Apprenticing simplicity – keep it simple

ByPaul Sellers

There is no doubt Sam has developed skills quickly over the 30 or so days he’s been here. This week he’ll finish making his first workbench and he has his top laminated up, planed, cut to length and ready to go on the completed leg frames. P1050532 All the time he meets any and all issues head on and seems undaunted. Because he first learned in our nine-day foundational course I have had nothing to undo in him. So far, too, he’s swept through a series of projects and tomorrow the bench should well stand on four legs. He’s gone for a near 6 footer by 30” wide top. Sam’s 5’10” he has had three heights to test out how he feels over 40 days overall that he’s been woodworking with us. For the first ten days he worked between two benches, one at 38” and the other 46”. Since then he has worked between 38” and 39 1/2”, but mostly he seems to be at 39 1/2”. He and I are the same height. P1050526

You know, I have apprenticed so many men and women this way and it really has worked for them and, in terms of my vision for artisan training, it works for me too.

Much of the time what I like is how incomparable  the apprentices have been since the 80’s when I started apprenticing people. No two are the same. I can remember every personality and watching them develop as they overcame struggles. I remember the laughs and the tears and the losses and the victories too. Living life off the conveyor belts means growing a lifestyle, living a lifestyle, finding greater contentment with less.

9 Comments

  1. Hi Sam! The bench is looking great! It must be great working with Paul for the last month – I would love to spend an extended time in the workshop at Penryn! Very envious! It would be great to hear from you – I never got your contact details at the end of the Masterclasses course. All the best. Chris

      1. Hello Paul. I am well thank you. I’ve been enjoying your videos and blog posts; unfortunately I’ve not had as much time for woodworking recently due to house renovations! Sam is definitely living my dream – although I do count my blessings that I have space (in the form of a garage) to do woodwork in: I know that a lot of people I met on the Woodworking Masterclasses course lived in flats and struggled for workspace, not to mention space for a six foot workbench! I am just just missing having Paul Sellers to hand to keep an eye on me and answer questions! I hope all is well with you – say hi to Phil from me. All the best, Chris.

  2. A very nice read. I wish I was still healthy enough for all that kind of fun.
    Good luck with your woodworking, your blog, your videos and everything.

  3. I remember the immense sense of satisfaction I experienced when I (finally) completed my workbench, built to Paul’s design. And working at it is a pleasure.

    I have a question…the photo shows the top tenons protuding…are they going to be cut flush with the legs or used with mortices cut into the aprons to locate them and add further strength to the structure? I don’t recall that being a part of the original design but may have been added.

    1. Hi Nick, No, I find it easier to cut all four rails to equal length and then mark all of the shoulder lines at the same time. It’s only the loss of an inch of wood and it’s just quicker than equidistancing a short rail to a long one. Once glued up, saw off the nubs. That way too you can also cut without thinking and choose the best for the visible lower rails.

      1. Thanks, Paul. That makes sense. When I made my bench I cut the top rails shorter because they didn’t need to extend beyond the mortices. It worked out OK but I agree making the 4 rails the same length would have provided more options.

  4. It looks like Sam has done a fine job with the bench build. I copied yours when you first introduced it and saw and read the article in your book. I was torn between your design and the Nicolson style but glad I built yours, or close to it. I love it and the height has saved my back time and time again. I may build another one day since my skills have improved and I found a little more floor space in my shop, but my 59 1/2″ wide x 39″ height has and is serving me well.

    Keep up the good work !

    Steve

  5. Hay!

    I am making a shop out of my garage ready to shuffle snow from my driveway for the car! hehe 🙂
    I have seen all the videos at least twice but i find it unfortunate and sad that traditional woodworking is very hard to find in the country with the largest ( maybe second in EU Finland beeing first?) ratio of forest ( Slovenia)… and even harder someone to teach me. Thanks for all the inspiration and online knowledge 🙂

    Greetings from Slovenia

Comments are closed.

Privacy Notice

You must enter certain information to submit the form on this page. We take the handling of personal information seriously and appreciate your trust in us. Our Privacy Policy sets out important information about us and how we use and protect your personal data and it also explains your legal rights in respect of it. Please click here to read it before you provide any information on this form.