Simple, Sturdy Workbench

From Getting Started in Woodworking, Season 2

B y A s a C h r i s t i a n a

T his workbench is easy and inexpensive

to build, yet is sturdy and versatile
enough for any woodworker. The base is
Lumber, hardware and supplies list
4 8-ft.-long 2x4s, kiln-dried
2 8-ft.-long 4x4s, kiln-dried
construction lumber (4x4s and 2x4s), joined 1 4x8 sheet of MDF
simply with long bolts and short dowels. The 2 Hardwood pieces for vise jaws, 71/2 in. long by 3 in. wide. Front jaw can be
between 1 in. and 11/2 in. thick and the rear jaw is 3/4 in. thick.
top is two layers of MDF (medium-density
1 Filler block for mounting vise, 3/4-in.-thick plywood, 4 in. wide by 6 in. long
fiberboard), cut from a single sheet, with
1 bottle of yellow glue
enough left over to make a handy shelf.
1 7-in. Groz Rapid-Action Woodworking Vise (www.woodcraft.com)
The only tools needed to make this bench 4 6-ft. lengths of 3 ⁄ 8-in.-dia. threaded rod
are a drill/driver, a circular saw, and a hand- 16 ⁄ -in. washers
38

held router or a router table. 16 ⁄ -in. nuts

38

There is room at one end for a small cast-
iron woodworking vise, which is an essential
tool in any woodworking shop. The vise is
fitted with non-marring wooden jaws, and the
2 2-in.-long 1/4-20 bolts, nuts, washers for attaching front jaw of vise
2 11/2-in.-long, 1/4-20 flathead screws for attaching rear jaw
1 Box of 11/4-in.-long drywall screws for laminating benchtop
4 ⁄ -in.-dia., 21/2-in.-long lag screws and washers, for attaching vise
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jaws and benchtop receive dog holes, sized 16 S-clip-type tabletop fasteners
16 ⁄ -in.-dia. dowels, roughly 3 in. long
38
to fit a variety of handy bench accessories.

11/2 in.
24 in. 62 in.

4 in.
27⁄8 in. 35⁄16 in.
13⁄16 in.
10 in. 13⁄4 in.
Side Long stretchers
stretchers

335⁄8 in.

13⁄4 in.

13⁄16 in. 95⁄8 in. 93⁄16 in.

9 in.

17 in. 41 in.

48 in.
31/2 in.

VIDEOS Visit us online at FineWoodworking.com/Start to watch a two-part video detailing how to build this workbench from start to finish.
Top is made from two
layers of MDF, glued
and screwed together.

Cast-iron woodworking
vise, lag-bolted to 11/4 in. drywall
benchtop. screws driven
from the
bottom up
Shelf is cut from same
4x8 sheet of MDF.

All stretchers
are made from
2x4 lumber.
1 in.

S-clip tabletop
fasteners go into
top slots. Holes for
threaded
rod
⁄ -in.-dia.
38
Legs are made
dowels from 4x4 lumber.

Screws driven from underside

are laid out on a 6-in.-square
grid to avoid interference with
dog holes.

⁄ -in. washers
38

⁄ -in.-dia.
38 and nuts
Dog holes,
threaded rod
3/4 in. dia.

Hole for dowel. 1 in.

3/4 in. Find mating
hole in leg 5 in.
⁄ in.
7 16
using a dowel
1 in. center.
⁄ in.
38

2 in.

27⁄8 in.
38⁄ in. 3/4 in.

1 in. to
⁄ in.
38
11/2 in.
⁄ in.
9 16
⁄ in.
7 16

⁄ in.
38
27⁄8 in.
78⁄ in.
11/2 in. 11/2 in. 71/2 in.

Long Side Vise and

stretchers stretchers Benchdog holes