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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
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    Melbourne, Vic, Australia
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    Default Benchcrafted Roubo

    Hi guys,

    Well, I always planned to build a new life-time bench later this year and with the recently high au to usd exchange rate I couldn't help myself and ordered the Benchcrafted Glide M leg and tail vises along with the crisscross. Excited to plan and build this bench!

    20180216_073739.jpg

    20180216_073706.jpg

    It will be a split-top Roubo, with dovetailed legs, and obviously a leg and tail vise. I will utilize a moxon vise as well. Thinking about 2200-2400mm x 700mm and about 850mm high. Thinking 140mm top, 140 x 120mm legs, and traditional mortise and tenon construction with dovetailed end cap. So pretty conventional Roubo.

    Not 100% sure on timber but will likely go with, again conventional, rock maple with walnut trim. Also considering white oak or cherry (prob too soft?). See below for examples of white oak and cherry;

    images (2).jpeg
    images (4).jpeg

    Or maple / walnut example:

    BEN9170-682x1024.jpg

    Any thoughts, opinons, tips or advise before I get too far down the planning road / order timber etc?

    Cheers, Dom
    Attached Images Attached Images

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    blue mountains
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    Default

    Looks like you are going all out on this so I'll settle in and watch. Love a bench build.
    As to what wood just go for what you like the look of as long as the shrinkage rate is not too large. That would be about the only technical consideration I would have as to wood choice. My top is pine so a bench top does not need to be all that hard to be functional.
    Wood Shrinkage Calculator at WOODWEB
    Regards
    John

  4. #3
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    Mar 2015
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    Default

    Yeah movement / shrinkage is why i didn't want to go with Tassie Oak / Vic Ash. My experience with it is it moves a lot and likes to cup etc. Though that may be due to poor kiln drying / reconditioning process used by suppliers of the big-box supplier.

    I kinda like that Cherry, but it would be fairly pricey, though not much more than White Oak, which is fairly open and coarse grained. Default will be Hard Maple as has a nice dense grain and seems to be used a lot for benches (which is also my main reason for not wanting it - maybe not very unique).

    I think in terms of stability / shrinkage they are all similar, with maybe cherry being the most friendly overall, particularly to work / on edge tools.

    I won't be starting it for a while. I have two big project ahead of it, but want to put together a plan and some basic drawings and then maybe get the wood so it can sit in the shop for a while and aclimatise.

    Was just looking for some opinions and general chat because I'm excited!

    Cheers, Dom

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Australia
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    684

    Default

    Look forward to see it in the making Dom!

    I've started designing a split top. Blackwood base and ideally beech for the top due to stability and not overly heavy. Plus I think the color combo will look nice! That benchcrafted hardware is top stuff. I purchased one of the new HNT gordon vices when they first came out. It's freakin' amazing. I like David Barron's approach the bench leg construction for the dovetails. He has a video on it if you have not seen it. A nice way to get the perfect fit.

  6. #5
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    Mar 2015
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    Default

    I do love blackwood also. Wasn't sure if maple/blackwood would work? I even considered blackwood for the entire bench but figured it may be too dark for the top.

    Looking forward to your build as well! Blackwood and beech sounds like a great combo.

    Yes, I was planning to use David Barrons approach. Seems like a smart way to do it. I like a challenge but would rather slightly less risk on this project !

    I did see Terry's new vise at the wood show, looks nice, but I really fell in love with the idea of a leg vise. Are you using Terry's tail vise?

    Just need to build a post and beam garage first.

    Cheers, Dom

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Australia
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    Default

    Only reason i'm using it for the base is because I have a reasonable amount here so might as well use it for something nice! I am a "contrast liker" - walnut and maple, oak and ebonised oak, etc. So blackwood and beech or blackwood and maple is a nice sounding combo to me! I have enjoyed using the new HNT vice so far. Don't use my twin screw veritas much anymore. I do not have a tail vise currently but planned on using one from HNT if I go ahead with my bench build. As with you, other projects stand in the way for now including two doors, a staircase, a sunken lounge, a built in shelving unit and a queensize bed. All for the same person!! That's me for most of the year probably....

    I look forward to seeing regular updates on that post and beam garage too!

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Langwarrin
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    Default

    I have (as my signature suggests) all the stuff ready to build a benchcrafted split top, but a lack of time means I'll be following this build with envy.....
    Given your in 'melbourne' I may even need to come see it in the flesh sometime when some questions arise.
    As far as timber selection goes, mine will be ob hardwood studs I pulled out of an old church. I have a nice slab of gidgee I plan on making the vices out of, but the rustic recycled timber look I think will do me just fine.

    Good luck and can't wait to see the progress


    Gab
    "All the gear and no idea"

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Perth, Australia
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    Dead keen on a Benchcrafted package but that $325 shipping price [emoji44]

    Anyone found a cheaper way to get them shipped here or did you all just bite the bullet?

  10. #9
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    Mar 2015
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    Quote Originally Posted by bueller View Post
    Dead keen on a Benchcrafted package but that $325 shipping price [emoji44]

    Anyone found a cheaper way to get them shipped here or did you all just bite the bullet?
    $325 ? Bargain! I paid $350 haha. Yeah I just bit the bullet, tried not to think about it, etc. Figured I'd only be building one such bench so it may as well be what I really want, without much consideration of cost. Same with the timber.

    The worst thing would be to get stung the gst and duty on top of both the benchcrafted hardware and shipping!

    Cheers, Dom

  11. #10
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    Oct 2013
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    Perth, Australia
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    Yeah I’m thinking I’ll probably suck it up and pay the shipping, the quality of the BC really does seem incredible. I’ll actually be in the US later on this year so maybe I’ll try and pick one up myself and send it home with some other stuff at the same time.

    Following this thread eagerly!

  12. #11
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    Mar 2015
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    Default

    Great, it'll be good to have some company and advice along the way. But it will be a little while before I start. As I said I have a couple of big projects to make beforehand. Probably start in a few months.

    Cheers, Dom

  13. #12
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    Oct 2013
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    Perth, Australia
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    Yeah I still have a Nicholson knock down build to finish and then onto the Roubo so no rush!

  14. #13
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    Oct 2007
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    vic clayton
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    if you go white oak i get mine from brittons in sth dandenong
    Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they
    bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs .

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by fubar View Post
    if you go white oak i get mine from brittons in sth dandenong
    Thanks mate, I'll give them a try. I got a quote from one place at approx. $5000 per cubic.

    Do they let you sort through a stack or pre-pack boards based on a quantity order?

    I've never actually worked with white oak. Based on your experience is there anything about it that makes it more or less suitable for a bench? Does it glue well? Tend to cup / move much? Splinter? Is it easy to work with hand tools?

    Cheers,

    Dom

  16. #15
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gabriel View Post
    I have (as my signature suggests) all the stuff ready to build a benchcrafted split top, but a lack of time means I'll be following this build with envy.....
    Given your in 'melbourne' I may even need to come see it in the flesh sometime when some questions arise.
    As far as timber selection goes, mine will be ob hardwood studs I pulled out of an old church. I have a nice slab of gidgee I plan on making the vices out of, but the rustic recycled timber look I think will do me just fine.

    Good luck and can't wait to see the progress


    Gab
    Ha, you'll probably end up building yours before I do and I'll be coming to see you for advice! Gidgee for the vices would be awesome!

    Cheers,

    Dom

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