First Workbench

[Fred Hubert]

I'm getting ready to build my first bench soon and have assembled the following links as options for plans to follow:

http://www.am-wood.com/jan99/bench.html (http://www.am-wood.com/jan99/bench.html)
http://www.diynet.com/diy/ww_materials_products/article/0,2049,DIY_14442_2274072,00.html (http://www.diynet.com/diy/ww_materials_products/article/0,2049,DIY_14442_2274072,00.html)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_products/article/0,1801,HGTV_3140_1391243,00.html (http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_products/article/0,1801,HGTV_3140_1391243,00.html)
http://sumeru.stanford.edu/tim/woodwork/bench.html (http://sumeru.stanford.edu/tim/woodwork/bench.html)
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/fea.asp?id=1069 (http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/fea.asp?id=1069)
http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm (http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm)

I fully expect that I'll build more than one, as well as an assembly table that will double as an outfeed table. Just not sure which I should build first, but I'm leaning toward either Bob Key's or the Popular Woodworking version (the last two)...
The bench will go into the basement shop I'm setting up, so I'm considering the lowest comfortable height due to the headroom restrictions.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

~ Fred

[Tyler Howell]

Welcome Fred,

You are off to a good start. Plenty of info floating in the Creek.

[Lou Morrissette]

Fred,

Welcome to the Creek. Great place to hang out and learn. I would say to pick a design that suites your needs and you feel comfortable with.
BTW, I go thru your lovely town every March on my yearly trip to Parker's for their great breakfast.:D

Lou

[Maurice Ungaro]

Welcome Fred! For what it's worth, I built the bench dipcted at : http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm (http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm) . Since youlisted it, i thought I'd put in an endorsement for it as a "first timer" project. After that, you can take it from there.

Maurice

[Tyler Howell]

May I also sugggest 2 beautiful and informative books.:cool:
The Workbench by Lon Schleining
The Workbech Book by Scott Landis
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11748 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11748)

[Matt Meiser]

I built a bench similar to the Popular Woodworking one you listed and am very happy with it. Mine has a top made from 5 pieces of 3/4" baltic birch laminated together.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=13413