building a roubo work bench

For a work bench as you are describing it, it will cost you several hundred dollars in wood. There is a Youtube video of a guy made one with materials as you plan on. I think he said he had spent about a 1000 on it.

-- earthartandfoods.com

I would personally save the Mahogany for something else. How thick are you going with the top?

-- Richard, Hot Springs, Ar -- Galoot In Training

Douglas Fir makes a great workbench. You can buy all tou need from Lowes for $100-150
If I had to use a hardwood, I’d probably use Ash, Maple, or Oak since those tend to be the cheapest in my neck of the woods.
No way I’d use Mahogany…....Unless you just ‘want’ a mahogany workbench. This IS a hobby afterall. Use whatever puts a smile on your face.
But from a functional standpoint, Doug Fir or SYP is king in my opinion.

I built my Roubo from ash and poplar, mahogany is a nice wood and I love to work with it, but way too expensive to buy for a bench. If you have a cheap source for it no doubt it will make a nice bench but it won’t be functionally any better than one made with a less expensive wood.

-- Bondo Gaposis

If you are set on mahogany for your workbench top, you will be in a very exclusive club indeed.

-- Perfection is the difference between too much and not enough.

Well first I was given about 120 board ft of 5.5 by 1.5 in various lengths . I was gonna make the top about 2.5” thick

-- the journy of a thousand miles begins with a single step " Lou-Tzu"

check out my bench pictures! I used ash with some mahogany features. David Marks has made his bench from walnut. If you want a mahogany bench then make it. it’s only a little more money; but who cares, it’s your bench and you’ll be using it for many years to come. so enjoy what you like.

I built mine in Euro Beech, traditional but a luxury timber in Australia. It was the end of 3M3 I bought for commercial work. Everyone thought I lost my mind but there was just enough. It was the best thing I could have done with it.

-- Mama calls me Texcaster but my real name is Mr. Earl.

I plan on building a workbench out of 100 year old maple floor joist rescued from a renovation. I have vise parts from an old workbench that was in my basement when I bought my house and another vise I picked up for free. I think the only wood I need is for the base, if there is not maple. I will start the project in the spring when it gets warmer, no heat in the garage.