Building my own Workbench

 Building my own Workbench out of White Oak & Black Walnut!

This is the style I have decided to go with, only difference is going to be adding  a eight inch tool tray in the center as well as a shoulder vise on the side without one. That may end up being to much with the shoulder vice. That's something I have been having trouble with, deciding which kind of vices to use and acquiring these vice.  Im thinking the base will oak except for the four cross pieces.  Going to do those in black walnut. Then the apron  will be  made of oak on the sides and the two end pieces of black walnut.  The contrast of the light and dark woods will look  amazing in my opinion. Come on guys give me your best advice, comments, and criticisms. Help me grow. 

Caleb Lewis of Appalachian Woodshop

Milling a Oak Log

Milling a oak log into two inch slabs in the woods of western North Carolina.

 So I mill all of my own lumber, so anything that i make is all made out of lumber I have milled. This is a ten foot piece of a huge oak tree that came down in a huge snow storm about two years ago.  The log I am milling here is right where the tree split from the weight of the snow.  Needless to say all of the stresses in this log have made it really hard to flat saw.  The oak keeps pinching my chain. I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to get it loose for a min.  I do have to say this log has some amazing grain patterns. I will share the rest of the milling of this log in future videos. As always please offer any and all comments, advice, and criticisms.  All you haters help me grow so give me your best. lol

Caleb Lewis of Appalachian Woodshop