Hi,
When I learned to hand carve wooden bowls two year ago, I built a workbench with the top made out of 4 sandwiched layers of 3/4" birch plywood. I would like to replace it with a hardwood top, but I want to dimension the rough lumber with hand tools. My question is what tools I need to make the bench top from rough lumber without power tools.
I know that I can probably buy a top for less money than it will cost for the tools, but I also want to use this as an opportunity to learn how to dimension rough lumber for future projects.
I'm not starting completely from scratch, as I do have 3 Lie-Nielsen planes - low angle block, #4, and scrub. Here's what I think I need (other than a glue and clamps), but would appreciate any suggestions:
1. A marking gauge
2. A straight edge that is longer than the bench will be
3. A large try square
4. A rip saw (I have used an inexpensive Ryoba, but somehow think that western saws might work better trying to rip and crosscut 8/4 or thicker lumber.
5. A crosscut saw.
6. A Jointer to flatten the boards. I was debating between wood (ECE Primus) and metal (LV Bevel Up)
7. Something to square and flatten the edges. I was thinking of building a shooting board, but wonder whether the LV Jointer Fence would make that unnecessary. If I do build a shooting board, I was thinking of getting the LV Low Angle Jack. I have seen the LN Miter Plane, but it is very expensive and I think the Low Angle Jack would be much more useful in other things.
Thanks for your help,
Steve