Video: Build a Roman Workbench

With Christopher Schwarz Roman Workbenches are the most portable, compact, inexpensive and easy-to-use workbenches available. Made from about $45 in dimensional lumber and scraps, these benches allow you to make cabinets, chairs and tables while sitting down. These benches are ideal for apartment woodworkers – or anyone who has limited shop space (the bench can double as a coffee table). It's also ideal for woodworkers who travel, who like to work outside or have mobility issues. This video shows you how to build this bench whether you own just a few hand tools or have a full machine shop. The bench is laminated from two pieces of pine 2x12, with red oak legs. The parts are joined with mortise-and tenon joinery. In the video, you'll learn to make the mortises with an auger bit. And you'll learn to make the tenons with a lathe, a tenon cutter or simply a saw and a chisel. The bench is robust and will easily hold 400 pounds, yet it weighs less than 44 pounds. The overall size of the benc