Bench hook

A bench hook is a really cool tool that helps you hold pieces of wood steady when you are working on them. It's kind of like a helper for your hands! Let me explain how it works.

Imagine you have a piece of wood that you want to cut or shape with a saw or a chisel. It can be pretty tricky to hold the wood securely by just using your hands. That's where the bench hook comes in!

A bench hook is made up of three main parts - a base, a stop, and a fence. The base is a flat board that you put on your workbench. It gives the bench hook a solid and stable surface to sit on. The stop is a small piece of wood that you attach to the base. It sticks up in the air and acts like a barrier to stop the wood you're working on from sliding around. Finally, the fence is another small piece of wood that you attach to the base, but this time it's placed diagonally against the stop. The fence helps to guide the wood and keep it in place.

Here's how you use the bench hook:

1. First, you place the bench hook on your workbench with the base flat on the surface. Make sure it doesn't wobble or move around.

2. Next, you position the wood you want to work on against the stop. The stop acts like a wall to stop the wood from sliding towards you.

3. Now, you hold the wood with one hand and use your tool (like a saw or chisel) with the other hand to cut or shape it. The stop and fence keep the wood in place, so it doesn't move around while you work.

4. As you cut or shape the wood, the saw or chisel will make contact with the bench hook's base, but not with the stop or the fence. That's good because it means you won't accidentally damage them.

5. When you are done making your cuts or shaping the wood, you can remove it from the bench hook and admire your work!

So, the bench hook is a handy tool that helps you hold wood securely while you use tools to cut or shape it. It keeps your hands safe and makes your woodworking projects easier!