Split-Top Roubo Workbench Reviews

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  1. John Miles (verified owner)

    Hi Marc,

    I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your videos on the split top Roubo! What a wonderful series! As pretty much a beginner/intermediate, I truly appreciated the detail, good camera work, optional strategies, clear explanations, and of course showing your mistakes. Showing the mistakes was great! That ended up giving me a lot of freedom to not worry too much about my current errors and certainly future goofs.

    I started this project awhile back, and I was quite tentative and cautious…worrying about goofs and failures. This was also due to the fact that most strategies and techniques were new to me. As time went on, I found myself more confident and ready to plow into some new technique, or one of my own. That may be one of the greatest benefits or gifts of this series for me: confidence.

    Cheers!

    John Miles

  2. mark00thomas (verified owner)

    I have yet to start the build, but have watched all the videos. Very informative in genral. A lot of the content is dated, because of the change in bench crafted hardware. However, I still think it was very insightful to watch.

  3. Drosner (verified owner)

    That was a fun 5 months! It’s a process and a very sizeable investment but well worth it. The result is a beautiful tank and very functional. Mark doesn’t leave much out of the videos and there is no way I could have done this without it and the VERY detailed plans. Plus as usual it’s all great entertaining content. Highly recommended and I would have paid twice the video cost if I had to – it’s that helpful.

  4. pdboyes (verified owner)

    After needing a bench for way too long, I finally bought this and got to work. Well, got to work watching the videos that is! 🙂 Marc does such a great job breaking such a large project into small, manageable steps that are easy to follow. This truly is a lifetime bench. I can’t imagine needing to get rid of it and building something different to replace it. I built it a little taller and a lot longer (10″+) and both customizations were easy to do with Marc’s help.
    I love that after Benchcrafted updated their hardware he added an updated video that you receive (make sure you watch it before starting anything!) included in the cost of the project. Amazing!

  5. Ray (verified owner)

    Love this project. Been a fan for a long time and finally bit the bullet and threw down some cash. Videos are great and super easy to follow. No confusion!
    Plus I love the fact that I can watch the videos when I’m not in the shop.

  6. Tdooley13 (verified owner)

    I purchased the guild build of the Roubo workbench because after seeing the blueprints I was a little intimidated :). I had followed Marc on non-guild projects via YouTube and liked what I had seen there so I felt pretty good about buying a project.
    I am very glad I bought the Roubo project because there was so much involved in the build it was nice to be able to review the sections I was building and the ability to see another builder “in action” when I felt myself questioning my methodology on any particular sequences.
    The workbench came out beautifully and I would be remiss in not thanking Marc for making the series available.

  7. Christopher Allen (verified owner)

    As always, Marc brings a level of detail that is unmatched by other purveyors of instructional woodworking content. That said, it isn’t too much detail, and the video is not bogged down by repetitious processes that lead the viewer to become disengaged. I have been watching this Roubo in action for 5 years now so it was a treat to finally watch it come into being. Keep up the good work, Marc and Nicole!

  8. Jason (verified owner)

    Wow! I can’t say enough about Marc’s instructions throughout this video series. It’s easy to follow along being able to skip ahead or move back without issue as needed. He is very detail-oriented showing how each step needs to go and yet he doesn’t get bogged down with repetition. He is also very honest and open about the options and the mistakes he has made. The PDF plans included with it are excellent to use along with the build.

    Please do heed the warning that this is an extensive build that will take time and space. However it has been extremely rewarding especially as this is the focal point of my shop.

  9. Ryan (verified owner)

    Far and away the best woodworking instruction I have ever seen. I only started woodworking about 1.5 years ago and there is simply no way that I could have tackled this without Marc’s thorough, yet concise explanations of the steps involved. It was my first full-scale project and I could not be more pleased with the results. Moreover, the bench design is fantastic. It’s the perfect weight; heavy enough to be stable, but not so heavy you can’t move it around occasionally. I’m on the taller side, so I made my legs & leg vice chop a bit longer than the plans, but other than that, I followed everything exactly from the video. I even got a discount from Bell Forest so I didn’t have to try to load the lumber into my Volvo. I could not be happier that I joined the guild with this project.

  10. mattrob (verified owner)

    I built the Roubo bench and it has been everything and more than expected.I purchased the red leaf maple wood thru Bell Forrest and was very pleased to receive enough wood to make it thru the build and even enough extra if I needed a mulligan. The Benchcrafted hardware I bought thru Highland Woodworking was the wagon vice, leg vice with scissor.The Guild videos were a tremendous help along with the plans from Benchcrafted. Marc made the bench very easy to follow along step by step as if you did not have a bench already to help support the project during the build. There are other videos and blogs out there on building the bench but the Woodwisperer Guild build video series is the most comprehensive and complete that I know of.

  11. ff1045 (verified owner)

    Like every set of project plans and videos that Marc produces, this one is first rate and easy to follow. If you want to built the ultimate woodworking bench…. Marc has your back!

  12. mikesweb (verified owner)

    I built my first bench just using the free videos from this project. The videos are super thorough and top notch. I can’t wait to build my next bench with the full set of build videos.

  13. jeffmx (verified owner)

    I really wanted a “real” workbench, and even as an experienced woodworker it was a little intimidating to take on the Roubo project and expense. With Marc’s incredible instructions through the guild project I turned out an awesome bench that I love using, and look forward to using with joy for decades to come. Watch, rewatch, take your time, and you won’t be disapointed. No important detail is omitted, and many options are presented to allow you to get comfortable even with procedures or steps you haven’t done previously. With the quality and volume of teaching here, it’s like you’re getting it for pennies on the dollar! My highest recommendation. Jeff

  14. Bryan (verified owner)

    The videos are of high quality, and the instructions are top notch. Even years later the instructions hold true. I can safely say I couldn’t have completed the project without Marks instruction.

  15. Nicholas Steffey (verified owner)

    My first real bench after my sheet of plywood on sawhorses. Fantastic design and even better presentation! Marc makes you feel comfortable and confident that you will be successful in this build.

  16. Brian (verified owner)

    Marc did an awesome job presenting the material. It was just the right amount of detail, with no skipped steps but also at a quick enough pace to stay interesting. I’m very happy that I bought this project and built the work bench.

  17. Dan (verified owner)

    Hello Mark! I’ve been a longtime follower of your work and videos. I was finally able to come up with the appropriate time, resources and courage to attempt my first guild build. As a beginner, the roubo workbench was a much needed upgrade to my shop and it’s assembly pushed my basic woodworking skills to new heights. I have to admit, it was a little intimidating at first, but with your top-notch instruction and a little patience I was able to cross the finish line with a better than expected workbench. I have roughly 150 hours of shop time in this project. This build was definitely challenging, but the confidence and knowledge I gained throughout this build makes it that much more gratifying. Thank you Mark for sharing your mastery and motivating me to step outside my comfort zone. I could not have even come close to completing this project without your guidance. Now I have a lifetime workbench to serve as a platform for future furniture building. I can’t wait to start my next guild project!

    Take care and God bless.
    Dan Walker
    Fountaintown, IN

  18. wingcom (verified owner)

    This has been a great project, but not easy. I consider myself mostly a beginner to intermediate wood worker. Marc’s videos are spot on. I’ve watched them many times. I’ve made lots of mistakes but I keep telling myself it’s a workbench so it doesn’t have to be perfect. Marc’s workbench is near perfect. I have little time to work on it and I have just about finished the top, after 4 months. I have had to redo many parts to get them “right”. I basically did the end cap 11 times. My condor tails are not perfect but I’ve filled in the holes and you would never see them from a trotting horse. This week I get the moving end block attached. Have to remake one first. I have to get out two broken off drill bits out of the end vise braces and put in a plug. It will be an adequate fix and no one will know except me. Except I’ll probably tell everyone where I “screwed it up”. My wife asked me the other day why I picked such a hard project. Why would I want to do an easy one? She thinks I’m always depressed because things aren’t going well. I still love it. So great when you get to move on to the next part of the project. When this is done I need to make some little projects before I take on the Queen Anne high boy. I have demand for jewelry boxes. Marc, can you do a “kick ass” jewelry box project? Steve

  19. jonb150 (verified owner)

    some of the information wether its in writing or in the video could have been a little more informative

  20. lhosinski (verified owner)

    Before I built my Roubo, I had never made a mortise and tenon joint. I never would have attempted this project without Marc’s videos and plans. I am delighted with the results. Marc. Thanks again !!!

  21. hillviewwm (verified owner)

    This bench is a rock solid and functional piece of fine shop furniture. Marc does a wonderful job explaining every aspect of the build. The instructions were spot on as well as the drawings included in the build. I needed to make a left handed version and that was covered as well. He even follows up after the build with changes that he has made and advances in the vise technology. This was my first guild build and absolutely not going to be my last!

  22. cmiller74 (verified owner)

    This was one of the first projects I purchased and the reason I became a guild member. This is not a simple project, but with these plans and videos and some time, you can’t go wrong.

  23. vich (verified owner)

    Although this is the only project in The Guild series I’ve actually built along with Marc, the detailed instruction and engaging teaching style of Marc Spagnuolo (The Woodwhisperer) gives you everything you need to confidently build each project. The skills in each video translate to every other project you may want to design and create. This bench is by far the most important and used tool in my shop. If you want a workhorse bench that will last well beyond your life that you can pass down to your heirs that will hopefully carry on the tradition that you create, this is a must buy project video series.

  24. tombuhl (verified owner)

    I have been a WoodWhisperer Guild member since its inception. It is one of the great values of the woodworking world. Marc consistently presents an approach to projects that allows even complex builds to be managed by breaking them into a manageable sequence. The Roubo workbench with Benchcrafted hardware can be an overwhelming endeavor, however, Marc not only shows how it can be built, but offers insights into potential pitfalls. I very much appreciate how he will discuss why he did it a certain way on his bench and offers alternative approaches depending upon your available tools and/or design objectives.
    For my personal learning style, Marc’s videos and support documents are spot on. If a presentation goes too slow for me I lose tolerance quickly. Or if a video/article goes too quickly and glosses over needed detail I become frustrated. Marc is one of the few instructors that consistently leaves me completely satisfied. I highly recommend this project for anyone considering a workbench project. There is strong value even if you create a different style bench. Many of the lessons are universal and will minimize frustrations or problems. I would also highly recommend Chris Schwarz workbench book(s) as excellent background before undertaking this type of build.
    I had a store-bought workbench which served me well as I began my woodworking journey and it helped me to define my own objectives for this (ultimate) bench. Every day I use my bench I marvel at how much satisfaction it offers. Thanks for making it happen.

  25. c shaffer (verified owner)

    This plan is incredibly more than the paper plans of my youth. The build is waiting on funding for me, but I bought the plan to plan ahead. The alternate plans for variable options are being added to even years after the original project. If you are considering this build, I highly recommend this package!