Make Your Own Workbench

Build the workbench your shop needs.

A well-built workbench is the keystone to any woodworker’s shop. This is where a hefty percentage of the work takes place—where the project you’re crafting is clamped, shaped, and assembled. Having a functional and comfortable-to-use workbench is a requirement for woodworking success. Take a look at these thirteen classic workbench designs pulled from the pages of Popular Woodworking. From knowledgeable writers like Christopher Schwarz, Glen D. Huey, and Robert W. Lang, there is a style of bench to suit any woodworker—from mobile to knockdown to heavyweight fixtures. And as any experienced shop owner knows, accessorizing your workbench is a requirement for maximum utility. After building your bench of choice, deck it out with clamps, bench hooks, and racks.

Popular Woodworking magazine has delivered articles and commentary from America’s best and brightest woodworkers for more than 30 years. The editorial focus is a committed philosophy of hybrid woodworking—blending the best of hand tool and power tool woodworking. They bring readers woodworking projects for every skill level ranging from simple (but attractive) projects that use basic joinery, to complex furniture plans using advanced woodworking techniques. The magazine is published 6 times annually—5 regular-sized issues, and 1 double-sized issue, and is available digitally as well as in print.