Split-top Roubo Update
A few weeks ago Chris and I wrote about “my” new bench, the Benchcrafted Split-top Roubo. There are two things I’d add to that earlier post:
I have once or twice removed the insert down the middle (the gap stop) so that I could sleeve a small box over half the benchtop to plane it; that’s been handy.
Chris mentioned that the top moved a little and that to get the gap stop back in, we had to plane it. It moved a little more after that, and I ran the entire gap stop through the planer to get it to fit.
Once I had the gap stop fitting well (again), I realized I still disliked it. A good fit was not the problem. I was perpetually annoyed by all the stuff falling through the tool slots. Every time I swept stuff off my benchtop, some of it ended up on the shelf below, where it’s harder to clean.
So while I was covering the storefront Monday, Chris picked up a stick of 8/4 maple for me at the lumberyard. I planed it to fit, then cut it to the same length and width as the hole-y gap stop. I traced the cut-out shapes from the original (the cutouts allow you to shift the stop to the left and raise it to serve as a backstop) to my new stop, then cut them with a crosscut saw and chisels.
In hindsight, it might have been easier (more economical, anyway) to simply cut scrap to fit in the holes of the supplied stop. I could have used an array of contrasting woods and… Nope.
No more holes (unless I remove the stop), and it still functions as a backstop if I need it to (apologies for the vertical video and the background susurrus of planing). Now I just need to get a coat of linseed oil on the gap stop and wait for its color to catch up with that of the rest of the bench (not that it matters).
Now that I’ve actually put a mile or two on the bench, I still find it to be excellent – and now more so.
I was very happy to read your post about the Benchcraft benches.I have built two benches (one from Tate Frid’s article in FWW, and one from Frank Klaus’ article in PW). While I like both, I
‘ think the vices can be a PITA.
I’m get a little long in the tooth and don’t really want to build another bench (been there, done that, got the tee shirt) . But been thinking about the Benchcraft bench for some time. Thank’s for the comments.
Regarding your August comments about “being a BoyScout”, I am old enough to remember when that was a complement.
That's a great idea. All the debris on the lower shelf drives me crazy and is a PITA to clean.