A bench hook is a device that one can use on one’s table/bench/desk, that holds a piece of work steady while one works on it. One end of it has a piece underneath that hooks on to the bench and the other has a piece on top against which one can rest the thing being worked on.

A bench hook is made of wood and it has to be a hard wood if one is using it for carving. It’s a while since I bought a plank of wood and I was surprised by how few shops sell such things. Luckily, not very far from me is a place called Woodworkers that does. On my second visit (don’t ask), I managed to purchase an off-cut of mahogany for a fiver. That actually proved to be the hardest part of the process.

I made the bench hook today. Here’s how I did it:

I’m pretty proud of myself!