Finding the Right Workbench Plans

If you are serious about projects around the home, then you need a quality workbench. While these can cost hundreds of dollars to buy, you can make a wonderful wood one on your own with the right workbench plans.

In craftsmen tradition, the workbench was a symbol as much as it was a piece of equipment. For some it was a showpiece complete with vices, clamps, and even bench dogs and the precision by which it was planed to perfection made the workbench into a guide for the woodworking craftsman to follow.

Making your own workbench is possible with the right workbench plans. There are dozens of options to choose from, whether you prefer a strictly functional unit or one with all of the bells and whistles, more like a showpiece.

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What you will need

Whichever workbench plans you use, you want to make sure they call for the best, most durable supplies. These supplies should include:

• Construction-grade lumber
• Lagscrews (varying sizes, depending on the workbench plans)
• Threaded rods
• Washers
• Woodscrews
• Glue
• Basic tools including a variety of saws, drill, block plane, tape measure, square, wrenches and more.

For the wood itself, construction grade lumber will be durable and resist warping over time due to high moisture or cool and hot extreme temperatures. Many workbenches tend to be kept in a garage away from controlled environments. The 2x4s and 2x6 boards that you choose should be preferable pine or cedar, heavy weight, and absolutely straight. Do not accept lumber that has any bow to it. These may be fine and workable for wall frames and other needs, but your workbench should be solid, square, and level.

Other considerations

When you find workbench plans that fit your needs and skill level, remember, you should tweak the bench to accommodate your specific requirements. A person’s height is a major determining factor is a quality workbench. When working on projects, you do not want to have to bend over or be hunched. You also don’t want to be reaching over your comfort zone because the bench is too high. This can lead to accidents and mistakes, especially when working with saws or knives.

Determine the precise height that works best for you and adjust the workbench plans to match that requirement. Also, if you plan to do a large number of projects that require gluing items together, then you may want to incorporate more vices or clamps into your workbench plans.

Simplicity may be the key

While your workbench may be a temptation to add on all the bells and whistles, it is often best when it is kept as simple as possible. A cluttered workbench can often have the opposite effect that one would want, which would be to invite you to work on and complete a number of household projects.

Don’t build a T-Rex model if you have limited space, either. If you find after a while that you could use more space, you can always build another workbench. Workbench plans should be relatively straightforward; anything overly complicated is one that most woodworkers won’t need.

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