After months of unnecessary contemplation, I have set out to build my first bench. I took both Chris Schwarz and Paul Sellers advice to heart; quit worrying about wood type, design, etc., and just get to it. Pick an established design, get the best wood you can and make it.
So it begins...a Roubo of course. Pretty much as designed in Chris's book...6'x2' (all I can possibly fit in my space).
Initally, just a leg vise and planning stop.
Here's what will become the top and most of the base.
Bench wood.JPG
Here's the future legs...40 year old 6x4 redwood beams given to me by my neighbor. I'll power wash to see what I have and cut them down to manageable size. While certainly a softer wood, they are heavy, and not cut from the center of the tree...good straight grain from what I can tell and no checking whatsoever.
Bench legs.jpg
And the crotchet I've made from scrap purple heart and walnut while waiting for the rest of the wood to acclimate.
Crotchet.JPG
May become somewhat of a white elephant wood wise...but will certainly beat pushing a craftsman workmate around the "shop" with a plane and chopping and cutting on the floor.
And yes, that is the table saw I hope to put into semi-retirement soon.