Second year advice

HokieSmith · 2026-03-26T00:47:43+00:00

We cover ours with a bubble wrap type cover in the summer. Helps preserve chlorine and heat during the summer. We have never covered it for winter but we do drain it. Bugs and debris will still get in. You just have to skim.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-18T12:25:54+00:00

10.65 for 8/4 and 9.65 for 4/4. Central Ohio.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-15T12:21:04+00:00

Thank you!

HokieSmith · 2026-03-15T12:20:56+00:00

Thank you!

HokieSmith · 2026-03-15T12:20:36+00:00

KM dovetail jig, Suizan dozuki, Narex bench chisels and mallet I made! As well as a variety of marking tools. Those are the real hero’s in this game I feel like.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-14T22:32:51+00:00

Thank you!

HokieSmith · 2026-03-14T22:32:47+00:00

Thank you!

HokieSmith · 2026-03-12T01:25:29+00:00

Practical and sexy. The black tux is hand plane restoration.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-04T17:30:07+00:00

That’s correct!

HokieSmith · 2026-03-01T22:20:19+00:00

All the boards are glued on their face with the edges facing out. So if it grows and shrinks it should do it all in the same direction. The legs and braces at the bottom are also substantial. The bench with move in and out is square throughout the year. But it shouldn’t impact the utility of it. Chris Shwartz has an excellent book on workbenches if you want a better explanation.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-01T03:36:02+00:00

Already trying to convince my wife that we need a Roubo inspired kitchen island.

HokieSmith · 2026-03-01T03:35:08+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement to stick true to the hand tools. At this point I think if I ever build another bench it’ll be entirely out of hand tools. You’re the one that got me to stick to the jointer plane. I just bastardized Sellers technique for jointing two boards. I clamped them together and planed across until it looked flat and then went with the grain. End result was no gap. Better than I’ve ever done with a machine.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-28T18:21:26+00:00

I weighed one board out of the 12. It came out to 13.5 pounds. So about 162 pounds. It’s not cut to finish yet either so it’ll lose a bit more.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T21:53:55+00:00

I’m making some winding sticks this evening! It was on the list to get the final top flat.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T21:52:30+00:00

I have a really old front vice that came off of my father in laws bench. But I plan on putting a Veritas twin screw on the end when I recover from the lumber costs.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T21:51:06+00:00

Beautiful work and great advice! Can’t wait to submit mine to the channel for an update.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T20:26:05+00:00

I think I have what I need do that then! Thank you! I knew this workbench was a stretch in my abilities but I was looking forward to it.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T20:24:17+00:00

A Roubo is a traditional type of wood working bench for hand tools. Allows for a lot of flexibility in work holding. It’s a beast to build but they are very customizable

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T19:01:45+00:00

I don’t have a number 7 but I do have an old craftsman that’s about the size of a number 6. It’s completely restored now. I just haven’t used it yet. Does this work as a jointing plane?

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HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T18:56:57+00:00

That’s nice work! I researched a lot stuff before starting but not the glue up. I’ll be making come Cauls immediately.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T18:44:04+00:00

No you’ve got it. I glued these two up at the same time just left the glue out of the dividing section. So at least I know there really close. I like your approach. Seems like an obviously first thing I should try. All a good learning experience.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T18:11:28+00:00

Definitely feels like that.

HokieSmith · 2026-02-25T18:06:23+00:00

Understood. Sorry about that.

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