Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use

Two Centuries of Workbench Wisdom in One Book!

With this book, your very first workbench will do everything you need it to do—possibly for the rest of your woodworking career!

Encompassing years of historical research and real-world trials, Christopher Schwarz boils down centuries of the history and engineering of workbenches into basic ideas that all woodworkers can use.

• Learn how to design your own world-class workbench
• Learn the fundamental rules of good workbench design that have been largely forgotten
• Learn how to build an inexpensive and practical bench that hasn't been in widespread use for over 100 years
• Learn how to properly use any workbench

These old-school benches are simpler than modern benches, easier to build and perfect for both power and hand tools.

Beginning woodworkers can build either of these benches. The technical drawings are clear and show every detail. Using the step-by-step instructions, you will be amazed at how easily these workbenches can be constructed.

Christopher Schwarz is the editor of Popular Woodworking and Woodworking Magazine and is a long-time amateur furniture-maker and hand-tool enthusiast. He began working with wood at age 8 when his family members built their first home on their farm outside Hackett, Ark., using hand tools because there was no electricity. After studying journalism at Northwestern University and The Ohio State University, Chris became a newspaper reporter but studied furniture-making at night at the University of Kentucky and joined the staff of Popular Woodworking in 1996. In addition to his duties at Popular Woodworking, Chris writes about hand tools for The Fine Tool Journal and has four DVDs on traditional hand tool use produced and sold by Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He teaches handwork at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and Kelly Mehler's School of Woodworking.