Preview: Cool Shop Tips #1, Manning Benches

17 Responses So Far to “Cool Shop Tips #1, Manning Benches”

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  Barry Sherwood says:

  Details details – I see from the workbench manual Manning’s horse top and anvil were 8″ (wide) and in your video you talked about your set up being 15′ long and a foot wide – so are your benches 12″ wide (i.e. 2×12)?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    I used 2×10’s for my benches, and built them 5′ long. That has been a very useful configuration.

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      Barry Sherwood says:

      much appreciated Jeff – could put this on another video but hope this is ok – really like your caledonia yawl build and towards the end i think where you are putting the floor boards back in the paint job on the boat is exquisite – is there other videos or do you have information how you do it or how that boat was done

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        Geoff Kerr says:

        OCH has a wonderfully produced, 43 episode series featuring a soup to nuts build of a Caledonia Yawl. It was done at a loaner shop in Brooklin, Maine, and will provide hours of diversion as well as lots of instruction. The boat featured in my shop during the Manning Bench video is a different hull, built on commission for a client. Happy viewing!

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  Clint Chase says:

  Thought it would be nice to bump this in the spirit of Sam Manning!

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    Steve Stone says:

    Thanks Clint. Not sure how we forgot this video when we sent Maynard and Eric’s tribute to Sam.

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  Kent Lewis says:

  We love looking around shops and looking for the crustiest table, bench and stool. Those are the workhorses, the heart of the shop. Indispensable. Thanks for the info on the Manning bench, and the tip on Sam Manning.

  Cheers
  Kent and Audrey

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  David Robbie says:

  Great information on these Manning benches. Love the #50 boat in the shop. Beautiful work once again and really like the paint scheme. Thanks Geoff!

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  Doug Heisler says:

  The Workbench Book article/drawings for the Manning Bench would be more useful if it included the angles and materials dimension for the legs. Anyone have this information?

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    Doug Heisler says:

    Found that 15 degrees works

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  Rob Roy says:

  Pretty sure this is the book, including a PDF downloadable option for international folk
  Iike me… https://www.tauntonstore.com/the-workbench-book.html

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  Robert Mckeown says:

  Just made my first one on Saturday (with my seven-year old boy who did much of the marking out and cutting). Hope to knock out a second one this weekend!

  Thanks for the suggestion.

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  Norm Russick says:

  Geoff, thank you for introducing the Manning bench to me. I built two of them for my shop and I absolutely don’t know how I lived without them! Now my work is at the right height, they are extremely sturdy, there are many clamping options, and I am now able to handle larger projects with ease. – Norm

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  Lee Fox says:

  Thanks for presenting the Manning Benches! Manning’s underlying message “it is possible to make do with what you’ve got” (I have this posted in my shop). With these benches, so much is possible, or a heck a lot easier!
  I was able to show a fellow woodworker how versatile these benches are, every shop should have them!

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  John Ferruggiaro says:

  Good info on saw horses

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  David Tew says:

  Thanks Geoff! Nice to see and hear you again. Fifty Boats! Congratulations!

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    Stephen Smith says:

    Thanks Geoff, great to see “my neighbor”
    Another GREAT tip for RestHarrow Farm and Boatworks – Fletcher