Norwegian edge-jointing bench

A skottbenk is a traditional Norwegian workbench for straightening board edges with hand planes. It usually has two long boards mounted on a supporting frame. The workpiece is clamped between them with its edge exposed. Their straight upper surfaces can guide the depth-limiting runners of suitable planes.

The bench is associated with making tongued and grooved floorboards. Names including plogbenk, strykebenk and rettbenk occur in the craft tradition and may reflect local usage. Screw and wedge clamping are documented, but old benches do not share one fixed size or construction detail.

Identify the long boards, legs and clamping mechanism together. A dismantled bench can resemble loose building timbers. Record its find location, joints and associated planes before separating components. Wear alone does not establish age, and a tool found alongside a bench need not be contemporary with it. Modern working reproductions should also be distinguished from older original benches.

Sources: Norsk Skottbenk Union: funksjon og arbeidsmåte; Norsk Skottbenk Union: dokumenterte eldre benker.