“You can also...”. Those three words are one reason I appreciate RK videos. “But we don’t have one of those.” is another. Rex has a mind that goes in many directions. “Pretty [darn] great!” is yet another statement that any woodworker wants to say.

"My job here is to make the dumb mistakes so you don't have to." Thank you sir, you do great work and explain and do stuff to make it look real

Rex Krueger: I'm an old hand at woodworking. Not quite a master. Although some claim I am. But I do enjoy your tuderals. You teach me how to teach and bring me back to my beginnings.

I've started doing the same thing, but got the fresh idea of growing the trees in my yard over the last 25 years or so... and now I'm reaping these trees... one or two of the trees have been drying for the last year or so... as i cut them down last spring. I had them cut up into sections with a chain saw... i was going to use a band saw to do the rips, but then decided to rip them with a hand saw... it's more of a journey than a destination... but good exercise and a bit of fun. so far I've only gotten a few 2x4's out of this... but have lost about 20 lbs. =D

One of the best things about your videos is the innovative approach to problem solving, like turning a plane iron into a scraper! As a new woodworker, it's nice to see someone finding solutions that alleviate the "I don't have every single tool ever made" feeling you get walking into an entire universe of craftsmanship. Thanks for the video, Rex.

I am impressed that you made a really nice stool out of a Douglas Fir 2x4. Well done. Douglas Fir is a pleasure to work with and has a great strength-to-weight ratio. It is also quite durable and attractive. I think I am going to make one of these, too. In my experience, I have learned to avoid 2x4s of ANY kind when I can, other than for carpentry. Another good way to go is to use Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine in larger dimensions. I tend to buy these in 12' or 16'' lengths . Sixteen foot 2 x 12s are the best because they come from the best trees, lumber wise, and big box stores will cut them to length as you ask, if necessary for transport. The key here is not the length but rather the width. Whatever length boards you have, rip them into approximate thirds along the grain -- whatever fraction yields the best wood after you examine the end grain of each board. If the boards are too long for easy ripping, just cut them oversize for the length of your project parts and then rip them. Then you can use the outer thirds as leg stock and the inner third as seat stock or secondary wood. The outer thirds will yield nearly quarter-sawn stock while the inner thirds will look like your average 2x4. It costs a bit more up front for the extra width, for sure, but typically not more per board foot. However, but the quality of the wood you get will be much, much better. It will be both more attractive and and more stable. Typically, 2x4 dimensional lumber is cut from smaller, less desirable trees, so it contains a very high percentage of heart wood -- which is why (1) most 2x4s are pretty crappy, and (2) these can be less desirable for most furniture projects. Using 2x12s or 2x16s allows one to cut away the heartwood and maximize the rift-sawn / quarter-sawn yield from the outer edges of each board. Buying dimensional lumber in 12' or 16' lengths also makes it easier to cut around serious knots or other defects, because you have more board to work with from the start. All in all, this approach yields surprisingly little waste. Douglas Fir is a great wood for small boxes and chests, as well, so this also results in less waste, over all. (The knotty scraps make great-smelling firewood because they are full of resin.) For bigger projects, Southern Yellow pine is excellent -- it is very strong and hardens with age. (The knotty scraps also burn beautifully.) I prefer to rip wider dimensional lumber with a band saw. If I can't do that, I use a circular saw. The table saw is never my first option for this purpose, because these boards are usually a bit too warped to cut safely on a table saw, unless you are ripping a piece that is quite short-- 36" or less. Also, I recommend that you let the boards acclimatize to your shop for a while both before and after you rip them -- if this is an option. Once the boards have settled in to your shop climate, then you can dimension them according to the needs of your project. This is not always possible for the DIYer, but it is always a good idea. Consider these comments for what they are worth -- which is about half what you paid for them. Most importantly, I really like your videos, your recommendations, and your techniques. Thanks.

I absolutely love how down to earth you are with your woodworking. You really inspire me in my own work. Thanks Rex

Watched this video 4 times as I’m in the midst of making this, though I’m not using all hand tools, I used table saw to break down the 2x4 and used a hole saw to make the tenons. I really enjoyed using the plane to shape the legs. Having a lot of fun. I love your videos!

I really liked that you showed how to do this using mostly hand tools. Not everyone has a bunch of fancy power tools lying around and this is helpful to see how something can be made using simple/less expensive tools that non-workers might have at home already.

the author does like to from scratch, shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. kzfaq.infoUgkxD-QRFQz730FJEh4f9BYSf-nkIMIC9hL_ as another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us dont have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we wont be able to practice the full stack project, is still great.

I just finished my stool based on this design. I chose to use a 2x8 douglass fir board which had the benefit of having fewer knots and not requiring a lamination to make the seat. The project turned out well.

If at first your joints don't fit. Fill e'm up with glue and s**t.

The most common thing I've seen- and what I was taught about drilling with a bit and brace: once you see the snail start to poke through the other side, you back your bit out and go through the other side

With the price of lumber in 2021 it should be called "build this stool out of a single 2x4 for under $75"

The ideal confluence of form, function and aesthetics while keeping it simple. Lovely stool.

I built it, even built a matching desk for my daughter to go with it, all out of the scraps from my workbench build. Thanks for the ideas, and sharing the tips and tricks that I would have fought with to figure out the little details.

Excellent video. I appreciate people that can overcome problems without having to spend a months salary on specialized, job specific tools. Thank you.

Another bloody good video mate. Entertaining and your way of explaining everything makes the whole thing fun. Seeing your 'mistakes' admitted on film makes me feel a whole lot better about mine. Looking forward to the next one Rex

As a hint on soft wood. A lot of time Hemlock is mixed in with Douglas Fir. The difference is Hemlock is tougher (I've bent a lot of nails). It also has as redder tint to it. Check it out.

"Relax." You know, most of the time when people say that, they're being rude. You made me feel relaxed!

It looks great! I can see it is not as easy as it looks to make but you give a lot of great advice on how to make the more complicated parts. Thanks for sharing this.

Just started work on this chair last night. I also have my eye on that english joiners bench. This channel is great!

This was an awesome build! I’ve never made a chair of any kind but I’m definitely going to put these on my short list of simple furniture to build.

Many thanks Rex, stay safe.

Great project Rex, thanks for sharing it.

Lovin this project Rex. Definitely will add to my to do list 😎. I made a farmhouse kitchen table out of entirely 100 yr old floorboards, I think were Douglas fir. This stool will look good alongside thanks.

Nice job! Your whole series is inspiring and this one is just more of the same. Keep it up!

The small drill bit as a guide for the brace and bit is genius! I'll be using this!

I an old guy who is just starting out in woodworking. I love the videos and the lessons learned from them.Although my ultimate goal is to build a guitar these projects will get me more comfortable working with wood And I may get some new furniture as a plus lol

Good to see a wood worker that use affordable tools thx Rex

Rex, you’re the man!! Outstanding build. I really enjoyed making this Modern Stool. I was impressed how stable it is (not surprising of the tripod design), but how sturdy it is. I was concerned with the angles drilled for the tenons, but was able to cut the stretchers to give me the rake and splay I was looking for. I used all hand tools except for drilling the mortises', it was just fun to make. The double tapered (well octagon tapered) legs with octagon faces give it a really modern wood-look. Finished it off with poly. It’s so refreshing to see you add new tips/tricks and sharing your years of know-how without the costly expensive tools. You are my hero. 3/3/2024

I love this channel! I found this a few weeks ago and have been binge-watching to catch up. I just started to do wood working in my small apartment. I plan to make small boxes mostly but also some furniture as it comes up. I have been buying and refurbishing old planes and saws from the local antique stores for a bargain. This channel is right up this alley. I have, in my attic, a set of mahogany coffee table legs and an unrelated bamboo coffee table top that I have been eye'ing for twenty plus years. They just need a little work and some elbow grease and I will have fantastic coffee table (that I will probably sell due to the size of my apartment LOL). To this end, when I got the bug to do woodworking, I remembered that I also had a 14 x 4 x 53 inch glue-lam beam in my attic from thirty plus years ago. I originally got this wood beam to make an assembly to produce single laser beam reflection holograms. It is a simple way to make holograms for amateurs but it is required to have a sturdy, solid wood beam platform. Anyway, I never did do the hologram thing but I kept the beam of wood. Instead, I plan to add some width to this wood beam and add some legs. In other words I was going to use this wood beam to "bootstrap" myself to having a comfortable workbench which includes the same beam. It didn't dawn on me originally to use this beam *as a bench* until I found your KZfaq channel with videos on the on the $30 workbench. This has changed my progress vastly for the win. I simply put two milk crates down under the wood beam and voila it is my beam-bench. I have a cheap vise attached at one long end and dog holes down the middle as needed. This allows me to plane surfaces flat and I can also bar clamp the piece vertically along the newly planed-square edge of the wood beam to work on the edges of longer pieces. I am now in the process of taking ordinary Douglas Fir lumber and planing it, ripping it and planing some more to glue-up the extensions to my workbench and eventually the legs and bottom shelf of my new bench. I have found this channel to be invaluable to my current progress. I look forward to becoming a patron very soon because I feel like I need to give back at least some for this great wealth of knowledge that I have gleaned from this channel. Also, I love the random humor. :-) We all need more humor in our lives. Thank you Rex. Keep the great content coming.

11:08 is holy advice - thank you for sharing rex!

Good projects for the cut off bin as well, or the trash pile at local home building sites (I ask first). I need a stool, and have plenty of extra time lately.

I always find your videos inspiring! One note: at the Home Depots I usually go to (in Maryland), I don't generally see doug fir 2x4s, just the cheaper whitewood you mention. Generally the 2x4s are stamped S-P-F for "spruce-pin-fir" and are imported from Canada; you can easily tell the difference between these and Douglass Fir by the color and the smell, and sometimes the weight/denisity. At the same stores, 2x6 are usually available in both doug fir and whitewood, and 2x8 and wider are all doug fir. So that is to say, at some big box stores you might have to get 2x6s to get actual doug fir. I have found that the nearest Lowes to me has both kinds available in 2x4, but I have to drive past 2 Home Depots to get to Lowes, so I don't go there much.

Yet another beautiful piece of craftsmanship thanks rex .as they say don't work hard work smart. Best wishes from Ireland to you and yours .

Rex, just want to say thank you, your videos are literally all I'm watching currently whilst staying in. Would love to see your review/thoughts on using a Shinto rasp. Paul Sellers did a video on it, then bought one myself. It was as good as he said. In the meantime, keep up the sterling work my friend, you are a legend!!

Rex, I really like your videos a lot!!! You could proudly subtitle this channel as "Woodworking for Cheap Bastards" as you share your great insight into buying tools from the internet and at garage sales at modest prices. Your advice for starting a home shop for $100 is very welcome compared to other channels that have space filled with high-priced power tools. I like the lane you've chosen and I appreciate your skill, teaching style and choice of historic and creative projects. I think you should go hybrid; some restorations, some power tools and lots of great tips laced with humor!

That trick with the plane blade as a scraper was excellent. I won't forget it.

Absolutely love your channel, thanks for making great work and inspiring others to just start making with what they've got! Feels like America getting back to its roots and making great work with less, rather than using $10,000 worth of tools to make a $100 piece.

I love Douglas Fir! I'm mulling over different ideas I have for a simple bed frame, maybe something akin to a Craftsman or Shaker style. Excellent work!

I've just checked chair making tools and found out about "rounders" or *rotary planes". They look so easy to make, and they would make for a great addition for your toolset considering you use tenons so much. Just make several of these for common sizes

Check out the saw rasp for this kind of work as well. That tool has been indispensable in my shop.

I like your style. Thanks for making these projects assessable to novice craftsmen such as myself.

Beautiful job, Rex! Really nice! 😃 Stay safe there! 🖖😊

When I first started woodworking about 7yrs ago, I thought 2x4 material was only for construction and wouldn't make a good wood for many of the projects I did. One day on the lathe, I got bored and wanted to play around with some new tools. I was shocked at how clean and full of luster I was able to get out of a scrap 2x4! It's almost a secret that these evergreen types can just do anything you want no matter the skill level AND be cheap for any wallet.

Modest, amazing craftsman. Good traits for any human.

Thanks for sharing that, well done!

Great channel!! love it!!! keep up the amazing work!

Another tip for the brace and bit drill until you can just begin to feel the spiral tip just protrude from the underside. Then flip it and use that tiny hole to align the bit and start drilling. Saves using multiple tools.

Great project!

Awesome guitar stool!

Awesome stool , Rex !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is so cool. Liked and subscribed straight away.

Good job friend

Cool project, I may want to try it one day... but it looks a bit fiddly with all those tapers and angles. However, I really enjoyed you walking us through the process, a lot of good ideas for woodworking in general and useful for other projects. Thanks for posting!

I love doug for its smell and the colour

Rex you're always right on and very professional. I love you and I hate you because you've given me yet another way to waste endless time, learning neat tricks while avoiding the work I really need to be doing. And the old-school-ness of these videos is delicious. Thanks. What?..Coming, dear... Now I'm going to actually go finish scraping and priming those damned steps.

Ugh, I thought I was getting to see the new video instead I'm teased with "Premieres in 6 hours" :P not that I have the tools to do the build or anything, these are just fun to watch :)

Really nice project. I think I will make six for my breakfast bar. Then I can make a breakfast bar to go with them!

nice to see someone working with hand tools

This is great! And there are so many ways to make variations. I was waiting for you to pull out a bodger's scorp lol

Impressive man.

Quick tip for you when gluing. Wood glue is slippery and trying to get it all leveled out when clamping is a grind so sprinkle some salt on the glued faced and they'll bind with no slipping.

Man I wish I'd found this channel before I made the benchwork for my model railroad. Its pretty bad, but it's not gonna fall apart, and it's light enough for me to carry by myself (4x5 foot table (and I'm not a big dude)). Maybe I'll get a chance to build another one someday

he can move stuff with his mind and move his fingers through the dimensional space force, and he has a nice smile and a cool stool.

Thanks for these tutorials, Rex. I have everything I need to make this stool, although no bit brace. I hope the purists won't disapprove too much, but I'm going to resort to power tools in its place. I have mad respect for the bit brace, though. Don't get me wrong. I just don't own one atm. I'm going to rectify that oversight eventually. Until then, I love this stool, and I'm making it with what I've got. lol

Rex. This. Is. Awesome. You always have a unique out of the box approach... but making an entire almost-handbuilt stool from one 2x4 ... (I'm guessing 16ft) is awesome. Your trick to truing the bottom of the feet is awesome.

plane iron to "curved scrapper" and back to plane iron is the most innovative thing I've seen all year

My hero

Your so awesome and I love your work! You are funny, too.😁

Lovely job very nice l like it

"We all do it sometimes". Rex you absolutely kill me. :)

Hi Rex The first few cases of covid 19 have been discovered in my country and i think i will self isolate Thank you for still providing quality entertainment! Stay safe everyone!

You can use a 1"box end wrench too.

awesome love it

Noticed all the flags in the background after you asked viewers to let you know where they live. That’s really great.

I didn't know sporks were so useful in chair making!

Well, I do live in Doug Fir country. Watched a building being torn down a couple of months ago. The studs were straight grain no knots fir, and clear. Growth rings were maybe 1/16 inch apart. They tossed it all in the dump.... Criminal!

As soon as the lockdown ends I'll buy the wood and make one!

I always burnt the middle down with hot coals then just chiseled away at the burnt spots. Gave a really interesting appearance to the seat

I LOVE your voice and your videos.

by gee i gotta do this one as well as the table them tenans and wedges well speak for themselves really chur bro

The best quality construction lumber is usually 2x12s. The minimum investment is a bit more ($15/board in my area), but you get a lot of wood for that money.

10:50 that chair looks happy to see you

Think im gonna make one out of a 2x6 for $2 more to get a bigger seat.

You convinced me to go buy wood from home depot because of a previous build. I've never done that before and I didn't know what to do. I asked for help from a few employees but they also didn't know what to do, they tried and did their best. Somehow I ended up with a free piece of wood from it all. I hate to inform you I will not be attempting this build because I fear I am on their shoplifting watchlist

The year is 2021 (until next week, when it's 2022). Price of a Doug fir 8 foot 2x4 is $6.75.

That would make a amazing guitar playing stool!!

creating a "go-no go" gauge was a great idea.

Rex's voiceover reminds me of the early episodes of The History of Rome

Enjoyed the making of the stool and found the outcome acceptable I won’t be making it as it’s not for me. Kindest Bob England

you might try pinch dogs. they're a traditional tool that cost pennies next to the expense of clamps.

looks like a perfect design for a stool in which to play guitar :D

I'm thinking about a specific detail: the DIRECTION of the cut to split the end of the stretchers for the wedges. Well, it seems to me that the line formed by that cut in the end of the stretcher must me PERPENDICULAR to the axis along the legs, so that when the wedges is inserted with pressure, the force in the (vertical) leg structure is in the up-down direction, that is, not in the left-right direction of the legs (which would weaken the leg, maybe cracking it). Thanks for the video!

Looking for a Scrops on eBay right now.

For the leg holes.... could you have used a spur bit for cleaner holes? And was pre-drilling the hole prior to tapering an option?

Love the video! Your channel is doing great man I’m happy for you! Been here for a while now!! Been meaning to ask you, what is the story with that fire axe head behind your drill press??

Hi Just wanted to see how to build the workshop bench, and got hooked up your channel! Love it ! Interesting vice you have there , cast iron on the metal pole in the middle, why ? What's the purpose of this? How is done ? And what is it for?

Looks like a blacksmith vise behind you! :)