Case Study: Charlie Robbins restores a historic porch with ShopBot CNC tools

Charlie Robbins restores historic porch in 3 months with ShopBot Tools

Charlie Robbins, a woodworker with a background in industrial arts and manufacturing, was commissioned by an Amish contractor to undertake a complex historic porch restoration. The challenge was to recreate the ornate, original porch of a million-dollar historical home using only a few grainy photographs and a small section of the original skirting as reference. To achieve this, Robbins utilized his ShopBot PRS Alpha CNC router and an indexer from ShopBot Tools, Inc.

Using ShopBot's CNC equipment and Aspire software, Robbins meticulously designed and machined all the necessary components, including detailed spindle turnings, corbels, leaf sections, and large arched and turned posts. The solution successfully delivered an exact replica of the original porch, which thrilled the homeowners. The project proved the powerful alliance between digital fabrication and historical restoration, demonstrating there was nothing Robbins could not make with his ShopBot tools.

Charlie Robbins