Need help designing a workbench

[Shawn Swafford]

I am new to woodworking and need to build a bench. All of my woodworking to date has been pretty much limited to stocking guns and building my first recurve bow which is almost done. So I need to build a dedicated woodworking bench. I will be building some cabinets, furniture, and who knows what else. I have a tablesaw but I am going to try to use handtools as much as possible in the future. I am not sure what I will need in the way of bench vises or where to find a good plan for the bench. I looked at the pre-made benches like woodcraft sells but I was not impressed with the quality versus the cost. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Shawn

[Roy Wall]

Shawn,

Where are you in Kansas?......I'm just across the border....

[Shawn Swafford]

Roy, I'm in Pratt, Kansas which is south central. I would be about 4 1/2 hours from you.

Shawn

[Jerry Olexa]

There are tons of resources on internet for building workbenches. I have 2 excellent books on building workbenches: one by Taunton and the 2nd by Sam Allen. I ended up buying a Sjorberg top and building my own underpinnings.

[Roy Wall]

Ahhhhhhhh, yeah,,,,,too far!!

Anyway, check out two books:

The Workbench - by Lon Schneilling (sp) -----Hot off the Taunton Press

The Workbench Book - by Landis (another Taunton)

You'll be blown away with all the types and styles-------end vise, side vise, front vise, shoulder vise, yada yada yada.....

Run search about them here @ SMC and you'll get many quality articles too!!

Basically, you will need 8/4 or 3x3 to 4x4 posts and 2x6 rails to get a quality, stout bench. Top to be 1.5+ inches thick......and around 72+ " long and 20 to 30 inches wide..... Accessorize (sp) to your likeing:)

[Leif Hanson]

Bob Key has put together an excellent set of pages on benches, if you haven't seen them yet:

http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/benches.htm

[Matt Cotter]

http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/plansnow/wwkbnchb.jpg

I am just completing this bench. I have the plans in pdf file. It can be seen at woodsmith site or plans now. Can use a solid core door or layered ply/mdf, or could laminate a top. Let me know if this interests you. 80" x 30". I am drilling dog holes and adding a face vise. Matt

[Shawn Swafford]

Thanks for all of the replies. Leif, the link you posted for Bob Key's site has a bench that looks like it will work fine and get me on the right track.

[Kurt Loup]

Shawn,

Here's a link to a bench I just built. more pictures (www.loup-garou.net/workbench)

Kurt

http://www.loup-garou.net/images/oiled.jpg

[Michael Perata]

Shawn

After reading all of the good books mentioned above, and giving real serious thought as to how you'll use your bench and designing exactly what need, remember this:

Your first, and maybe your second, workbench is only for practice! :)

[Shawn Swafford]

Kurt...that's a nice looking bench! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Shawn

[Jim Becker]

Your first, and maybe your second, workbench is only for practice!
Indeed. Very good wisdom in that statement!! And the good news is that you CAN have more than one in the shop...assuming space. Sometimes the best bench for working lumber in your own style isn't the best bench for assembly, etc.

The suggestion to read through a few of the excellent workbench books is good advice...you'll see many options so you can start visualizing what might work best for you, at least for now.