Gravity Bar Build Plans
Build your own Gravity Bar! Beginners welcome. Not-so-instant Digital Download*
*Due to increasingly high fraudulent orders, we are now selling this product manually. We'll review each order and release the files to make sure they get sent your way. Thanks for bein' real cool and patient!
I've been developing these plans over the course of a year. They are designed to hold your hand and explain not only what to do, but why. I have included a number of supplementary Youtube videos from my favourite creators to watch along the way, giving further instruction. These creators taught me along my woodworking journey, and they are trusted companions for anyone starting out or experienced.
Get a never-before-seen peek into the Biglow Woodcraft process. You're getting the newly improved version of the plans our staff use to make The Gravity Bar, complete with plenty of illustrations. Follow along and you'll know exactly how our products are made, resulting in owning one of your own, while investing in yourself in the process.
Tools required: Clamps, Sharp Chisels, Handsaw, Drill, Forstner Bits, Square.
Tools that would be nice (not necessary): Table saw, Bandsaw, Router Table, Jointer, Planer, Benchtop Belt Sander.
Skill required: These will be tricky for a beginner, but I believe they contain the information necessary for anyone reasonably acclimated to a woodshop to succeed. General accuracy and feel for how handtools move through wood will either be useful or developed in the course of the build.
Materials required:
- 1 Boardfoot of wood, ideally hardwood such as Cherry, Walnut or White Ash.
- 25x Chrome steel balls link
Formatted for 8.5" x 11" printing, but can be easily viewed as a PDF on any device.
By purchasing these plans you will receive all future updates to them via email, in perpetuity.
By purchasing these plans you are agreeing not to sell a Gravity Bar product of the same design.
- Click Here to Download FREE Gravity Bar Cards - Printable organization templates to cut out and use with your Gravity Bar to stay on track.
Hey Guys I made the gravity bar and it was a hit in my household. I wanted to add some adjustments that I think could really help make the plans easier for new woodworkers, and honestly it might even speed up your process.....butyou'll have to give it a go and see if it helps. I'll email you guys directly and attach a photo of the plans I drew up. Its not a thorough plans like the ones u guys made, but I think it'll give u the gist of what I was thinking:) Can't wait to see what u guys make next.
- Joe Heiman
Gravity Bar Build Plans
Gravity Bar Build Plans
I was a little sceptical to be fair, mostly at the confidence in my own skills once I saw the drawings and alternate methods to build this. But taking a hybrid router/manual route through the build yielded an excellent product - really works well.
I just built a gravity bar today from your plans. The plans were clear & easy to follow. I would not hesitate to recommend the plans if you are interested in building your own Gravity Bar.
I had a couple of questions about the chisel block design.
Since we’re making the block ourselves, is there a reason it only supports about 1" along the base rather than the full 3" length of the section being chiseled? If it were extended to match the full length, it seems it would eliminate the need to reposition the block while working the slope. I’m wondering if there’s a specific functional reason for keeping it shorter.
Also, regarding the clamping method shown — the clamp appears to pass through the bench. Is this intended for a bench with dog holes or holdfasts? If the workpiece needs to overhang the bench edge to accommodate the clamp, I’m concerned that might reduce stability while chiseling. Could you clarify how the setup is meant to maintain solid support during chopping?
Really nicely laid out plans with good tips! I'm super clunky at woodworking still but I like that it's kind of a challenge but not in an intimidating way.
I love the detail in these plans, not only do they cover one way to build the Gravity Bar but 3! They also make them easy to understand and break it down into several steps so even a beginner could do it if they wanted to. They also explain how to make the Gravity Bar bigger to fit your needs.
Great content in the plans. I was able to take it from the Fusion files to the Shaper files rather seamlessly.
Appreciate the information around the various methods you’ve tried
Hey guys,
first off- I appreciate You and Im glad to support You.
The plans are fine, but they need to be updated. The update note is fine and all- Im an experienced hobby woodworker, but for the beginner it must be confusing.
Love from Austria, Adam
Only read through the plabs, they seen straight forward , just getting the materials together, then I will make this , once I have completed i will re review
I buy a lot of plans
Your plans for the size of the project were not cheap but I like to support local artists
I ended up not using your plans as there were a lot of discrepancies.
I also sent three emails but did not hear a response till today which was a bit too late.
The most important part of any plan is accurate dimensions and your plans did not come through on this. The part of using an angle slope instead of chisel was just added to the pdf as an afterthought with no dimensions.
Sorry - I know this is not what you wanted to hear.
This customer has recently filed a chargeback against us for these 'discrepancies' and we are submitting all paperwork to the bank. Their issues stem from a few misunderstandings about the plans:
The plans mention a CNC build of the Gravity Bar (as opposed to a handtool build which the plans are largely designed around) is requiring a lot of foundational knowledge and experience with your specific software, machine, tooling, workholding capabilities etc, therefore the CNC method is simply a 3D model that someone with all of this foundational knowledge could use to generate toolpaths on their own. There is a 1mm discrepancy on one measurement of the 3D model compared to the handtool plans, and a 0.4mm discrepancy on another. There is no reason somebody would be following both of these methods, nor needing to measure the specific portion of the 3D model with these discrepancies and compare them to the handtool drawings, and both of these measurements would work perfectly fine for either build; they are interchangable and difficult to even find without intense scrutiny.
The plans also have a section where there are colour-coded drilling locations in the handtool method, which the customer mistook for a drawing with the balls in their dugout, suggesting that the measurements for the balls do not add up when in fact they are referring to the measurements of the drill bit in the screenshot they sent us.
We are happy to help anyone who owns these plans with their questions about the build, sometimes it takes a little while for us to respond to every inquiry, but we take all feedback and questions in as best we can, and always strive to do better. I'm going to leave this review public for a while as it is still representative of a customer's experience, but given our emails I don't think it is an honest representation, especially considering that it was written after an email explaining everything I just mentioned.
The first page of plans should include a picture, with a table of contents. When you suggest multiple ways to approach a single task, those options should be a subset. In all, the plans don’t read well, hard to follow. I’m using plans I downloaded for free
Great set of plans with just enough information, without over complicating it.
Hey, i'm woodworker hailing from your not-so-far neighbour Edmonton. Found your stuff on Youtube a while ago. Absolutely love the look of your products and the ethos with which you run your company with, it's honestly super refreshing.
I don't really have any notes for you, just wanted to say thanks for the plans. I made a gravity bar for my girlfriend for christmas and loved the way it turned out. The plans were super easy to follow in my opinion and the youtube links are so dang helpful.
I have a full shop (jointer, planer, router table etc.) so i am curious how a beginner would fair with this project but they were very intuitive instructions for me.
Anyways, thanks again for the plans, and try and stay warm in that cold winter city of yours.
I made my first Gravity Bar for a family member. It was my first attempt at anything wood working related and I had/borrowed basic tools. The plans were intuitive - and even somewhat forgiving of my unskilled technique. I was left with a beautiful, functional, hand made gift. Loved the plans. The concept it brilliant in its simplicity and design. I would highly recommend building one, and if that's too far of a stretch - simply buy one. Thanks to the Biglow team. Keep up the great work
Would highly recommend- the plans for these are excellent!
The plans really helped me. I’m still working on it. Few measurements were off, I think. Honestly, first thing I’ve ever tried to build. Also, thought the plans for 30+” gravity bar would also be part of what I bought.
Really clear and concise set of plans. Super easy to follow
Love the plans and the project such a simple yet genius design. Have it made just waiting on the bearings to finish it. I'll be sure to tag you on instagram.
I have not started my build yet but I have read over and studied the plans, they are detailed.
Very happy with the plans.
Detailed and very well written.
Covers all the steps with great illustrations
From a plans and building a gravity bar perspective kinda disappointing. Low energy.
If ya want to help me help my daughter kinda thing they are fine, I guess.
I built it, and didn’t mess anything up. The plans really helped me with that.
Easy to follow, easy to understand.
I built it with birdseye maple which did suck a little but it all worked out.
Thank you for supplying plans to copy your build. I lack vision so I rely on things like this to build stuff.
Steve
I went into this with high expectations & they were exceeded! The plans are really detailed, easy to understand & filled with helpful instructions & suprisingly also in metric! I was expecting to have to convert so that was a nice surprise.
What I liked especially about the listing is that it was unmistakably clear that you are buying plans, not a finished product, so that it‘s fully impossible to mistakingly buy this instead of a gravity bar and give a 1 star rating based on that!
I was actually in the middle of building my first gravity bar from the plans when I got the email asking for a review. Let me say, the plans are easy to follow and can have you making your own gravity bar by the end of the day.
I plan on building them for my kids to show school papers.
I’ll likely modify the pocket by routing a rectangular pocket & gluing in the ramp
I’ve watched a few videos and appreciate the fine work you do.
Gravity Bar Build Plans
Amazing project!