Anuj Prateek
04-08-2019, 3:01 AM
Hello,
Have been meaning to write my first post from a long time, I guess I find introductions difficult.
I am an Engineer by trade, and have interest is woodworking and photography. Got interested in woodworking in school days but never pursued the hobby. Few years back we bought a house and I started doing small projects. It sparked the interest again.
Started making small stools, boxes, shelves, DIY jobs around house etc. If I have to summarize, I managed to cut and butt joint wood to make utility stuff. I made a workbench using 2x4s and plywood. Nothing fancy, simple frame using lag bolts and 2 layers of plywood. After workbench I made I router table as well, which did not see much use. Did I mention I love buying tools?
I have been a silent reader at sawmillcreek.org for some 1-1.5 years now. Last year sometime in January I read about Roubo Workbench. Came across Christopher Schwarz's blog. Realized why my workbench did not see any use. My workbench was not flat (1/2" dip in center) and was some 37" high (I am 5'7"). Not to mention had a multi-purpose vise as the main vise.
Last year, I told wife I would make a jewelry box for her. Bought some nice Purple Heart. Huh! It comes rough. Sanding does not make it flat. I know, don't laugh. Next came a plane from Homedepot. Did not work. Damn! You need to sharpen tools before using them. Anyway, router made it kind of smooth and flat. Now came plans from internet and so did so many types of joints. Well I realized the gap between my skills, tools and output I wanted. The project was put on hold.
Well so it started. I started to build a Split Top Roubo using Benchcrafted plans. Bought tools as needed (and sometimes as wished). Took some 10 months. I would say on and off I averaged an hour everyday. Took two attempts. Lots of waste (glad I picked up construction lumber for build), frustration and luckily only minor accidents and I finally finished the workbench. Remains of legs and top of previous attempt will be converted to yard bench later.
It was a humbling experience. Reading on forum makes it seem so simple. Getting two boards stick together without gaps is a nightmare. MT seemed only a little complex but getting shoulders fit perfectly is like Schrodinger's cat. You fit one side and the other goes off. Don't get me started on flattening - if only few swipes from Jointer plane made top flat like in countless videos. And after all that wood moves - you come back from vacation and that perfectly flat and square piece is no more flat and square.
Practically every problem I faced was discussed in one or other thread here. Learned lots during the process. Hand planing, sharpening, flattening, dimensioning, drilling, finishing and practically every next thing - was a new skill to learn. Must thank Derek Cohen, Patrick Chase, Jim Koepke, Kees, Paul Sellers, Christopher Schwarz, Shannon Rogers (renaissance woodworker), Dan (frame less woodworker) and countless many more who have put wealth of information on sawmillcreek.org and their own websites.
Workbench is 62"x24", with 4" thick top. Stands in center of a room ~12'x12' room for both side access. Built using 2x12s from Homedepot with some Walnut and Paduk used for decorative purposes. I installed Benchcrafted classic leg vise and inset vise from Lee Valley.
Well here are some pictures:
Raised from floor, for finishing. Now it sits on 1/4" rubber pads.
407439
Top with Inset Vise. I use the 4 back left dog holes for attaching multipurpose vise using dowels.
The two 1" apart dog holes in the center were due to marking mistake. Drilled two holes wrong, then decided to make them symmetrical.
407440
This planer and a used jointer I bought were life saver.
407441
Shelf, using shiplapped offcuts. Dead man rides on a simple screwed runner (top and bottom). Did not want to test my skill by cutting a groove in top.
407442
Leg Vise. Started with linear bearing but it did not work out. Bought Bechcrafted Leg Vise, and it worked like a charm.
Bench involved lot of praying that the next step did not go wrong, so the Om symbol.
407443
Have been meaning to write my first post from a long time, I guess I find introductions difficult.
I am an Engineer by trade, and have interest is woodworking and photography. Got interested in woodworking in school days but never pursued the hobby. Few years back we bought a house and I started doing small projects. It sparked the interest again.
Started making small stools, boxes, shelves, DIY jobs around house etc. If I have to summarize, I managed to cut and butt joint wood to make utility stuff. I made a workbench using 2x4s and plywood. Nothing fancy, simple frame using lag bolts and 2 layers of plywood. After workbench I made I router table as well, which did not see much use. Did I mention I love buying tools?
I have been a silent reader at sawmillcreek.org for some 1-1.5 years now. Last year sometime in January I read about Roubo Workbench. Came across Christopher Schwarz's blog. Realized why my workbench did not see any use. My workbench was not flat (1/2" dip in center) and was some 37" high (I am 5'7"). Not to mention had a multi-purpose vise as the main vise.
Last year, I told wife I would make a jewelry box for her. Bought some nice Purple Heart. Huh! It comes rough. Sanding does not make it flat. I know, don't laugh. Next came a plane from Homedepot. Did not work. Damn! You need to sharpen tools before using them. Anyway, router made it kind of smooth and flat. Now came plans from internet and so did so many types of joints. Well I realized the gap between my skills, tools and output I wanted. The project was put on hold.
Well so it started. I started to build a Split Top Roubo using Benchcrafted plans. Bought tools as needed (and sometimes as wished). Took some 10 months. I would say on and off I averaged an hour everyday. Took two attempts. Lots of waste (glad I picked up construction lumber for build), frustration and luckily only minor accidents and I finally finished the workbench. Remains of legs and top of previous attempt will be converted to yard bench later.
It was a humbling experience. Reading on forum makes it seem so simple. Getting two boards stick together without gaps is a nightmare. MT seemed only a little complex but getting shoulders fit perfectly is like Schrodinger's cat. You fit one side and the other goes off. Don't get me started on flattening - if only few swipes from Jointer plane made top flat like in countless videos. And after all that wood moves - you come back from vacation and that perfectly flat and square piece is no more flat and square.
Practically every problem I faced was discussed in one or other thread here. Learned lots during the process. Hand planing, sharpening, flattening, dimensioning, drilling, finishing and practically every next thing - was a new skill to learn. Must thank Derek Cohen, Patrick Chase, Jim Koepke, Kees, Paul Sellers, Christopher Schwarz, Shannon Rogers (renaissance woodworker), Dan (frame less woodworker) and countless many more who have put wealth of information on sawmillcreek.org and their own websites.
Workbench is 62"x24", with 4" thick top. Stands in center of a room ~12'x12' room for both side access. Built using 2x12s from Homedepot with some Walnut and Paduk used for decorative purposes. I installed Benchcrafted classic leg vise and inset vise from Lee Valley.
Well here are some pictures:
Raised from floor, for finishing. Now it sits on 1/4" rubber pads.
407439
Top with Inset Vise. I use the 4 back left dog holes for attaching multipurpose vise using dowels.
The two 1" apart dog holes in the center were due to marking mistake. Drilled two holes wrong, then decided to make them symmetrical.
407440
This planer and a used jointer I bought were life saver.
407441
Shelf, using shiplapped offcuts. Dead man rides on a simple screwed runner (top and bottom). Did not want to test my skill by cutting a groove in top.
407442
Leg Vise. Started with linear bearing but it did not work out. Bought Bechcrafted Leg Vise, and it worked like a charm.
Bench involved lot of praying that the next step did not go wrong, so the Om symbol.
407443