estonian workbenchs

[Paul Pless]

interesting, two benches built sometime around 1866, the photographs are from somewhere around 1910

the bench is carved from a tree including using the trees branches as work holding devices



https://blog.lostartpress.com/2023/0...rking-benches/

[lupussonic]

My back hurts.

[AlanMc]

my mustache just shriveled up and fell off from shame

[George Jung]

Haha! thinking the same.

First thing I've agreed with you!

[Jimmy W]

Some Estonians sure have attractive daughters.

Kristin and Keiti 03 crop.jpg

[WszystekPoTrochu]

My back hurts.

You can lean into work more. You don't hover over the work. It's largely supported by an arm, or two when planing. Which also adds force.
I personally prefer doing lots of heavier work on an simple old kitchen stool.

Also, huge space (and material) savings.

[lupussonic]

I think I'll stick with mine for now.

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?281964-Hobelbank&highlight=hobelbank

[David G]

That sort of 'sit on' arrangement, with 'hold downs' is known as a Shaving Horse. Usually used for drawknives, adzes, planes, spokeshaves, and suchlike. He likely also has a taller workbench, unless he only does tasks that require the above sort of tools. NOT the general setup for hand-cut dovetails, for instance.

[Paul Pless]

That sort of 'sit on' arrangement, with 'hold downs' is known as a Shaving Horse. Usually used for drawknives, adzes, planes, spokeshaves, and suchlike. He likely also has a taller workbench, unless he only does tasks that require the above sort of tools. NOT the general setup for hand-cut dovetails, for instance.

you should do a little research, maybe read the linked article

[Jack Loudon]

The book below has similar subject matter and is well worth tracking down.

IMG_3609.jpg

[Gerarddm]

Proper mustache on that gent.

[Jim Bow]

Some Estonians sure have attractive daughters.

One of them is Prime Minister Kaja Kalas
A4B68C75-F854-4FCB-9F73-0895D6689B82.jpg

[David G]

you should do a little research, maybe read the linked article

I read the article. Can't see that it says anything contrary to my post. Just that the author didn't know the English name for 'shaving horse'. But if anyone wants to know more, that search term will be most likely to get them there.

[bamamick]

When's the last time any of us did something as simple as cutting down a decent sized tree with an axe? I do it from time to time even though I have two chainsaws, and it's damn hard work. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who paved the way for us to get to the point we are at now, and if that bench is two feet off the ground or four, it's probably exactly the correct height for what he wants to do with it.

Mickey Lake

[skuthorp]

A few ye rs ago we had a very large tree die and when it was felled I kept an 8ft section, made up some carriers out of heavy iron and then flattened the top, more or less, with a chainsaw.
Finished with planes, drawknife and sander it makes immovable work bench, and a handy seat as well.
Does not get lot of use now though.

[TomF]

Depending on what one does, and with what tools, benches vary. I haven't used one like the guy in the picture has, but I haven't used a Scandinavian bench either, or a Nicholson. I haven't used a welder's table either. Or a cobblers bench.

But for damned sure I'd get any of those to test drive, if I got to usually doing the work they evolved for.

[David G]

A'rob is right... it's similar to a shaving horse, not not precisely the same.

I hereby dub it --- the rare & wonderful Estonian Variant Shaving Horse <G>

[Osborne Russell]

my mustache just shriveled up and fell off from shame

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are.

[JayInOz]

When's the last time any of us did something as simple as cutting down a decent sized tree with an axe? I do it from time to time even though I have two chainsaws, and it's damn hard work. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who paved the way for us to get to the point we are at now, and if that bench is two feet off the ground or four, it's probably exactly the correct height for what he wants to do with it.

Mickey Lake

When my father was a kid he got a job helping an elderly neighbour who was building a set of cattle yards. Every piece of timber in the yards squared with a broad axe- the old mans skill with the tool widely known. First morning the old feller was grumbling about the wind as they prepared to start work. He laid a match on a log and attempted to split it with the axe and was off target by a fraction. No good he said- too windy- can't do it today. Dad laughed, thinking the old feller was joking. He realised he was mistaken when the old bloke gave him a filthy look, called him a cheeky young bastard and warned him to not laugh at him again. JayInOz

[Nicholas Carey]

Worth reading Woodworking in Estonia, by Ants Viires, to understand the world of that bench.

https://lostartpress.com/products/wo...ing-in-estonia

Also, not a sawbench: it is a workbench. Saw benches are low (knee-high) benches for hand-sawing lumber. This is a full on workbench design to clamp and hold workpieces while working on them. A shaving horse is a specialized form of low bench.

To understand low workbenches and how they work,one might want to read Chris Schwartz's book on ancient workbenches, Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding (https://lostartpress.com/products/ingenious-mechanicks).

[bamamick]

When my father was a kid he got a job helping an elderly neighbour who was building a set of cattle yards. Every piece of timber in the yards squared with a broad axe- the old mans skill with the tool widely known. First morning the old feller was grumbling about the wind as they prepared to start work. He laid a match on a log and attempted to split it with the axe and was off target by a fraction. No good he said- too windy- can't do it today. Dad laughed, thinking the old feller was joking. He realised he was mistaken when the old bloke gave him a filthy look, called him a cheeky young bastard and warned him to not laugh at him again. JayInOz

That is a wonderful story. I bet your dad learned a lot from that bloke, assuming he really wanted to. One of my first jobs was as a helper in a boiler shop, and I hate to say it but I didn't learn very much at all because all I could think about was what I was going to do the minute 3pm hit the clock (we worked a 6am to 3pm shift). I didn't have grandfathers or a dad that was very interested in teaching me things as a kid. I wish that I had.

Mickey Lake