Project Information
Hello to all.
This is my first posting here, and really the first project that I have completed. I have started more than a few projects but none have turned out as finished, mostly due to my own procrastination and inexperience. So this is a big step for me. After over a month of working nights and most of the weekend I finally have something to show for my labor, and a useful something at that!
This is my own version of the Roubo from Chris Schwarz's book. I made some changes and allowances for the lumber I used, and for the equipment I plan to use on/with this bench.
The lumber all started as rough cut 8/4. I used air dried Larch for the top, 2×12's ripped to 3 3/4" wide and stood on end for the laminated top. The legs are air dried Hemlock 2×6's, squared, planed and laminated three pieces per leg for a 5 3/4" square legs. The stretchers are kiln dried pine 2×6's, laminated together for about 3" of thickness and 5" height. All the joints are drawbored mortise and tenon, and I am very impressed by their solidity.
I built this in the reverse order that Chris suggested and I regret that. Building the base first turned out to be a huge mistake. As the project started to come together I realized that it would be much more difficult to match the mortises in the top to the tenons than the other way around. The outcome of that is that I now have some gaps in the through mortise and I don't think that I will be able to fix them to look nice.
When I glued up the top I decided to leave all the boards full length (8' give or take a few inches), that way I now have a nice top piece for a kitchen butcher block island or other project in the future.
Overall this was an awesome learning experience, and I can't wait to start using it on my next project!
This is my first posting here, and really the first project that I have completed. I have started more than a few projects but none have turned out as finished, mostly due to my own procrastination and inexperience. So this is a big step for me. After over a month of working nights and most of the weekend I finally have something to show for my labor, and a useful something at that!
This is my own version of the Roubo from Chris Schwarz's book. I made some changes and allowances for the lumber I used, and for the equipment I plan to use on/with this bench.
The lumber all started as rough cut 8/4. I used air dried Larch for the top, 2×12's ripped to 3 3/4" wide and stood on end for the laminated top. The legs are air dried Hemlock 2×6's, squared, planed and laminated three pieces per leg for a 5 3/4" square legs. The stretchers are kiln dried pine 2×6's, laminated together for about 3" of thickness and 5" height. All the joints are drawbored mortise and tenon, and I am very impressed by their solidity.
I built this in the reverse order that Chris suggested and I regret that. Building the base first turned out to be a huge mistake. As the project started to come together I realized that it would be much more difficult to match the mortises in the top to the tenons than the other way around. The outcome of that is that I now have some gaps in the through mortise and I don't think that I will be able to fix them to look nice.
When I glued up the top I decided to leave all the boards full length (8' give or take a few inches), that way I now have a nice top piece for a kitchen butcher block island or other project in the future.
Overall this was an awesome learning experience, and I can't wait to start using it on my next project!