Build an 18th-century Workbench

With the plans and the video content, you should have all the info you need to build an 18th century Roubo-style workbench. That is if you plan on making it 100% with hand tools. The video states this very clearly but I found myself longing for the Schwarz’s preferred power tool methods as well. After all, making massive deep mortise and tenon joints is going to be tricky, regardless of whether your tools are electrical or “alcohol-powered."

The strong focus on hand tools and the fairly short length of the video ultimately means that you’ll need to come into this with a fairly strong working knowledge of various saws, chisels and planes. You’ll also need to have a fairly well-equipped shop. As a woodworker who has what I would call a “decent” set of hand tools, I saw numerous things I would need to acquire if I were to build this bench using hand tools alone.

In true Schwarz style, the DVD offers a nice mix of woodworking history and techniques. Something I love about Chris’s teaching style is that he not only shows you what to do, but why. He even goes so far as to explain why Roubo may have made the choices he made when designing this bench. You walk away with a great sense of history and the knowledge that this design truly stood the test of time. You’ll also walk away wanting more!

(Posted on 2/1/13)

I enjoyed watching this video, and the bench that Christopher Schwarz builds looks fantastic (of course). I'd like to have had more footage, but that doesn't detract from the quality.I was inspired to go pick up a douglas fir beam and start on my own mini-roubo bench.

(Posted on 12/16/11)

I bought the the DVD on the Roubo 18th century bench. The instructions were clear and a rewarding. I can't tell you how great this bench is. All my woodworker friends loved it.

(Posted on 12/30/10)