Bench hook
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A bench hook is a workbench accessory used in woodworking. The purpose of the bench hook is to provide a stop against which a piece of wood being worked can be placed to hold it steady whilst cutting, planing, or chiselling.
The bench hook is simply a short board with a batten fixed top (the stop) and bottom (the hook) at opposite ends (see diagram to the right). Usually, the stop is shorter than the width of the bench hook's base and offset from one edge. This is so that when using the bench hook in cutting operations, the wood may be sawed all the way through without the stop interfering with the saw.
In use, the bench hook is laid flat on the bench top with the hook hard up against the edge of the bench. The wood to be worked is held against the stop. No clamps or other mechanical fixing is required - the wood is held in place by the pressure exerted upon it by the tool being used.
Bench hooks are used with hand tools such as the backsaw, hand plane and chisel. Although simple to make, commercially made bench hooks are available.
