Woodworking Magazine Blog

Here's the nearly completed shot of the handmade Roubo workbench that will be on the cover of the August 2010 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. The only thing missing is me showing off a bit more sun-deprived flesh and a non-Botox pout -- look for that post tomorrow.

Plans for this bench will be featured in that issue of the magazine, plus in a soon-to-be released DVD on building this bench (Senior Editor Glen D. Huey has videotaped the entire process). And it will be featured in greatly expanded form (with some "enhancements" to the design) in the forthcoming book "The Workbench Design Book" -- also due out this year from us. It's the sequel to our successful book "Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use" (now in its third printing).

And if that's not enough for you, please attend our Woodworking in America conference Oct. 1-3 in Cincinnati and you can see, examine and even work on this bench during our three-day glutton-fest of woodworking. (And if you really want to go all-Roubo, we have another Roubo event planned for the weekend.)

All in all, I think it's time to declare 2010 as the year of the "Roubo Renaissance," as others have recognized the genius of his work and designs and have spread the word (or at least the silhouetted image).

To everyone out there I say: Bravo. And that you have only scratched the surface when it comes to recognizing the amazing output of this French cabinetmaker and writer. But to get an early peek of that, you'll have to come to the Queen City this fall.

— Christopher Schwarz

Other Workbench Resources I Recommend

• "The Workbench Book" (Taunton) by Scott Landis

• "The Best of Shops & Workbenches" (Popular Woodworking) on CD

• Workbenchdesign.net

• Woodworking Magazine Issue 4, which features the plans for my first Roubo-style workbench