Build a split top Roubo Workbench
Build your own simplified split top Roubo style workbench in three days!
“L'établi eft le premier et leplus néceffaire des outils de Menuiferie”
“The workbench is the first and most necessary of all tools for woodworking”
From part one of ‘L'Art du Menuisier’ written by André Jacob Roubo in 1774
Come and build your own 21st century split top Roubo style workbench with David on this unique one to one, three day class!
This course is now open to bookings material availability depending, please get in touch to discuss 📞
The three day Roubo workbench course bench! This is what you’ll take home at the end of day 3 in David’s Hampshire workshop...
Availability in 2025:
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Three day split top Roubo workbench current specifications.
- 1.5meters (approximately 60 inches / 5 foot) long (this can be extended to 180cm / 6 foot as an optional extra).
- 50cm (approximately 20 inches) wide (could be increased to 60cm (approximately 24 inches / 2 foot) as an optional extra).
- Custom height to suit the bench builder.
- Pine frame.
- Solid 7cm+ thick Beech top complete with gap stop.
- Choice of hardware, a leg vice with St Peter’s cross parallel guide / criss cross or a Record type vice.
- Planked pine shelf.
- Can be built to suit left or right handed people.
- Knock down design for easy transportation, the main parts of the bench can be assembled and disassembled with 4 bolts and 4 coach screws. (Should fit in most cars from a new Mini upwards!).
- Virtually future proof, this workbench can be easily modified and upgraded in the future.
- An intensive three day, one to one course. Suitable for anyone that’s enthusiastic and happy to do some heavy lifting. No prior woodworking experience is necessary, perfect for beginners upwards.
- The three day course can be held on either Monday to Wednesday (depending on availability) Wednesday to Friday, Thursday through to Saturday.
- Course price: from £1600.00. This includes timber, hardware for a main vice and light lunches on all three days.
- Options such as extra hardware or different materials can be discussed and priced up as extra options.
If you are buying this course as a gift and require a gift voucher, we have those available! Please add this as a note at checkout.
Looking for a smaller sized workbench? Check out the new Three Day Chair Makers Workbench (mini Roubo) course.
This course requires David to do a fair amount of preparation (sourcing timber and allowing it to acclimatise along with tracking down hardware) in advance of the actual course dates, with this in mind there will need to be a lead time of at the very least 2 months and a maximum capacity of one workbench course per month subject to timber and hardware availability (this has been a major problem over 2021/2022).
As with all David’s classes the teaching style is very relaxed and courses can be arranged for mutually-convenient dates, there are no school-like fixed term dates here! For 2023 onwards the last week of each month has been set aside for workbenches, though if you wish to come on a different week that can be accommodated with sufficient notice.
As with all David’s classes the teaching style is very relaxed and courses can be arranged for mutually-convenient dates, there are no school-like fixed term dates here! For 2023 onwards the last week of each month has been set aside for workbenches, though if you wish to come on a different week that can be accommodated with sufficient notice.
Workbench in the rough... this pile of timber will shortly be the 3 day Roubo workbench prototype!
The prototype 3 day workbench under construction: here the two top slabs are being glued.
The completed base frame of the 3 day Roubo workbench, with its planked shelf fitted.
The fully assembled three day Roubo Workbench just after having its top planed flat with a no 8 hand plane.
“I just wanted to send a quick email to thank your for a great bench making course in October.
As a complete beginner it was very useful to learn about the different techniques and tools, both manual and electric, that are available and to have all my fingers and thumbs at the end of the three days was a bonus.
I am looking forward to putting the skills learnt into practice.
The bench is now installed in my “workshop” and my tool collecting has started.
All the best.
Mike Perkins”
As a complete beginner it was very useful to learn about the different techniques and tools, both manual and electric, that are available and to have all my fingers and thumbs at the end of the three days was a bonus.
I am looking forward to putting the skills learnt into practice.
The bench is now installed in my “workshop” and my tool collecting has started.
All the best.
Mike Perkins”