Roubo-Style Workbench
A massive, laminated-top workbench with legs flush to the front edge, through-tenons, and a leg vise — built from construction lumber. About 84" × 22" × 34".
- Time40–70 hours
- Est. cost$250–$600
Skill level 3 of 3
Expert
Hand-cut joinery, designing for wood movement, finishing schedules, and heirloom builds.
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Dovetailed Blanket Chest
An heirloom chest with hand-cut through-dovetails, a mitered base, and a breadboard-end lid. Case 36" × 18" × 18".
- Time35–60 hours over several weeks
- Est. cost$150–$550
Expert tips
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Finishing Schedules: French Polish, Oil, and Varnish
How to plan a finish from bare wood to final coat — with three proven schedules for shellac French polish, oil/varnish blends, and brushed varnish.
Designing Furniture for Wood Movement
Why wood swells and shrinks across the grain, how to estimate it, and the classic construction details that keep tabletops and panels from cracking.
Mortise and Tenon by Hand
Layout with a mortise gauge, chopping a clean mortise, sawing and fitting the tenon, and drawboring for a joint that stays tight.
Hand-Cut Dovetails: A Practical Workflow
Tails-first layout, sawing to the line, chopping clean baselines, and transferring accurately — a dependable method for through-dovetails.