Modifications

[Joraft]

Fortunately, I'm right in the process of putting my shop together, so I do have some latitude on the size of the work room where my Roubo will be located. I'm thinking about increasing the bench size from that in the plans, and adding a second tail vise. Benchcrafted offers both a right-hand and left-hand vise, so one of each will work out well.

Any thoughts on that?

I've been planning on building this bench since Jameel unveiled it at WIA back in 2009. It will almost certainly be the last bench I build, so I want to get it right. No doubt I'll wind up putting more time into designing it than actually building it. That's okay, both are fun.

[duckkisser]

enjoy the build my work bench is a old lab table that the center is saging but since i mostly make small stuff that ok as it does not throw off my assembly.

[thewoodwhisperer]

going even larger?!?! Man, I can't wait to see this! I hope you post pictures of your build. I honestly don't have much input in terms of multiple tail-vises but I guess if you want to be able to use the bench on all sides, that would certainly be a way to do it.

I am really excited to see everyone build their versions of the bench!

[Joraft]

... I hope you post pictures of your build.

I plan to, Marc, and I hope everyone else does too.

I've seen many progression threads of Benchcrafted Roubo builds in the last year, and each one had something unique to it. I'm always amazed at just how creative woodworkers can be.

[cts1085]

Question about another modification - what are the pro's and con's with the front row of dog-holes being round instead of rectangular?

Just curious.

Thanks!

[Texfire]

Looking at the plans, there seem to be alternating round and square dog holes lined up with the tail vice.

[thewoodwhisperer]

The only real advantage to the round is that you can use commercial products that are meant for round dog holes. I have some things that I spent good money on and I don't want them to go to waste. The round holes are one of the last things you'll do to the top so you can always make a game-day decision. That is not the case for the square holes, however, you either build them into the top or you don't. So plan ahead. The plan does show both round and square, since that's what I plan on doing. But not everyone is going to want to go that route.

[Beechwood Chip]

Is it easy to buy commercial products for square holes, so if you are starting from scratch then all square is the way to go? Or is it, round if you are going to buy, square if you are going to make them yourself?

[konkers]

On issue with two tail vises is that you no longer have a clean edge on your bench for croscutting.

[thewoodwhisperer]

Is it easy to buy commercial products for square holes, so if you are starting from scratch then all square is the way to go? Or is it, round if you are going to buy, square if you are going to make them yourself?

Personally, I'd say square if you are going shop-made and round if you plan to purchase.

[duckkisser]

oooo octagon bench dogs..........give yourself a challenge:)

[Beechwood Chip]

Or maybe make big square holes and square inserts with round holes. When the round hole becomes oval, just replace the insert. If you want to use a shop-made square dig, remove the insert.

[AMarshall]

Fortunately, I'm right in the process of putting my shop together, so I do have some latitude on the size of the work room where my Roubo will be located. I'm thinking about increasing the bench size from that in the plans, and adding a second tail vise. Benchcrafted offers both a right-hand and left-hand vise, so one of each will work out well.

Any thoughts on that?

It sounds like you might be thinking about putting two tail vises on the same end. One in the front and one in the back. This is very interesting, something I haven't seen before. Is there a particular need for this in your typical work? Or is it just a way to gain another "station" for working?

[duckkisser]

Or maybe make big square holes and square inserts with round holes. When the round hole becomes oval, just replace the insert. If you want to use a shop-made square dog, remove the insert.

i like this idea but will it work?

[Beechwood Chip]

i like this idea but will it work?

I have no idea - just a thought.

[lemonjello]

I went back and forth with round-vs-square and in the end went with round. A few reasons:

One-Faster and easier to do when bench top is done.

Two-Not a problem to add one in a spot where you need it and didn't plan for it during the build.

Three-figuring out the travel distance of the vise with chop thickness and apron and spacing of dog holes is much easier when vises are installed

Four-haven't been able to find a square router or drill bit....yet...

[Joraft]

It sounds like you might be thinking about putting two tail vises on the same end. One in the front and one in the back. This is very interesting, something I haven't seen before. Is there a particular need for this in your typical work? Or is it just a way to gain another "station" for working?

Aaron, yes, two tail vises on one end. I plan to use it both as a second station and for holding wider pieces.

Jameel made a bench like this a couple of years ago:

[duckkisser]

im wondering what kind of assories you would build for your bench?

[Skunkeye]

I waffle about the split top feature, for some reason a solid top appeals to me. I could probably get the planing stop feature by utilizing holdfasts on a solid top, or a bench hook.

I'll likely go split top first and see if I like it.

[AMarshall]

I waffle about the split top feature, for some reason a solid top appeals to me.

The split top has a couple advantages I can think of. First, this whole bench is designed to be broken down if needed. When moving, it would be a lot easier to handle a half top. Second and more important to me - if you ever need to flatten the benchtop it's nice to have two separate slabs so they will fit through a 12" planer. You could go all neanderthal on it, but the narrow halves give you the option of using machinery.

[duckkisser]

time is money and i would not ever have the patience or the time to hand plane my top. if you spit it down the middle you have the chance to have a gap that you can clamp projects half way across the table for better stability.

[hamptonpaulk]

Another thought on modification:

Not sure if this needs to be a different topic, mods feel free to move if so.

I am thinking I will have make a bit of a budget modification on this one, but not to dramatic. I love the benchcrafted hardware, and have seen very few options that match the quality, so I plan on using them. That being said I do plan on only doing the tail vise portion due to costs.

For the time being I will go with a crochet on the far left of the bench in roubo style using holdfasts in the leg to secure work.

I think it is still possible to build the bench with the anticipation of adding the leg vice at a later time.

From the awesome SketchUp model I can see that there is a thru mortise on the leg and a hole drilled to accept the threaded rod. All other parts will come from Benchcrafted. Please correct me here if need be, or if there are any issues with my workaround.

This should offset the cost by about $320

[AMarshall]

Hampton, I think that's a great solution for a phased build. Do the main bench now, and then you can always retrofit the leg vise later. If you build with knockdown hardware you should be able to break down the bench and then drill and mortise for the leg vise later. It would be much more difficult to retrofit the wagon vise in the tail position, although there are other types of tail vises you could add later if you desired.

Note that there is also a recess in the back of the leg where the screw comes through. The nut is sunk into the leg about 1/4" if my memory is correct, though this really isn't strictly necessary.

[AdamAronson]

Has anyone considered making the bench shorter? My space will barely fit the 87" - awkwardly. What would be the best way to plan on lobbing a foot or so off the plan? Do I take 6" from the base and then another 3" from either end? Any thoughts?

[AMarshall]

Has anyone considered making the bench shorter? My space will barely fit the 87" - awkwardly. What would be the best way to plan on lobbing a foot or so off the plan? Do I take 6" from the base and then another 3" from either end? Any thoughts?

There have been a couple guys mentioning shorter versions, some as short as 60". When you are shortening the benchtop, just remember that the Benchcrafted tail vise needs an overhang of almost 20" past the legs for clearance. There are some workarounds possible, but it would be easiest not to mess with that end. With the 87" top, the overhang on the leg vise side is almost 15". Maybe you could take 6" out of the middle and another 6" off the end by the leg vise.