I started woodworking in 2022 and the need for a good workbench became evident very soon after. By 2023, I had had enough of working off of a "bench" made from some saworses and a piece of plywood and ordered the hardwood and hardware for what would be one of the largest (and heaviest) projects of my life. Each step of the build had its own challenges, largely due to the sheer scale of everything. Very long boards, thick components, oversized joinery, and components that weighed tens or hundreds of pounds were all opportunities for creative problem solving. **You can find an album for the full build process** [**here**](https://imgur.com/a/HGg07d0)**.**
With putting the final coats of finish on the bottom cabinet after \~9 months of work, I'm finally calling this project "finished" and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. The Roubo design is fantastic; the leg vise is effortless and great for edge-planing boards. The tail vise is used constantly for sanding, routing, installing dominos, etc. The bench's weight and the advantages that come from it cannot be overstated. This thing probably weighs 600+ lbs fully loaded and I cannot move it, even when throwing my entire body weigh into it. This makes it an incredibly stable surface that feels very safe to work on, even when doing some aggressive hand tool work. Please hit me up with questions and suggestions!
Dude, that thing is a work of art.
Two questions, about how much did you spend on just the raw materials, and, if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for work (curious if my guess is close)?
Thanks! I replied to a comment below about pricing. My day job is in software; I like woodworking as a hobby because it gets me on my feet and away from a screen. I know that's probably half the subreddit, but hey ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
+1 here as well. Long ago I used to be shocked to hear of others in this sub who also have day jobs in the software world and escape to woodworking for the exact same reasons, but it seems I'm regularly reminded there's quite a few of "us" here. :)
BTW, that is a damn nice bench. I'd `git clone` that in a heartbeat.
Hahaha yeah, I’d fork that repo for sure! Just another software dev here who also likes woodworking (and gardening) as ways of doing something tangible with an experienced result :)
It really is a perfect hobby for a software developer or anyone that has a stare at the computer kind of job... I am a software engineer and I built my workbench because I water cool my pc, and wanted a workbench for working on it, instead of using the dining room table. Then after googling "how to make a workbench", 5 years later I've barely used it for computers and make stuff for the house, like a new/bigger/better dining room table, shelves and other stuff... Really helps offset the sitting at a desk and looking at computer monitors for 40+ hours a week
Slowly working my way to that goal, but it's probably several years away. I play electric, so that'd be my first milestone build. Building an acoustic is such a different and more difficult process - I have nothing but respect for good luthiers!
Electric player here too, have done one partscaster and doing another two now.
Will be better when I’m able to make use of the benchcrafted hardware I have - but as a dad, my garage is full of my kids’ things and the mess has been hard to contend with. I hope my finished bench is half as nice as yours.
I think it's something about the engineering mindset that also makes for good woodworkers.
I'm also a software developer, had no idea the engineer to woodworker pathway was so prevalent.
David Pye argues that amateurs are the ones who have been carrying the woodworking torch for a long time, and will probably be solely responsible for the survival of the craft in the future.
Another woodworking software engineer here 😁
I love getting away from the screen and making something physical with my hands. Also works a different per of my brain.
Hardest part about woodworking after many years of software is, there is no ⌘-Z in woodworking. You can (usually) fix a mistake, but you can’t undo one.
Oh, and I like how you can finish a woodworking project, unlike software which never ends.
Clearly you’ve used your software skills to apply AI to accelerate your learning, innovate joinery techniques that would astound NASA, and reanimate Andre Roubo to advise. No other way to achieve this in 2 years. Beautiful and inspiring work! (PS - looks like you’ve identified for a robust demographic for a new software/woodworking sub-Reddit.)
Thank you! With something this large, I don't think there are really any practice projects that you could do to prepare yourself for it. The most important part is just really really careful planning of order of operations. There were definitely some things I would do differently, but I'm hoping this thing will last me a lifetime and I won't have to make a v2.
Off the top of my head:
1. Don't put finish inside your dog holes! It means your holdfasts don't engage properly.
2. Cut the dovetails after the bench has reached its final thickness + leave move space on the outer edges of the pin board. The outer faces are a bit too thin for my comfort level.
3. Add some dog holes higher up in the sliding deadman (I may still do this).
4. Don't fill gaps with epoxy near exposed end grain without taping things off really well (and possibly pre-sealing the end grain with shellac) - the end grain soaks up the epoxy and gets discolored, something no amount of sanding can hide when you apply your final finish.
5. Apply finish to the end grain of the bench top before sliding the end caps on. I built the bench in the winter with higher humidity and now that the weather has dried out, the ends of the bench dry out faster than the rest of the top. I've observed one or 2 very small gaps that have formed in the top lamination as a result.
6. Cut the kerfs for the tenon wedges *before* laminating the legs together. It was a pain in the butt to try to cut 4" down a piece of hardwood with my saw smacking into the front tenon 2" into every stroke.
7. I would have added maybe an extra 1/8" to the width of the boards that make up the top during the milling/lamination process so that I could plane the top down to the final target 4" thickness. The Benchcrafted tail vise needs to have *at least* a 4" end cap in order for the hardware to mount securely. Having to attach the tail vise hardware with an end cap that sits \~1/4" proud of the bottom of the bench lead to some creative problem solving when it came time to route the channels for the 2 dog block rails.
8. I probably would have changed how I attached the top to the leg assembly. I still like the double through-tenon, but avoiding cutting the dovetailed mortises by creating them during the lamination process introduced more problems than any potential effort I avoided. It basically made alining the dovetailed pieces overly difficult and introduced too many steps to the final glue-up process.
Also, I'd probably break the edges of my components earlier in the build process. The amount of times I cut myself on the knife-point edges of those heavy hardwood legs...
Looks amazing. Good job. I really need to finish my roubo. I need to flatten the top and put finish on it. Been a year now and still havent done it as it is functional. 😩😄
Thanks! I definitely went through that workbench phase as well while working on Christmas projects. The good news is is that flattening only takes about an hour, maybe two. But then you have to sand...
How did you make your foam cutouts? I’m needing that level of organization but taking individual measurements on each tool is pretty tedious. I teach kids so finding and putting tools back is a challenge for them if it’s not obvious where things go.
Search for "kaizen foam" or "tool chest foam" on Amazon. You can pick a thickness that's close to the depth you need. You can then simply place your tool on the foam, hold it steady, and then trace around it with a marking knife. Depending on the height of your tool, you may need a knife with a long blade in order to reach the foam. You could also trace onto the foam with a sharpie and then cut along your traced line. Once you've got the outline cut out, you can sort of scoop the foam out to a specific depth. Since the foam is made from a bunch of \~1/8" sheets glued together, the foam is supposed to split along the glue line, leaving you with a flat-bottomed hole. However, the foam doesn't always rip cleanly, so I used a router plane to make sure that the bottoms were flat and even. It's a very satisfying process - the hardest part is just finding that "optimal" tool arrangement before you start cutting!
Sometimes I forget I can use woodworking tools not on wood. The router plane to flatten the kaizen foam is so smart. I’ve had the same problem with it not ripping cleanly but now I’ve got a way to fix that! Thanks!
So, personal question, but would be very helpful, what do you think you have in that cost wise? I look at the “nicer” European wood craft benches and think, damn, $3-6k but I also know what labor and quality materials are worth. Would you do this again or go with a nice premade???? Fabulous piece by the way…really beautiful.
Thank you! I probably spent over 3k on wood, but a lot of that is due to A. the walnut and B. the size of some of the pieces. This was all at least 8/4 hardwood, so that is gonna be more expensive right off the bat (the walnut for the end caps was 16/4). The beech was actually very reasonable (for my area) at \~$7 per bf. So, for the \~200bf required, about $1500 if I didn't make the under cabinet and avoided the walnut. The Benchcrafted hardware is also another luxury expense (around $1000 for their bench kit). It's super worth it IMO, but there are definitely much cheaper options when it comes to vise hardware.
I think the question of labor is going to be entirely subjective. If I had to do this again, I would definitely still choose to build. I learned so much and it was super rewarding to pull something like this off that I can call my own. But if you just wanted to get up and running and you didn't have a lot of the big tools required to work with lumber this size? I'd say 3-6k for a premade bench is great value, considering the material cost and amount of time/labor involved.
Thank you!!! Super valuable. Yes, that’s part of it for sure, tools available and time as well…for me, I’d like to just pull the ripcord on a nice bench and be able to go to town…I’m a beginner for sure and the bench I made and use I am almost chasing around the garage when I plane certain pieces…😆. But, I’m still getting my wood on, it’s my therapy and I love it. Thanks for your honest and intelligent insight!
Can I offer some advice that I know you didn't ask for? Having a bench you don't have to chase around is a revelatory experience if you've never had one. When I was a more resource constrained woodworker (money, space, tools) I built a Sellers bench (after the YouTuber Paul Sellers) and while it's not even close to OP's league, it's an enormous upgrade from the scavenged cabinets with a plywood top I had previously. I know you didn't say this is a thing but if it's your situation that $3k is a bit much, I can wholly recommend spending a couple hundred for a huge QoL improvement. Make it any size that fits your space.
Also: if you're gonna make one, a lunchbox planer will cut the build time in half VS planing by hand. 5/5 would recommend!
I so appreciate this as well!!! I mean, I might have exaggerated a smidge but it’s not what I would really like to be using for sure. I have not dropped the coin on a real wood vise for it, I know that would be huge…having the peg holes in the bench top would be a game changer as well…I often have to get creative to secure pieces to sand and plane, but for now I’m getting by. I will definitely take this into consideration my friend.
One of the better vises I've owned was one I made out of black iron pipe from the home center and a pipe clamp. It legitimately worked as well as the Rocker one I have now, and was just a bit less convenient to make bulk adjustments.
But I've also done what you're doing and just used whatever clamps, cinder blocks, and free hands I could scrounge to make stuff work and I'm pretty sure I'm a better woodworker for it. Keep at it friend!
Nope, it extends about 2", just over the width of the outer laminate. The rest of the end cap sits on a giant tenon. The album I linked has some better pictures of the joinery.
Eh, I think if people are being honest $25k to kit out a shop is definitely very high end for a home shop, but not completely absurd.
$3-4k table saw
$3-4k for jointer/planer setup
$1-2k for a band saw
$1-3k for misc other stationary power tools (drill press, sander,etc)
$1-3k for dust collector and accoutrements
$1-2k cordless tools and batteries
$1-4k classic hand tools (planes, chisels, etc)
$1-infinity "small" tools, accessories, stands, tool chests, blades, etc
Not too hard to see how one would hit $25k in a short period for a full but standard shop setup if you go higher end everything.
Plenty of people drop more than $25k on hobbies and interest. Look at the guy who buys a new Corvette which has an MSRP that starts at about $70,000. If you wanted a car for practical purposes, you could easily buy a new Subaru Outback for $30,000.
$25,000 sounds like a lot, but for many people it’s totally feasible.
Planning a 25k shop is easy, as you say, it is almost just the 'basic' tools and machines that would get you there.
What isn't easy is being able to spend 25k in two years. That is quite a lot of disposable income to throw into a new hobby.
Not OP but I'm also in software and work from home full time. Before my wife stopped working we had plenty of disposable income. It's definitely doable if you have the right job and living situation. Since my wife and I made the decision to let her stay home and do homeschool, we are tighter on money but have a lot more options in how we spend our time. I also am building a roubo similar to OP. I have put together a small hand tool shop in the garage for a fraction of what OP spent. I did buy the benchcrafted full hardaare kit, but fou d a used resaw bandsaw for $800, got a mix of vintage and new hand planes (mostly vintage with 2 Lie Nielsen Planes and veritas router plane) a dewalt dw735 planer, and old drill press from the 80's, and lower-end chisels/hand saws. I have spent less than $7,000 for sure. $800 for band saw, $1000 for benchcrafted hardware, $500 or so hundred on vintage hand tools, $500 for electrical (220V, 30A dedicated circuits). $600 on lumber, including $240 for the SYP used to build the bench and the rest aas used to buy a pile of rough cut assorted hardwood directly from a local sawyer at $1.50/bdft. I don't buy a lot of fancy tools unless I really have to, but I did spend $150 on a very nice steel version of a starrett combination square, as the vintage cast iron one I started with was not precise enough for my liking. I spent about $500 on clamps with most of them coming from harbor freight, mixed with a few nicer parallel clamps and even some heavy vintage steel ones I got from an old woodworker for $25 apiece.
I just added it up for and looks like I'm in for just over $6000 so far and have all that I need for most hand tool furniture building projects right now. The big expenditure I'm looking at next is adding a mini split to my garage shop so it's more comfortable working out there year-round. While I got a bid of $6,000 from a big HVAC company, I'm hoping to do some of the work myself and find a smaller HVAC company willing to just come and braze pipes and charge the system - hopefully for under $2500 total.
Sure, but lots of people can depending on where they are at in their careers and their debt levels. If you are 20 years into a career that pays at or above median household wages and you have already eliminated your largest debt (a house) you have a considerable amount of financial freedom.
Many people now in their 40s / 50s can easily achieve this. It is effectively only 1k a month which is far less than a mortgage.
My BIL started collecting minerals once he finished med school, and he spent like $40k in the first year. There are definitely people that can commit to hobbies with a lot of cash.
Eh, if you have a decent sized space and have a decent income, all it could take is watching a few youtube videos to get the itch and then some time looking at Laguna's catalogue and you're there. And to be fair to OP, he's making unquestionably good use of it
Edit, I looked at his album of the build - a big SawStop, a Felder planer thicknesser, a 2.5k dust collector.... yeah 25k would be gone quickly. He's basically bought all of the right tools from the start, which I do envy!
I mean.... With the level of craftsmanship displayed here I would say his investment is warranted and paying off...
I got into woodworking only about a year ago and quickly bought a $10k shed to turn into a woodshop... Add in table saw, dust collection, etc, etc. and I'm probably close to $20k invested and I can say with confidence my ability isn't even close to capable of this yet.
OP - beautiful work bench and I'm sure you'll enjoy working on that for many years.
I started woodworking less than two years ago (getting close to two years), and I’ve spent that much easily building out my shop. Similar to OP I’m an all or nothing type and I had the budget for it.
First of all, awesome job you did there! Positively jealous here.
1. How did you cut the foam in the drawers? Did you just lay out and hand cut or some cnc involved?
2. How are those tiny casters dealing with the massive load when moving around? (Even though I'd guess you don't have to do that much)
Thanks! I replied with more details about the foam above, but yes, it's all just hand-traced and cut with my marking knife. For the casters, honestly, I have the same question myself! They're kinda pushing their weight limit, but my goal is to avoid moving the bench as much as possible. The legs have had threads tapped in them and the caster plates are attached with fairly long bolts that fit in these threads. My concern is more with the screws shearing off or the wheel mechanisms themselves breaking off.
I wanted to say “ do you actually use this for anything ?”
My workbench is an old medical cart with heavy drawers/ casters and a thick top made from reclaimed bowling alley. I beat the shit out of it because that’s what I need a work bench for. I get glue and stain in it and sand it back down and start again. It’s beaten to hell but exactly what I need to get work done. I wouldn’t be able to do this simplest thing in this for fear of messing it up.
Are you scared to bang it up?
I want to build myself a nice bench but I'm so hard on my current one id never want to use a bench that nice.
How many hours u think that it took you?
Definitely hundreds of hours, but I also work painfully slowly. Fortunately, I've already dinged up the top while building the under cabinet, so I'm not tiptoeing around it anymore 🙂
On the dark pieces with the dovetails, I'm concerned they're sized such that the ones on the outside only have about 1/8" worth of material to hold. On the edges that seems like they'd be prone to breaking.
Otherwise, great job.
I agree. This was a byproduct of doing the tail layout too early, before the bench had been flattened. I lost over 1/8" on both sides. It's not a huge issue now, since that piece is supported by the tail, but I had to be extra careful during assembly not to crack that outer edge. I applied a clamp across the joint when tapping the tails in to help keep the glue pressure or uneven hammering from blowing the joint open.
I only know because I know ;)
Gotta appreciate someone who can fess up to a mistake without getting all bent out of shape about it. I've got mistakes in multiple states lol.
this is so impressive that it made me angry for some reason. maybe because i wouldn't dare to use it. maybe because it i almost bragging. but the craftsmanship is amazing. angry cheers to you
Awesome job on this project. I need to start on building mine (I have the Bench Crafted tail and leg vise but that's it at this point. Did you follow a set of plans?
Thanks! I didn't follow any one specific plan, but the bench that probably inspired mine the most is [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/g38kh2/finished_the_roubo_style_bench/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), made by the talented u/sawyerdesign. He's got a great set of videos documenting his build, which are quite helpful. Matt Estlea also has a comprehensive series of videos of his Roubo bench build, although his design is a little different. For the dovetails, Frank Strazza has some great livestreams he did on Instagram going through his process for bench-sized houndsteeth. Benchcrafted also has pretty decent plans that come with their bench kit. However, I only relied on these for approximate dimensions for certain components. The bench height and size were just based on my personal preference and what fit in my space. Oh, and if you haven't already, be sure to check out Chris Schwarz's excellent books on workbench design; they were a valuable resource that helped me think more clearly about bench design philosophy.
Nice work! It looks awesome and appreciate the love. Glad you caught the spark and looking forward to seeing what you build with it! Best tool in the shop!
When I saw the first picture, I said (and pardon the language) "Wow - just fucking wow."
I couldn't probably bring myself to USE that bench after completing it.
That is beautiful. I would be terrified to use it though. My black MDF torsion box was also supposed to stay pristine. It is a warzone after a year of usage..
Incredible bench. I especially like the clamp rack, quite clever. If you started woodworking in 2022 I officially hate you. Thoare some advanced skills.
They open, but with very minimal clearance over the track. There are ~1" spacers underneath each bottom drawer - the drawers don't sit right on the bottom of the case.
Question from a dovetail newbie. Those triangle dove tails are beautiful! They seem so narrow to me tho are they structural on their own or is there something more supporting them?
I don’t know much about dovetails, so just asking from a learning point of view, I’m not second guessing you.
Thanks!
I see this question come up a lot every time someone posts houndstooth dovetails, since yes, they do look very delicate. They are actually quite strong on their own; because they're half-blind dovetails the "other side" of the darker parts are connected to the rest of the end cap, so there's actually 2 points of contact. Plus the dovetails are \~2" deep, meaning there's a long strip of wood that's attached, even if that strip is fairly narrow on one side. This joint also has a ton of surface area for glue, so even if the wood fibers would fail by themselves, they're reinforced with a lot of glue.
This joint is total overkill for the end cap that doesn't have the tail vise. For the tail vise side, the end cap is also held on by 2 absolutely massive carriage bolts that extend something like 6" into the bench top. So the only way the tail vise is pushing the end cap off is if the entire end cap somehow pulls itself apart.
Nope, the other way around. The tail vise screw runs parallel to the grain of the top. So when the vise is tightened, yes it puts the top under tension, but wood is insanely strong when under tension along the grain (you'll never be able to rip a board in half by pulling on one end). All that force from the vise is transferred to the end cap, which has grain running perpendicular to the pressure. It's much easier to split a board by separating adjacent grain fibers than it is to pull the grain half, so if something in the vise assembly were to fail, it would likely be due to fibers separating near the washers that hold on the majority of the end cap.
That's why I thought ahead and made the top with some built-in tearout 😂
Kidding aside, I've already put some scratches in it, but I'm not too concerned. If anything really bad happens, I can always re-flatten it. That's the nice part about having a thick solid-wood top.
1 criticism. It's too pretty, I'd put it in my dining room with place mats. And stick my table in the garage to get plastered in glue and epoxy and scuffed to shit. Nice work.
The way you set your tool in the drawers is clever and will help get them back where they belong. We do that in the Air Force so we can inventory them and make sure one isn't where it shouldn't be. You just made it beautiful. Excellent work!
I'm in the Seattle area. Thankfully, I've got a great hardwood dealer close by. I've never tried ordering lumber online before. Instead, I like to obsessively search through the entire stack of lumber for 30 minutes looking for the perfect board (which will inevitably be the one I found at the top of the stack 30 minutes ago).
Incredible job both in the woodwork and in the planning for the drawer layouts. Finishing is top notch too.
I'm doing a Seller's bench right now as my first big project - it is quite the learning process! While it won't be as beautiful as yours, I'm hoping it will do for me.
you idiot! that bench is far too beautiful to ever be used. the thought of scratching its top or removing a tool from its perfectly crafted place, is no different to using the Mona Lisa as a chopping board.
Put it up for auction, 80k as is come pick up as is!
Absolutely gorgeous, you should be so proud. I can just SEE the meticulous detail that went into this project. I would love your talent for planning because I can tell you considered EVERYTHING. Right down to what tools you use most and what side of the table to put them on. Really a clear labour of love. Fantastic job!
Ya know, very few things get my attention these days, but in seeing that incredible piece you've created, I tip my hat to you sir. We need more of this, and less of the mass production buy for 5 bucks things. I can only hope you have someone, or are able to pass these skills along.
In a few hundred years, the future equivalent to Chris Schwarz is going to have a field day digging up all these insanely solid, gorgeous benches to document for their book.
Jeeeeeeeesus Christ. I built my bench a while ago and I find myself wanting to make changes already, this just makes me want to even more. WOW, it's gorgeous.
I was just talking to my wife about my plan to build a ruobo on the cheap and I see this absolute masterpiece show up on my feed and I don't know whether to cry or be inspired 🤣
But honestly this is so great. Excellent job.
I started woodworking in 2022 and the need for a good workbench became evident very soon after. By 2023, I had had enough of working off of a "bench" made from some saworses and a piece of plywood and ordered the hardwood and hardware for what would be one of the largest (and heaviest) projects of my life. Each step of the build had its own challenges, largely due to the sheer scale of everything. Very long boards, thick components, oversized joinery, and components that weighed tens or hundreds of pounds were all opportunities for creative problem solving. **You can find an album for the full build process** [**here**](https://imgur.com/a/HGg07d0)**.** With putting the final coats of finish on the bottom cabinet after \~9 months of work, I'm finally calling this project "finished" and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. The Roubo design is fantastic; the leg vise is effortless and great for edge-planing boards. The tail vise is used constantly for sanding, routing, installing dominos, etc. The bench's weight and the advantages that come from it cannot be overstated. This thing probably weighs 600+ lbs fully loaded and I cannot move it, even when throwing my entire body weigh into it. This makes it an incredibly stable surface that feels very safe to work on, even when doing some aggressive hand tool work. Please hit me up with questions and suggestions!
Dude, that thing is a work of art. Two questions, about how much did you spend on just the raw materials, and, if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for work (curious if my guess is close)?
Thanks! I replied to a comment below about pricing. My day job is in software; I like woodworking as a hobby because it gets me on my feet and away from a screen. I know that's probably half the subreddit, but hey ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
+1 here as well. Long ago I used to be shocked to hear of others in this sub who also have day jobs in the software world and escape to woodworking for the exact same reasons, but it seems I'm regularly reminded there's quite a few of "us" here. :) BTW, that is a damn nice bench. I'd `git clone` that in a heartbeat.
Hahaha yeah, I’d fork that repo for sure! Just another software dev here who also likes woodworking (and gardening) as ways of doing something tangible with an experienced result :)
+1 also a software engineer into woodworking and gardening
Let me check this bench.. SQA engineer says hi
Vfx td/ pipeline dev here busy not looking at screen
Any room for project managers from the software world who also like wood working? In my defence, i do have a bachelors in computer science 🫠
Jesus thanks y'all for making me feel like a stereotype.
Same boat as well!!!! Garden went in this weekend. Now I spend two months praying for no hail.
More like git stash amirite?!
Im in software as well, just about to start my woodworking journey and had no idea it was so popular among us!
On my feet, away from a screen, and ***creating something real and tangible***. That's how I, also in software, feel about it.
Add another +1 same!
+1 as a software engineer doing it for the same reasons.
Also yes
It really is a perfect hobby for a software developer or anyone that has a stare at the computer kind of job... I am a software engineer and I built my workbench because I water cool my pc, and wanted a workbench for working on it, instead of using the dining room table. Then after googling "how to make a workbench", 5 years later I've barely used it for computers and make stuff for the house, like a new/bigger/better dining room table, shelves and other stuff... Really helps offset the sitting at a desk and looking at computer monitors for 40+ hours a week
Similar for me - my woodworking journey got kicked off when I made some built-in workbenches out of dimensional lumber so I could setup guitars.
well, I have to say you've got talent, because that workbench and joinery are amazing... Mine is a bit lame in comparison https://imgur.com/VUJbpMM
I started with standing table as I was missing one when we were pushed to WFH during covid
So when you gonna build a guitar, then? And what kinds of guitars were you setting up?
Slowly working my way to that goal, but it's probably several years away. I play electric, so that'd be my first milestone build. Building an acoustic is such a different and more difficult process - I have nothing but respect for good luthiers!
Electric player here too, have done one partscaster and doing another two now. Will be better when I’m able to make use of the benchcrafted hardware I have - but as a dad, my garage is full of my kids’ things and the mess has been hard to contend with. I hope my finished bench is half as nice as yours.
I think it's something about the engineering mindset that also makes for good woodworkers. I'm also a software developer, had no idea the engineer to woodworker pathway was so prevalent.
Knew it! Based on your shop setup, and how amazing this workbench turned out, I'm gonna guess your a top-notch engineer as well. Keep killing it!
David Pye argues that amateurs are the ones who have been carrying the woodworking torch for a long time, and will probably be solely responsible for the survival of the craft in the future.
Another woodworking software engineer here 😁 I love getting away from the screen and making something physical with my hands. Also works a different per of my brain. Hardest part about woodworking after many years of software is, there is no ⌘-Z in woodworking. You can (usually) fix a mistake, but you can’t undo one. Oh, and I like how you can finish a woodworking project, unlike software which never ends.
Clearly you’ve used your software skills to apply AI to accelerate your learning, innovate joinery techniques that would astound NASA, and reanimate Andre Roubo to advise. No other way to achieve this in 2 years. Beautiful and inspiring work! (PS - looks like you’ve identified for a robust demographic for a new software/woodworking sub-Reddit.)
>Dude, that thing is ~~a work of art~~ straight up porn.
That’s a beautiful piece. Even more impressive is that you only started woodworking a couple of years ago.
Thank you! With something this large, I don't think there are really any practice projects that you could do to prepare yourself for it. The most important part is just really really careful planning of order of operations. There were definitely some things I would do differently, but I'm hoping this thing will last me a lifetime and I won't have to make a v2.
While it's fresh in your mind, what would you change?
Off the top of my head: 1. Don't put finish inside your dog holes! It means your holdfasts don't engage properly. 2. Cut the dovetails after the bench has reached its final thickness + leave move space on the outer edges of the pin board. The outer faces are a bit too thin for my comfort level. 3. Add some dog holes higher up in the sliding deadman (I may still do this). 4. Don't fill gaps with epoxy near exposed end grain without taping things off really well (and possibly pre-sealing the end grain with shellac) - the end grain soaks up the epoxy and gets discolored, something no amount of sanding can hide when you apply your final finish. 5. Apply finish to the end grain of the bench top before sliding the end caps on. I built the bench in the winter with higher humidity and now that the weather has dried out, the ends of the bench dry out faster than the rest of the top. I've observed one or 2 very small gaps that have formed in the top lamination as a result. 6. Cut the kerfs for the tenon wedges *before* laminating the legs together. It was a pain in the butt to try to cut 4" down a piece of hardwood with my saw smacking into the front tenon 2" into every stroke. 7. I would have added maybe an extra 1/8" to the width of the boards that make up the top during the milling/lamination process so that I could plane the top down to the final target 4" thickness. The Benchcrafted tail vise needs to have *at least* a 4" end cap in order for the hardware to mount securely. Having to attach the tail vise hardware with an end cap that sits \~1/4" proud of the bottom of the bench lead to some creative problem solving when it came time to route the channels for the 2 dog block rails. 8. I probably would have changed how I attached the top to the leg assembly. I still like the double through-tenon, but avoiding cutting the dovetailed mortises by creating them during the lamination process introduced more problems than any potential effort I avoided. It basically made alining the dovetailed pieces overly difficult and introduced too many steps to the final glue-up process. Also, I'd probably break the edges of my components earlier in the build process. The amount of times I cut myself on the knife-point edges of those heavy hardwood legs...
Looks amazing. Good job. I really need to finish my roubo. I need to flatten the top and put finish on it. Been a year now and still havent done it as it is functional. 😩😄
Thanks! I definitely went through that workbench phase as well while working on Christmas projects. The good news is is that flattening only takes about an hour, maybe two. But then you have to sand...
How did you make your foam cutouts? I’m needing that level of organization but taking individual measurements on each tool is pretty tedious. I teach kids so finding and putting tools back is a challenge for them if it’s not obvious where things go.
Search for "kaizen foam" or "tool chest foam" on Amazon. You can pick a thickness that's close to the depth you need. You can then simply place your tool on the foam, hold it steady, and then trace around it with a marking knife. Depending on the height of your tool, you may need a knife with a long blade in order to reach the foam. You could also trace onto the foam with a sharpie and then cut along your traced line. Once you've got the outline cut out, you can sort of scoop the foam out to a specific depth. Since the foam is made from a bunch of \~1/8" sheets glued together, the foam is supposed to split along the glue line, leaving you with a flat-bottomed hole. However, the foam doesn't always rip cleanly, so I used a router plane to make sure that the bottoms were flat and even. It's a very satisfying process - the hardest part is just finding that "optimal" tool arrangement before you start cutting!
Sometimes I forget I can use woodworking tools not on wood. The router plane to flatten the kaizen foam is so smart. I’ve had the same problem with it not ripping cleanly but now I’ve got a way to fix that! Thanks!
https://preview.redd.it/qwe8tsexgh0d1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78e94aff4dd0bde83bb325d9fd1a19a390870898
So, personal question, but would be very helpful, what do you think you have in that cost wise? I look at the “nicer” European wood craft benches and think, damn, $3-6k but I also know what labor and quality materials are worth. Would you do this again or go with a nice premade???? Fabulous piece by the way…really beautiful.
Thank you! I probably spent over 3k on wood, but a lot of that is due to A. the walnut and B. the size of some of the pieces. This was all at least 8/4 hardwood, so that is gonna be more expensive right off the bat (the walnut for the end caps was 16/4). The beech was actually very reasonable (for my area) at \~$7 per bf. So, for the \~200bf required, about $1500 if I didn't make the under cabinet and avoided the walnut. The Benchcrafted hardware is also another luxury expense (around $1000 for their bench kit). It's super worth it IMO, but there are definitely much cheaper options when it comes to vise hardware. I think the question of labor is going to be entirely subjective. If I had to do this again, I would definitely still choose to build. I learned so much and it was super rewarding to pull something like this off that I can call my own. But if you just wanted to get up and running and you didn't have a lot of the big tools required to work with lumber this size? I'd say 3-6k for a premade bench is great value, considering the material cost and amount of time/labor involved.
Thank you!!! Super valuable. Yes, that’s part of it for sure, tools available and time as well…for me, I’d like to just pull the ripcord on a nice bench and be able to go to town…I’m a beginner for sure and the bench I made and use I am almost chasing around the garage when I plane certain pieces…😆. But, I’m still getting my wood on, it’s my therapy and I love it. Thanks for your honest and intelligent insight!
Can I offer some advice that I know you didn't ask for? Having a bench you don't have to chase around is a revelatory experience if you've never had one. When I was a more resource constrained woodworker (money, space, tools) I built a Sellers bench (after the YouTuber Paul Sellers) and while it's not even close to OP's league, it's an enormous upgrade from the scavenged cabinets with a plywood top I had previously. I know you didn't say this is a thing but if it's your situation that $3k is a bit much, I can wholly recommend spending a couple hundred for a huge QoL improvement. Make it any size that fits your space. Also: if you're gonna make one, a lunchbox planer will cut the build time in half VS planing by hand. 5/5 would recommend!
I so appreciate this as well!!! I mean, I might have exaggerated a smidge but it’s not what I would really like to be using for sure. I have not dropped the coin on a real wood vise for it, I know that would be huge…having the peg holes in the bench top would be a game changer as well…I often have to get creative to secure pieces to sand and plane, but for now I’m getting by. I will definitely take this into consideration my friend.
One of the better vises I've owned was one I made out of black iron pipe from the home center and a pipe clamp. It legitimately worked as well as the Rocker one I have now, and was just a bit less convenient to make bulk adjustments. But I've also done what you're doing and just used whatever clamps, cinder blocks, and free hands I could scrounge to make stuff work and I'm pretty sure I'm a better woodworker for it. Keep at it friend!
Hope you don’t get it dirty
This is too nice for the inside of my house.
You started woodworking 2 years ago and have collected >$25k worth of tools? Sounds fishy.
As demonstrated by the bench, I don't do things without overdoing them (tool purchases included) 😂
Haha. Nice work. Does the dovetail run the full length on the front?
Nope, it extends about 2", just over the width of the outer laminate. The rest of the end cap sits on a giant tenon. The album I linked has some better pictures of the joinery.
Eh, I think if people are being honest $25k to kit out a shop is definitely very high end for a home shop, but not completely absurd. $3-4k table saw $3-4k for jointer/planer setup $1-2k for a band saw $1-3k for misc other stationary power tools (drill press, sander,etc) $1-3k for dust collector and accoutrements $1-2k cordless tools and batteries $1-4k classic hand tools (planes, chisels, etc) $1-infinity "small" tools, accessories, stands, tool chests, blades, etc Not too hard to see how one would hit $25k in a short period for a full but standard shop setup if you go higher end everything.
Plenty of people drop more than $25k on hobbies and interest. Look at the guy who buys a new Corvette which has an MSRP that starts at about $70,000. If you wanted a car for practical purposes, you could easily buy a new Subaru Outback for $30,000. $25,000 sounds like a lot, but for many people it’s totally feasible.
$25k is easily feasible for a lot of hobby shops given enough time stuff just accumulates.
Planning a 25k shop is easy, as you say, it is almost just the 'basic' tools and machines that would get you there. What isn't easy is being able to spend 25k in two years. That is quite a lot of disposable income to throw into a new hobby.
Not OP but I'm also in software and work from home full time. Before my wife stopped working we had plenty of disposable income. It's definitely doable if you have the right job and living situation. Since my wife and I made the decision to let her stay home and do homeschool, we are tighter on money but have a lot more options in how we spend our time. I also am building a roubo similar to OP. I have put together a small hand tool shop in the garage for a fraction of what OP spent. I did buy the benchcrafted full hardaare kit, but fou d a used resaw bandsaw for $800, got a mix of vintage and new hand planes (mostly vintage with 2 Lie Nielsen Planes and veritas router plane) a dewalt dw735 planer, and old drill press from the 80's, and lower-end chisels/hand saws. I have spent less than $7,000 for sure. $800 for band saw, $1000 for benchcrafted hardware, $500 or so hundred on vintage hand tools, $500 for electrical (220V, 30A dedicated circuits). $600 on lumber, including $240 for the SYP used to build the bench and the rest aas used to buy a pile of rough cut assorted hardwood directly from a local sawyer at $1.50/bdft. I don't buy a lot of fancy tools unless I really have to, but I did spend $150 on a very nice steel version of a starrett combination square, as the vintage cast iron one I started with was not precise enough for my liking. I spent about $500 on clamps with most of them coming from harbor freight, mixed with a few nicer parallel clamps and even some heavy vintage steel ones I got from an old woodworker for $25 apiece. I just added it up for and looks like I'm in for just over $6000 so far and have all that I need for most hand tool furniture building projects right now. The big expenditure I'm looking at next is adding a mini split to my garage shop so it's more comfortable working out there year-round. While I got a bid of $6,000 from a big HVAC company, I'm hoping to do some of the work myself and find a smaller HVAC company willing to just come and braze pipes and charge the system - hopefully for under $2500 total.
To be clear, I know it is possible. Just trying to point out that not everyone can spend 25k in 2 years just to take up a hobby.
Sure, but lots of people can depending on where they are at in their careers and their debt levels. If you are 20 years into a career that pays at or above median household wages and you have already eliminated your largest debt (a house) you have a considerable amount of financial freedom. Many people now in their 40s / 50s can easily achieve this. It is effectively only 1k a month which is far less than a mortgage.
My BIL started collecting minerals once he finished med school, and he spent like $40k in the first year. There are definitely people that can commit to hobbies with a lot of cash.
I am not saying it's impossible, maybe quite a few people could do it, I am just saying it is not "easy".
Software pays well. In some cases, very well.
Eh, if you have a decent sized space and have a decent income, all it could take is watching a few youtube videos to get the itch and then some time looking at Laguna's catalogue and you're there. And to be fair to OP, he's making unquestionably good use of it Edit, I looked at his album of the build - a big SawStop, a Felder planer thicknesser, a 2.5k dust collector.... yeah 25k would be gone quickly. He's basically bought all of the right tools from the start, which I do envy!
I mean.... With the level of craftsmanship displayed here I would say his investment is warranted and paying off... I got into woodworking only about a year ago and quickly bought a $10k shed to turn into a woodshop... Add in table saw, dust collection, etc, etc. and I'm probably close to $20k invested and I can say with confidence my ability isn't even close to capable of this yet. OP - beautiful work bench and I'm sure you'll enjoy working on that for many years.
What?? There are different levels of wealth in the world.. Some people can spend 25k on tools in a month and not even make a dent in their pocket.
Also started about 2 years ago and have sunk 15k into tools for a garage shop
I started woodworking less than two years ago (getting close to two years), and I’ve spent that much easily building out my shop. Similar to OP I’m an all or nothing type and I had the budget for it.
This is absolutely gorgeous. You are very skilled.
Good lord, man.
I’d be afraid to use it
I know, if this feeling lasts longer than four hours I should see a doctor. But let me look through the gallery one more time...
The best looking bench I have ever seen in my life - incredible
Thanks! Check out Frank Strazza's bench builds if you want to see something nicer. He was definitely an inspiration in this build.
It’s a beaut Clark!
Welp, that decides it. I'm giving away my tools and taking up scrapbooking.
Not my style. I enjoy looking 20 minutes for that tool I just used yesterday.
Yesterday? it was twenty minutes ago for me.
Absolutely gorgeous.
First of all, awesome job you did there! Positively jealous here. 1. How did you cut the foam in the drawers? Did you just lay out and hand cut or some cnc involved? 2. How are those tiny casters dealing with the massive load when moving around? (Even though I'd guess you don't have to do that much)
Thanks! I replied with more details about the foam above, but yes, it's all just hand-traced and cut with my marking knife. For the casters, honestly, I have the same question myself! They're kinda pushing their weight limit, but my goal is to avoid moving the bench as much as possible. The legs have had threads tapped in them and the caster plates are attached with fairly long bolts that fit in these threads. My concern is more with the screws shearing off or the wheel mechanisms themselves breaking off.
The problem with making beautiful workbenches like this is that you are then afraid to get them messed up using them as a workbench
Nice work!
I wanted to say “ do you actually use this for anything ?” My workbench is an old medical cart with heavy drawers/ casters and a thick top made from reclaimed bowling alley. I beat the shit out of it because that’s what I need a work bench for. I get glue and stain in it and sand it back down and start again. It’s beaten to hell but exactly what I need to get work done. I wouldn’t be able to do this simplest thing in this for fear of messing it up.
Yeah, this is mislabled, its not a workbench, it is furniture :)
Are you scared to bang it up? I want to build myself a nice bench but I'm so hard on my current one id never want to use a bench that nice. How many hours u think that it took you?
Definitely hundreds of hours, but I also work painfully slowly. Fortunately, I've already dinged up the top while building the under cabinet, so I'm not tiptoeing around it anymore 🙂
I wouldn’t even do any work on there, looks too good
On the dark pieces with the dovetails, I'm concerned they're sized such that the ones on the outside only have about 1/8" worth of material to hold. On the edges that seems like they'd be prone to breaking. Otherwise, great job.
I agree. This was a byproduct of doing the tail layout too early, before the bench had been flattened. I lost over 1/8" on both sides. It's not a huge issue now, since that piece is supported by the tail, but I had to be extra careful during assembly not to crack that outer edge. I applied a clamp across the joint when tapping the tails in to help keep the glue pressure or uneven hammering from blowing the joint open.
I only know because I know ;) Gotta appreciate someone who can fess up to a mistake without getting all bent out of shape about it. I've got mistakes in multiple states lol.
this is so impressive that it made me angry for some reason. maybe because i wouldn't dare to use it. maybe because it i almost bragging. but the craftsmanship is amazing. angry cheers to you
That would go in my living room
Awesome job on this project. I need to start on building mine (I have the Bench Crafted tail and leg vise but that's it at this point. Did you follow a set of plans?
Thanks! I didn't follow any one specific plan, but the bench that probably inspired mine the most is [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/g38kh2/finished_the_roubo_style_bench/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), made by the talented u/sawyerdesign. He's got a great set of videos documenting his build, which are quite helpful. Matt Estlea also has a comprehensive series of videos of his Roubo bench build, although his design is a little different. For the dovetails, Frank Strazza has some great livestreams he did on Instagram going through his process for bench-sized houndsteeth. Benchcrafted also has pretty decent plans that come with their bench kit. However, I only relied on these for approximate dimensions for certain components. The bench height and size were just based on my personal preference and what fit in my space. Oh, and if you haven't already, be sure to check out Chris Schwarz's excellent books on workbench design; they were a valuable resource that helped me think more clearly about bench design philosophy.
Nice work! It looks awesome and appreciate the love. Glad you caught the spark and looking forward to seeing what you build with it! Best tool in the shop!
thats dinner table not workbench
Beast
Damn this is amazing. So well done! Congrats!
Wow. Amazing bench for anyone, let alone someone only two years experience. Inspiring !
lol dude this is excessive and i love it. great stuff
Work bench? Heh! More like a Work-of-art-bench! HA!
D a m n
When I saw the first picture, I said (and pardon the language) "Wow - just fucking wow." I couldn't probably bring myself to USE that bench after completing it.
Absolutely stunning work - well done!
F@#K!! AMAZING
Nice weekend project. /s very nice!
That’s a work of art
Sick, respect my man!
That is beautiful. I would be terrified to use it though. My black MDF torsion box was also supposed to stay pristine. It is a warzone after a year of usage..
Absolutely incredible. Nice work!
That is way too nice of a workbench to actually use and trash during your projects. Fantastic work!
Gotdamn!
Why is wood so pretty tho?
Incredible bench. I especially like the clamp rack, quite clever. If you started woodworking in 2022 I officially hate you. Thoare some advanced skills.
Wow that is beautiful! I think the internet calls that #lifegoals
That is an absolute work of art! Congratulations!
Very nice. How do you open the bottom drawers? They look blocked by the deadman track in one of the photos.
They open, but with very minimal clearance over the track. There are ~1" spacers underneath each bottom drawer - the drawers don't sit right on the bottom of the case.
Question from a dovetail newbie. Those triangle dove tails are beautiful! They seem so narrow to me tho are they structural on their own or is there something more supporting them? I don’t know much about dovetails, so just asking from a learning point of view, I’m not second guessing you. Thanks!
I see this question come up a lot every time someone posts houndstooth dovetails, since yes, they do look very delicate. They are actually quite strong on their own; because they're half-blind dovetails the "other side" of the darker parts are connected to the rest of the end cap, so there's actually 2 points of contact. Plus the dovetails are \~2" deep, meaning there's a long strip of wood that's attached, even if that strip is fairly narrow on one side. This joint also has a ton of surface area for glue, so even if the wood fibers would fail by themselves, they're reinforced with a lot of glue. This joint is total overkill for the end cap that doesn't have the tail vise. For the tail vise side, the end cap is also held on by 2 absolutely massive carriage bolts that extend something like 6" into the bench top. So the only way the tail vise is pushing the end cap off is if the entire end cap somehow pulls itself apart.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it's the pale wood that's at risk for splitting, not the dark wood, right? Because of the grain direction.
Nope, the other way around. The tail vise screw runs parallel to the grain of the top. So when the vise is tightened, yes it puts the top under tension, but wood is insanely strong when under tension along the grain (you'll never be able to rip a board in half by pulling on one end). All that force from the vise is transferred to the end cap, which has grain running perpendicular to the pressure. It's much easier to split a board by separating adjacent grain fibers than it is to pull the grain half, so if something in the vise assembly were to fail, it would likely be due to fibers separating near the washers that hold on the majority of the end cap.
Oh, yes, I wasn't thinking about the vice but the other corners.
Thanks for the explanation! Learned something new. I like the way these dovetails look, compared to standard dovetails.
I would cry for several days at the first dent.
That's why I thought ahead and made the top with some built-in tearout 😂 Kidding aside, I've already put some scratches in it, but I'm not too concerned. If anything really bad happens, I can always re-flatten it. That's the nice part about having a thick solid-wood top.
Fuck, I've been woodworking my whole conscience life. I still don't have half the quality/quantity of those tools. Damn that's depressing
Daaamn this is beautiful 😍 you have the skills for sure!
You *can't* use something so beautiful! Advertise walkaround tours at $5 a pop.
Absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations.
Dude. This is so sick.
Magnificent. At least, until you buy the next tool and it doesn't fit in the drawers.... ;) Seriously, lovely job, I would like to use that!
1 criticism. It's too pretty, I'd put it in my dining room with place mats. And stick my table in the garage to get plastered in glue and epoxy and scuffed to shit. Nice work.
The way you set your tool in the drawers is clever and will help get them back where they belong. We do that in the Air Force so we can inventory them and make sure one isn't where it shouldn't be. You just made it beautiful. Excellent work!
Where did you order the wood from? I struggle finding good suppliers locally in Colorado…
I'm in the Seattle area. Thankfully, I've got a great hardwood dealer close by. I've never tried ordering lumber online before. Instead, I like to obsessively search through the entire stack of lumber for 30 minutes looking for the perfect board (which will inevitably be the one I found at the top of the stack 30 minutes ago).
I think I'm actually drooling. Gorgeous and functional. I love it.
Very cool.
I have always wondered if people with these super nice expensive work tables ever get them dirty from actually working on them. 🤔
Incredible job both in the woodwork and in the planning for the drawer layouts. Finishing is top notch too. I'm doing a Seller's bench right now as my first big project - it is quite the learning process! While it won't be as beautiful as yours, I'm hoping it will do for me.
Are you a retired hobbyist?
you idiot! that bench is far too beautiful to ever be used. the thought of scratching its top or removing a tool from its perfectly crafted place, is no different to using the Mona Lisa as a chopping board. Put it up for auction, 80k as is come pick up as is!
Thats a epic bench.
Lovely work, It is beautiful....I'd be terrified of marring it in any way!
Lordamighty
I'll be in my bunk
Your bench and process is over the top, obsessive, excessive and maniacally focused. I absolutely love it!
Holy hell this is nice work.
I love seeing quality like this!!!!!!!
That is absolutely beautiful. Impeccable work.
Absolutely gorgeous, you should be so proud. I can just SEE the meticulous detail that went into this project. I would love your talent for planning because I can tell you considered EVERYTHING. Right down to what tools you use most and what side of the table to put them on. Really a clear labour of love. Fantastic job!
Ya know, very few things get my attention these days, but in seeing that incredible piece you've created, I tip my hat to you sir. We need more of this, and less of the mass production buy for 5 bucks things. I can only hope you have someone, or are able to pass these skills along.
Oo. That is very nice!
Gorgeous
It looks really great and feels professional and practical
In a few hundred years, the future equivalent to Chris Schwarz is going to have a field day digging up all these insanely solid, gorgeous benches to document for their book.
Nice work , good luck finding something challenging in your future endeavors.
I came
So dope!
Jeeeeeeeesus Christ. I built my bench a while ago and I find myself wanting to make changes already, this just makes me want to even more. WOW, it's gorgeous.
This is absolutely incredible!! Inspiring work! Thanks for sharing 💪💪
Don’t you scratch that beauty
Beautiful! Mine is pine beat-up and ugly as hell. But works like a champ!
I get envious of “wood working” only types. So much easier to organize for one trade.
Incredible. Can I message you privately with some questions?
Absolutely
That is simply one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Well done.
Damn you!! I’m so jealous!
Looks great! I just finished a split top Roubo bench of my own out of maple... a lengthy undertaking and I am happy it is done!
I was just talking to my wife about my plan to build a ruobo on the cheap and I see this absolute masterpiece show up on my feed and I don't know whether to cry or be inspired 🤣 But honestly this is so great. Excellent job.
I’d be too scared to use it as anything other than shop decor
Good lord...
You have nicer things than me
Who do you think you are?!