Build an Inexpensive Roubo-Style Woodworking Workbench

[@Postfrogish]

This is one of the most no-nonsense bench build-up videos on youtube. Really makes building a workbench seem accessible. Thank you so much for this. I plan to use many of your strategies when building my own. I wanna add an apron and split the top, but other than that, I think I'll lean heavy on your methods.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks for the comment! That's great that it was helpful. Good luck with your bench!!

[@nimivima]

Hello, after watching the video I already know what my workbench will be like. Thank you

[@schwarzenpuh5996]

добротный верстак, обожаю когда детали подогнаны без зазоров как у Вас в видео, удачи и продолжайте вдохновлять своими видео

[@aroundhomediy]

Thank you! I'm still amazed at how well it fit together :).

[@thomasstufe1676]

Well made and well explained, thank you.

[@999erh]

I've watched dozens of these laminate bench videos, but really like the process you used and am going to attempt this build this weekend. In particular, the way you did the dado into the top and squared up the bottom of the legs afterward looks like something I can successfully replicate. Still fairly certain I would rather have yours than what I'm going to end up with this weekend, but going to give it a shot nonetheless. ;-)

[@aroundhomediy]

:) Thanks! I tried to order the steps to minimize my stress during assembly as much as possible which is one reason I did the side rails the way I did as well as the mortise and tenons. If you want to use the same casters, you might want to raise the rails up 1/2 an inch or so. I'm sure yours will turn out great! I just used mine for a little live-edge table project and I still love it.

[@gaylanbishop1641]

Like @999erh said, I’ve watched dozens of work bench videos and this one really stands out. And you have some outstanding hacks in here. Example; clamping a piece of scrap to the bottom side when drilling your dog holes to prevent tear out. I have seen a couple of videos that actually drill halfway from each side! Gotta be a pain ensuring alignment. One suggestion I have; go a little bit slower. Some of us are a little thick for this pace.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked the video. Sorry about the speedy pace! There's a fine line between going too fast and putting people to sleep on KZbin, but I'm trying to slow it down some :).

[@zlancenyc]

Very neat. I built one very similar one from 2x4s with much less precision flattening outside of the top and the sides. I used drawbore tenons for long stretchers and legs.

[@voltaireorlina]

Excellent work!

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks!

[@BossCrunk]

Nice build. Helluva shop.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! We ended up moving a few months ago, so I'm now in the process of setting up a new, but smaller shop area.

[@joer5627]

Well done. Looks as though this old dog is due a lesson on sketch up & other newer design tools. Thank you for the video

[@mrki412]

I would put this masterpiece to the kitchen.

[@aroundhomediy]

Hah thanks! My wife might object to that, but I'm good with it :).

[@TheHandToolery]

Really great result! Cool use of spacer blocks in the different areas. Well done!

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks!

[@aroundhomediy]

Love your bench btw! Looks great!

[@TheHandToolery]

Thanks, man!

[@jackknows6509]

Really nice bench. Thanks for the tutorial as well.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! I've really enjoyed it so far!

[@waab3707]

Great work. Inspired to try one myself now.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! Definitely give it a try!

[@fernandorivas4230]

awesome job, thanks for sharing.

[@kyletelford2353]

Great video👍that's a quality workbench.good for a life time.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! I'm looking forward to using it!

[@jeffforbes3772]

Very cool bench! Looking forward to the new installments. Thanks for sharing

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks!

[@rosshollinger8097]

You do excellent work. Thank you for the video.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks for the comment!

[@JSRocker1776]

Nice looking Bench.

[@mikepierce4216]

Very nice workbench and video!

[@heut4384]

Hi, I do like your work. To me, it make sense how you make the legs like yours. I've seen others that are very beautiful and they're beyond others, BUT I just can't investing ton hours just to cut each holes and/or legs or on the top, etc. Lol. Now that I've seen yours, I'm going to make mine like yours. Thx.

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks for the comment! There are definitely some pretty amazing benches out there, but I wanted to try to make one that would go together pretty easily, and that I felt I wouldn't mess up. I've been doing more hand-tool work lately, and this bench has been amazingly solid and handled everything that I've done. That includes lots of hand planing, chopping large mortises, cutting tenons, and a good bit of spokeshave work making some curved parts. Just yell if you run into any questions.

[@ligngood3787]

Excellent video!! Very smart spacer laminating process instead of chopping out mortise/tenon joints. That's what I'm hoping to do. Have you tried using holdfasts? Is your bench too thick for them?

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! Using the spacers for the mortises worked better than I thought :). I've been using the Gramercy Tools holdfasts from (toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/ms-holdfast.xx/holdfasts_by_gramercy_tools) and they work great. I think all I did was rough them up slightly (horizontally around the post) with some 80 grit sandpaper. I used them several times in the video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYHQlZRmjJioq6M).

[@EvanDunville]

Great bench!

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@mmanut]

New Subscriber, nice Job‼️👍👍 Vinny 🇺🇸

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks!

[@reginr]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@jexidexi5687]

Lovely channel. Thanks for your videos. I subscribed.

[@aroundhomediy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@RobinLewisMakes]

Great explanation, thank you! Have you had any issues with the top expanding and contracting?

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! Nope, it's been just fine in our detached garage for the last year and a half.

[@haisamjab]

Hello, really useful information. What lumber is that? Ash? Thanks

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! This is southern yellow pine lumber. It's very common here for construction, so it's cheap.

[@emcmahon6]

Really well done - great explanations for all of the finer points. I especially loved how you did the leg tenons--very practical and simple and they look great! If I'm calculating right the finished size was about 6-1/2 feet x 27 (or so) inches? Can you please confirm? Thanks!

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! Yeah, I was definitely pleased with how well the leg tenons turned out. With the two boards for the end vise it ended up being 80" wide. Some of the boards for the top needed a little more jointing due to some warp, so the total top depth was 22.5" (They were roughly 1.25" thick after jointing/planing). I made sure the outer two board thicknesses for the top matched the thicknesses of the outer two leg boards so the mortise and tenon thicknesses would match and the legs would be flush with the front/rear faces of the top when assembled. The "inner" boards for the top can vary a bit if need be if you find some nice flat boards.

[@emcmahon6]

@@aroundhomediy well, it's taken a lot longer than i thought it would (thanks for the total life disruption, COVID!) and since i'm not a full time woodworker, that's OK. I didn't get around to starting until May or June, and actually ended making mine out of maple - starting with rough sawn and milling it all down myself. TIme consuming but satisfying. I"m almost through building now -- hope to have it finished this weekend. Between scrambling to adapt to a new work environment, life in general, and not having the luxury of being able to work at it full time, it's taken a while. But what a satisfying once-in-a-lifetime project. And I learned so much! Thank you again for sharing so generously! I'd love to send you a pic of the final product!

[@aroundhomediy]

Hi Ed! Your new bench sounds awesome! Congrats on getting it all done. Everything always seems to take at least twice as long as I hope and I think this year doubled that, but sometimes the extra distraction is nice especially during a crazy year! I'm sure you love using it!! Definitely send me a photo (Doug at our website address) and if you want, I'll add it to the website article with your photo credit.

[@jamesmundy8321]

Do you think it would be as sturdy with an x brace in the back and no front stretcher? I'd like to build something similar but want to slide a tool chest under for storage while not in use.

[@aroundhomediy]

It might be ok for some things. For hand planing I'd probably want to have a stretcher there. You might look at some designs using 'bed bolts' to secure the front stretcher so it can be added/removed if needed.

[@javiergutierrez8908]

Great video! Quick question: for how long dis you dry your wood before you started building the workbench?

[@aroundhomediy]

It was probably around 2-3 months total as I had to make a few trips to find enough boards and was finishing up another project. If you have an old board already and a moisture meter, you can compare any new ones with the old one. I use a meter like this: amzn.to/3hRURw3 .

[@rawr2u190]

ooh thats pretty

[@robbrown39]

I can only get Douglas fir in my neck of the woods. Is there any special considerations for Douglas fir that is different than Southern yellow pine?

[@aroundhomediy]

I've seen people claim that Douglas Fir can be bit too soft and splintery for a top, but then I've also seen several people say they like their Douglas Fir workbenches and would make one with it again. You might want to get 2x10s or 2x12s and rip them into 2 pieces (2x4s are usually pretty bad quality-wise). You may also want to let the boards dry out a bit in the shop before you start. You could also consider not gluing the top to the base and replace it with something fancier later (but you may find you want changes to the base then as well).

[@scottvhm]

Nice bench! Since it only has the single mortise per leg (instead of Roubo’s mortise and sliding dovetail), how well has it resisted racking?

[@aroundhomediy]

No issues at all with racking or moving around. It's quite solid :).

[@tlong4577]

Been through alot of ruobo styles and I'm choosing yours to build, but the link to the plans gets me to nothing. Any help???

[@aroundhomediy]

If you haven't already found them, I did a SketchUp video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2PEdaiBqNVoaas) and Fusion 360 Video (aroundhomediy.com/design-workbench-fusion-360/) on making the bench plans. The file for the SketchUp can be downloaded here (aroundhomediy.com/design-workbench-sketchup/#Plans) and Fusion 360 here (aroundhomediy.com/design-workbench-fusion-360/#Plans).

[@alesambaprimeiro]

Workbench it is beautfull✌🏼😎🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@aroundhomediy]

Thank you!

[@greg2337]

Nice bench. Feel free to breathe between sentences my man. You did great

[@aroundhomediy]

Thanks! Hehe, yah it's the KZbin effect.. "must finish as fast as possible" :)

[@shivercanada]

what kind of jag off's would thumbs down this? I'm 75% done my Roubo, wish I watched yours first, I like your joints way better, mine were too complicated. Next one!

[@aroundhomediy]

Good luck with finishing your Roubo! I'm hoping to start a 2nd one from some large pine trees I helped mill a few years ago. I'll probably have to use hand tools and chisel out mortises on it though :( ...

[@hamiltonoliveira3860]

❤