This series is really refreshing among all those who go "let's head over to my Festool this" and "I'll grab my Lie-Nielsen that" all the time.

The first half of the kzfaq.infoUgkx3ICSK6nSknaL_45CU2NmFSoXjarGMDiJ book is everything about wood: types, tools, finishes, setting up shop etc. The second half is all about doing projects for inside and outside of the home. The color pictures are helpful. After reading a dozen of these types of books, this is probably the best overall (layout, color photos, plans). Only detraction is that many of the projects use a table saw/router/planer, which are usually expensive and take up space, so the plans are less friendly to newcomers and the budget conscious. But I know I can use a drill, circular saw or a jigsaw to make the projects.

This title of this should now be "Flattening the $4000 workbench"

I don't say that often, but you are really one the few KZfaqrs who are doing really helpful stuff. I mean there are tons of tutorial videos out there that start with HOW TO MAKE... and then the guy takes his lathe and bandsaw to do it, as if that would help a 14-year old in his father's small workshop. What you're doin is amazing, keep it up!

I'm a professional woodworker by trade, just wanted to chime in and say that this is a good video. Sort of an inefficient way to make a bench but with limited materials/equipment it's perfectly fine. Like I'm not sure you could really make it any simpler, and often that's a good thing.

Great content creator. Very simplistic on the editing, lots of useful information. No flash, no show. More people should make videos like him.

You are the Man. Been looking for a woodworker that's not afraid to put some elbow grease into his projects, rather than having a distinct machine for every single movement in woodworking . A big Thank you from us minimalists...

I really enjoy this series. It is more helpful to me than videos made in a decked out shop with $50,000.00 worth of tools. Keep it up! I’ll spread the word as best as I can on Facebook.

Hey Rex just wanted to let you know, i first started watching you when you were on your second or third video, a couple years ago. Then you took a long hiatus and I kinda lost trail of you, thought you had quit KZfaq. Was surprised to find you on my recommendations again now, and still making videos. The point is, I'm really glad you stayed true to your style. We need to bring woodworking back to basic, pragmatic approaches. It's nice to have that festool and a toll wall and bench worthy of a museum, but it kinda of seems most of us forgot you don't need any of that. What you need is to hone those skills, and outside the box thinking. Those old videos of you recovering vintage planes gave me confidence to do my first. For that I thank you. Keep it going you're a rare gem in this flood of pedestrian joes

Thanks, I have a bench me and wife built 15+ years ago, top has warped over years, especial after we moved into our new air conditioned shop. Now I think I understand how I need to fix my old bench. Again Thank you for sharing.

Everyone likes fancy fine wood working, but sometimes those videos just overwhelm you with the tool, knowledge and experience needed. It’s nice to watch beginner friendly videos. You, and Pask’s scrap wood challenge videos help build confidence. Keep it up!

Great vid, I've been on a DIY workbench video kick lately and this is the first video where the "low cost" wasn't bragged about seconds before walking over to a $500+ planner in a $5000+ workshop.

I bought all of Schwarz’s books after your first Roman bench video. Planning my own. Good job sir.

Rex I gotta say I’m loving this little series you’re doing. I’ve been woodworking for about a year now and thought I becoming fairly knowledgeable but I’ve learned so much already just from these few vids. Lots of the KZfaq vids I’ve learned from assume you have a basic knowledge an there’s so many of us that don’t. These videos are so good for actual beginners. Please keep them up! I know they’ll be watched for many years to come from people just starting out. Thank you

Thank you Sir. You keep this OCD amateur wood worker in check by reminding me that I will eventually have a nice shop set up, but in the meantime I can still do good work without all the bells and whistles.

I love this guy, I’m a professional carpenter, trim and custom cabinets, but I love these videos because it’s the kind of stuff I don’t get to do, don’t get me wrong I feel lucky to get to make cabinets so much but that pays the bills, this is the stuff that made me want to be a carpenter, and his no nonsense affordable carpentry is great

I like how you make woodworking fun and don't obsess over the little details except where you need to.

Absolute life saver. I have to unexpectedly replace an entire countertop on a super low budget, and all the instructions for wood countertops involve a thickness planer. Videos on alternatives: "First, take your router..." Ah. Some proper instruction on how to use a hand plane for wide level surfaces gives me something I can work with. Thank you.

I needed you several years ago. I about gave up and you made everything I had trouble with ten times easier. Your awesome man!

Great video. Whilst I don't need a bench like this, it's very interesting to watch and I still learn stuff about technique. With winding sticks draw a black line on the back stick. It makes it easier to see the fine adjustments when you get close to the final passes. Something my grandfather taught me from his time as a chippy (UK slang for carpenter)

I enjoy the simplicity of your videos. You also explain them well. I to am a little obsessive but at some point I stop myself and come to realize that nothing is going to be perfect. Thanks for the video!

This is such a great project, and I admire your work ethic. Glad to hear your subscriber numbers are growing!

I just stumbled upon your videos. Simply amazing stuff! Please continue to speak to the masses of woodworkers who start from humble beginnings.

Thanks for the reminder that it doesn’t need to be perfectly flat, just mostly flat.

Rex you rock..thanks for bringing back to my early days of woodworking. I'm gonna enjoy this winter in my workshop...wood stove and all. I wish you the best in your future videos. You got a great style. I will continue watching, contribute and share. Thanks for not falling prey to commercial sponsorship. Keep up the great work.

Hey Rex...We called "off-cuts" (DROPS)...That's what I was taught as an apprentice and taught my nephew. He caught on purty fast! [sic]. "Hey Rex...Bring me two straight two foot drops will ya'! " Hell yah! Great job bruh.

Thank you. Teach me, teacher. On behalf of the apartment-dwelling-urban-types - you and the low tech, low cost... game changer. Truly. You'll be helping me spend the winter and the spring turning out a portable/pack-able/flexible/minimal work kit. - Cathy (&, accidentally, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

His explanations are very thorough and have a good pace which makes it easy to understand. Thanks, thumbs up, and subscribed!

"This is woodworking for humans, not woodworking for masochists." 😂😂😂 And Im dead!

This method of flattening is related to hand scraping in precision machining. With patience and some practice it is possible to obtain ultra-flat surfaces using simple hand tools. For the impatient ones, if you own a router (who doesn’t?), building a simple flattening jig for the router will get you a flat bench top faster. And you can use it again to make a nice live edge slab table later.

You're doing what I'm planning on doing. I have some recovered wood and plan to use it as much as possible for 3 x 8 bench. I thought of running the straighter edge against the fence and trimming it on my table saw for the first step. Your video will help with the other steps.

Love these vids. Low tech, high knowledge. So much experience passed on. Will probably start with the roman bench, then the mallet. You Sir is a great inspiration. It would be interesting with a project where you log your time on the project on camera so we can see how much time it takes you from start to stop

if your garage floor is reasonably flat, you can rub sidewalk chalk on it in an area big enough to cover the top of the bench, put the top of the bench on the floor over the chalked surface, and move it around a little. Flip the bench back over, and you can see where the high areas are by where the chalk marks are. Flatten out the marked areas and repeat.

Excellent sequential explanation of smoothing/flattening long surfaces. Well done!

Rex, you are probably going to get real big here on youtube. Please stay humble bro, you're doing great work and us common guys really relate and appreciate what you are doing. Keep it up. #stayhumble

Big fan of this series. Can’t wait for the next installment.

Love the videos and you can tell you're really into woodworking. You have taught me a lot over the last year and just wanted to say thanks.

IMHO the spar varnish is probably the best step taken for a bench that will be outside in the weather. Good job.

Yet another great video, glad to hear your KZfaq stats are on te rise I’ll share your channel with my English speaking classmates, they’ll love it too!

Finishing part was my thoughts exactly; really thin out an urethane finish, so it soaks in and hardens the wood. Congrats on your success. You deserve it.

I enjoy the no fuss approach in these videos.

“Where the problems are” for me, everywhere. Sounds like a fun afternoon!

that cheap amazon plane works good with a new blade Rex bench came out really good nice and portable a handy extra around the shop .Another trick you can do is sprinkle Epson salts on your last coat of finish when it dries wash the surface off with water the salts desolve and you have a nice non skid finish.Works good on painted stairs too

You're very informative and give the little tips most people seem to forget to teach, funny here and there and pretty talented. ima binge watch some more lol

First live stream I've watched. Very Exciting. You have me loving planes. I have one that is on the list for overhaul, because of you. Thanks Rex.

Excellent narrative, camera work, pace, information, and personality.

Great series of videos. I made a bench using similar techniques about 20 years ago for a friend he is still using now. It has taken a beating. We just flattened the top again about a year ago using a router sled it didn't take much and after seeing this video he wants to coat it in the thinned spar urethane.

Love this series. I need to get started with my workbench

So refreshing finding these videos that are realistic, it doesn't need to be perfect.

I used thinned down poly on my own bench. I tested it first and found that if I didn't sand the wood after the first coat that the fuzzies that stood up provided a better grip than the raw wood. So that's what I did. I put on two coats (inside bench only) simply to aid with stopping glue spills from sticking badly and left the stiff varnished fuzzies. It's holding up well and still has better grip than the unfinished wood a couple of years after being done. So just don't sand it ! :D Been a lot of fun watching your Woodworking for Human's chain of videos.

Welcome back to the plane channel. Love ya Rex.

Thank you, Rex. Appreciate your unique delivery and solutions to woodworking challenges.

I'll tell you what, the Woodwork for Humans series is definitely giving me ideas and inspiration. I'm working on getting into lutherie, and the price of some of the tools and stuff is daunting. But now I have ideas to make it so much easier.

Great video! I like the way you approach woodworking.

Neat project! One possibly useful suggestion: barge board. Basically a giant (full sheet) sanding block. It's what boatbuilders use to fair hulls. Thanks for the upload!

I've watched a few of your videos, but have never subbed, until now! enjoying your videos more and more, keep it up.

I thoroughly enjoy your presentation and your vocalization! Spot on! Many thanks.

Good common sense approach. Lots for the new woodworker to learn about planing in the process, too. I think the channel is "English Woodworker," or maybe Samurai does one too... makes a large plane from basic materials with a lot of leeway for a beginner who might not be perfect with their chisel skills. I've seen them made in the traditional style and Japanese style and they both worked great. Blades were either from repurposed old lawnmower blades, truck springs, or blank high-carbon steel stock you can get on Amazon for not a lot of money, ground to shape, and quickly hardened with a propane torch and an oil quench.

love your extra off-the-side comments. the extra explanations of why/how to do things.

Thanks for the video! I tried earlier and after I glued up four 8' 2X4's it developed a real bad twist. I'll try again, you have inspired me!!

Your opening remarks run through the whole video. Good eloquence!

great video. love the "woodworking for humans" title. I'm just getting into doing a small amount of woodworking by hand, no power tools. I work in an operating room, and don't want to provide any more surgeries for my coworkers. This past year I spent a lot of time on the web. I watched your videos, rob cosman, stumpy nubs and so on. i had a lot of extra time on my hands as i recovered from surgery for pancreatic cancer and did 12 rounds of chemotherapy. Nothing but fun there. thanks for keeping me occupied. now, i am going to try making boxes , dovetail joints & such by hand. have a great one

This is a great video Rex! Been watching for about a year and really enjoy where your channel is heading! Thanks for the great content brother!

I don't have much woodworking skills and have never really made anything, but watching Rex's videos makes me want to do one of these projects. He makes it seem so simple.. What could go wrong?!!!

Great video. This series is great for beginners on a budget. Explanations are clear and useful! Thanks! : )

I used a solid core door for my first bench, which I made twenty years ago and am only now making a new fancy one. Though I wasn't woodworking all that time. For the frame, and many other projects, I purchased hard maple at a nearby lumber auction. You got a mix of everything, FAS , common one and two. It was a fraction of the normal price, which made it much more economical to learn on. I still have a decent amount of cherry left. It was so cheap I bought a lot.

Just found you. Love your videos, but 1 I'm not at your level yet. 2 don't always need what you are doing. Just love watching you! Also you are VERY good, trying to be a beginner!

This was stupid helpful. I do everything on a budget. I just don't have money for expensive tools, I'm also completely self taught. Not an expert by ANY means. This is something I can use on a nearly daily basis as I do maintenance daily for work. Great video. Subscribed!!

ive been checking out all your videos, they're great! I love your channel, keep em coming!

I like how sincere you are

My 1st time here! Rex, you sir are a 1st Class Instructor and Performer! I'll be baaaack when I get more free time! I subscribed here after just one visit! Thank you, sir!

Here's a down-and-dirty video tip in recompense for all your down-and-dirty woodworking tips: The trick for getting both sticks in focus is a very small lens aperture (which increases depth of field) and lots more light (because the small aperture will make the image dark).

I'm almost confused by the combination of regular-guy and incredibly helpful... (first one of your vids I've watched - will be back for more)

Excellent discussion loaded with valuable knowledge.

Great stuff. This project is on my list now.

I love the comedy in your intros man. Keep up the fun!

This video is awesome...so awesome in fact that I bought lumber last Thursday...and last night I began planing the boards with my arsenal of antique cast iron bench planes that I've lovingly restored over the past several years... including an 18" joiner. Thanks for introducing me to this style of bench! It's so much more accessible than the elaborate Roubo style benches that would probably take me several months to complete.

Good video. What is interesting is how much the leveling of the bench resembles a process in machining known as scraping.

I liked the part about lining up all your grains the right way so when you get ready to plane , thanks dude

I'm recently semi-retired, my son's wish fully... What can you do, anyhow that's another story...I'm just kind of branching out to some hobbyist wood working, and stumbled on the channel. I'm really liking your stuff, the delivery of the message much appreciated, as is the message itself. I don't know what my wife's gonna think though, because our basement is about to become a very different place indeed.... Maybe she'll sign off on my new barn

I like this video, because most of these woodworking workbench videos say you can make a workbench for like $100, then proceed to use thousands and thousands of dollars worth of equipment

Seems like a lesson learned from this would be, test plane each board and draw an arrow for grain direction. Keep up the awesome work and videos Rex!

Thanks so much you are refreshingly simple and straightforward

Amazing! Thanks for helping! I am starting and this workbench is just what I needed!

This guy is like the Paul Harrell of woodworking. Good shit 👌 Subbed.

Can't wait for ur series on woodworking for dogs

Thanks Rex for your instructive videos! They are really great and very informative!

I like this guy and his ideas and works.

I love your videos. Iv just found your channel and im loving all your stuff and the way you present.

Just found this channel. BRILLIANT CONTENT. Keep it up!

Excellent video and process Thanks for sharing

Hey Rex, I used to watch your dad Freddy's channel but he only used these scissor type hands. I'm really glad to see you using other tools...

I just wanted to say I really appreciate the way you simplify your information, I’m just a beginner and don’t want to spend a lot money because I’m not sure if I really want to get in to carpentry, but you make it seem so easy, lol plug it into the wall if you got it 😂 I can do that I’m on my way wish me luck 👍

That sighting example around the 2:00 minute mark was genius!

I like listening to you. Great explanation, and your projects are based on little investment, but with great effect!

Another great video Rex an thanks for the knowledge Sir

If you want a cheap(ish) winding sticks that are really flat and strong and will stay that way, but some aluminum angle! Cut 2 that are 24" long. That will cover 90% of your flattening needs. Yes, flattening also. Just lay the aluminum across the wood and look for cups, bows and warps by using and edge or the spine. And they don't warp!!

wow the most comprehensive video ive seen in a while . no nosense . tbh This Guy has a crazy face , its like beautiful and intense at once . cant look away

Im no professional, yet. But this video's composition and information is very well presented. There's no beating around the bush, and I feel intrigued and interested by what Im learning. and I want to hear what Rex has to say next!

Rex: "This is woodworking for humans not masochists." Masochists: **Visible sadness**