Maguire

      Hi Jaime,
      Thanks for your openness. There are indeed many reasons that this build was chosen, not least because this is my ‘proper’ bench.
      You won’t find anything like this Series on YouTube, ever.
      This is also the reason why we sell each project individually, people are free to pick and choose the builds that they’re most interested in.
      Cheers.

      Reply
      • Len A

        Excellent response Richard. Nothing more needs to be said.

        Len

        Reply
      • Jaime

        When you say you won’t find anything like this… Sellers does an English workbench build on YouTube? – production quality would probably be deminished from what your providing: but then it is free. In fact I’ve made the bench he shows on that series and it’s quality and explanation is more than adequate to make a fine bench.
        Don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to dismiss what your trying to do or start an argument; one might simply say, “if you don’t like it, don’t buy it”. I just felt a little dissapointed that it wasn’t a series on one of the fine benches you are so well known for.

        Reply
        • Mike Ballinger

          That’s an interesting view point. This bench does differ a fair bit to Paul Sellers however. Personally I’m very curious by the techniques and design considerations on this bench. I’m a paying subscriber on Paul’s site so for me to pick and choose additional projects from the English Woodworker suits me very nicely as I wouldn’t have a need for a second subscription.

          Reply
          • Jaime

            I suppose it depends on your view point: in my opinion an English carpenter, building an English style workbench, using only handtools lends itself to a fair amount of similarity.
            The point I’m trying to make is that offering people something that they find difficult get elsewhere will bring the maximum revenue – It’s just the laws of business. One might argue that the building process is different but that’s only half of the product that’s being offered….

  14. Len A

    An interesting side debate going on here.

    Knowing Richard I would venture that maximising revenue is not the aim here and quite outside his normal viewpoint. What he is doing, and very successfully in my view, is imparting his considerable knowledge and skill to those that wish to learn and not necessarily even to build. His style is very becoming and not at all patronising. The bench design itself is well thought through and is different to many others.

    He has cleverly overcome any potential problems with the relatively thin top by using those cross bearers along the length of the bench, which together with the considerable depth of the side aprons negates the drawbacks. This in itself is different from what I have seen elsewhere. I doubt the 12 foot long bench is likely to go walkabouts either of its own accord.

    So in this instance the so called ‘laws of business’ fall by the wayside since that is not what he aims for. He even tried to persuade me NOT to buy one of his prestige benches as he said I would be able to build one myself. Had profit been his motive he need not have done tried to dissuade me from my purchase. Another great tenet of business is provide excellent customer service – this Richard and Helen provide in spades.

    I am with Mike Ballinger on this one.

    Reply
    • Jaime

      Bizarre: I wasn’t aware that providing value over another’s product, customer service, intergrity in the product your selling and good remuneration for ones efforts are all things that are mutually exclusive.

      Reply
      • Len A

        Jaime

        I am not sure anybody was suggesting anything of the sort so perhaps we should leave it there as clearly a misunderstanding has crept into the various exchanges between different contributors.

        Happy woodworking.

        Len

        Reply
  15. Cas Sedgwick

    I read the above discussion with interest and couldn’t resist adding my two cents. I’ve watched Paul Seller’s workbench series and I’ve purchased Richard’s series as well. In my opinion, other then they were both building a “english style” workbench, I found both to be quite different, and both to be rich with content. I didn’t buy Richard’s video to build a bench. I’ve built a Scandinavian bench for myself and I recently built a split top Roubo for a friend. I bought his video to learn. After having watched the series, I remained very pleased with my purchase because without question the workbench that he built is a great example of a “fine” workbench and a great learning experience as well. I hope Richard does do a french style bench series some day, and if so I would buy that series as well. If his next project interests me, and I hope it does, I’ll buy it to learn. However, just like everyone else, if I have no interest in that project, I don’t have to hit the purchase button.

    Reply

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