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Build idea

Roubo-style workbench

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a heavy light wood workbench with thick legs, stretchers and a wooden vise concept — not a real build.

A massive workbench with a laminated top, legs flush to the front edge, through-tenons and a leg vise. It is built from construction lumber.

Rough size
About 84 in long x 22 in deep x 34 in tall
Wood
Southern yellow pine or similar construction lumber

Tools you might use

  • Table saw with blade guard, riving knife, featherboard, and push stick, plus outfeed support for ripping laminations
  • Jointer and planer helpful but not required
  • Hand planes
  • Circular saw
  • Drill with 3/4" auger or Forstner bits, and brace or long bits for drawbore holes
  • Mortise chisels or a drill and paring chisels
  • Router
  • Moisture meter
  • Lots of clamps — at least 8 bar or pipe clamps
  • Winding sticks and a long straightedge

Our tool picks for this idea: Circular saws · Wood glue

Need bar, pipe or parallel clamps? See our clamp picks.

Drilling with a Forstner bit? Read our Forstner bit guide.

Not sure which push stick or push block to use? Read our push stick and push block guide.

Need chisels? See our chisel picks.

Key techniques

Diagram of the finished Roubo-style workbench. Front view: a laminated top 84 inches long and about 4 inches thick on four legs, each inset 8 3/4 inches from the ends, with 56 inches between the legs; about 34 inches tall overall. A long stretcher joins the legs low down, a leg vise with its screw and handle is mounted on the front-left leg, with a parallel guide near the floor, and a planing stop stands up near the left end of the top. End view: the top is about 22 inches wide, the legs are flush with its front and back edges, a short stretcher joins them, and the vise chop stands in front of the front leg.
Diagram of the finished piece. Sizes are approximate, not a tested plan. Reader build photos welcome.

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