The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches

The follow-up book to Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use

Complete plans, expert instruction and rationale for building nine workbench formsInstruction on improving existing workbenches for better workholding and an improved woodworking shop.

The Workbench Design Book not only shows how to design a workbenchâ€"it also discusses and presents nine specific designs plus critiques of 10 additional workbenches, with suggestions for making any bench work most effectively for the kind of work the user does. The 9 workbench plans have a range suitable for all workshop needs, from handwork to power tools. A discussion of workbench design rules teach what's effective and why in a multitude of workshop situations. Additional workholding optionsâ€"from shop-made jigs and commercial bench dogs to vise hardwareâ€"are also provided.

Christopher Schwarz is the editor of Popular Woodworking magazine and a contributing editor to The Fine Tool Journal. He's the author of Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use and Handplane Essentials and is the host of 6 DVDs on hand-tool usage produced by Lie-Nielsen Toolworks and many DVDs for Popular Woodworking magazine. He's taught classes on workbenches and handtools all over the world, and will appear in 2011 on the long-running PBS show The Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill. The Popular Woodworking magazine staff contributors are also recognized experts in their woodworking specialty areas.