The Clear Spring School Workbench

A perfect platform for teaching woodworking to kids.

- Doug Stowe

Woodworking safely with children requires a bench vise to hold stock securely. While stools can raise a child to the height of your workbench, there is nothing safer than having your feet firmly planted on the ground for activities that require physical strength. While most woodworking tools are safe to the hands that hold them, injuries happen to hands left loose with their temptation to hold the wood or otherwise get in the way of sharp edges. A vise allows both hands to be used in holding the tool or allows the other hand to be put safely behind the back. Either way, the hand most at risk is kept safe.

When we decided to introduce woodworking to elementary school students at the Clear Spring School, the first challenge was to make benches secure and stable enough to enable hand planing and rigorous sawing, that could be easily adjusted for students of different heights, and yet be light enough that they could be moved out of the way during middle- and high school classes. We also wanted benches that could be transported to the elementary school campus or other locations for special events.