The most important tool in your woodworking shop, is actually not a tool

You’ve got ideas and ambitions about what you want to build. 

You’ve spent hours on Youtube getting inspired to watch masters move from one machine to the next making effortless precise cuts and doing glue ups in what looks like seconds. So you made a list of all the tools you need, you created wishlists and have been scouring the internet for good deals. 

But is there something you should do before you start just buying up equipment? 

Yes!

You need a proper workbench, no not just a flat table table you can clutter up with tools but a real workbench.

You know, one that doesn’t shake, wiggle and wobble around. One that isnt held together with a network of thin screws that seem to all wiggle loose once you start putting a little bit muscle behind that bench plane. One that has some meat to it, like the kind you see in the magazines! It has clamping and hold down options, thick sturdy legs, and a proper vise you really crank down on. 

Some say the table saw is the heart beat of every woodshop, but a would argue that the humble work bench is. 

Why? 

Well, a workbench is like the foundation of your house, if it is built poorly, it cant take a beating, moves and doesn’t provide that rock hard work surface it is going to make building anything else that is stable and sturdy that much harder. It also serves as a reminder as to how solid a piece of furniture can be. 

Have you ever walked by those work benches they sell at Harboor freight? From the outside it looks like it will be a half decent bench but then you just shake it a little and the whole thing wiggles back and forth. You can’t do any fine saw, plane or chisel work while your work surface is moving. 

That’s why before you dive into your dream project you need to build a workbench that is going to last you the rest of your life. Granted you can make some changes and upgrades or possibly you build another one down the road if you happen to move into a bigger space, but the first bench you build should still be standing proud and strong, ready to work. 

So when you are deciding on a work bench here are some things to take into consideration. 

1. How much space do you have? We don’t all have unlimited space so a smaller footprint might make sense. Remember you can take a design you see and scale it down. 

2. Pick a design that is strong in every direction. My workbench has a great deal of stress put on the legs in every direction but the biggest point of failure for poorly built workbenches is the side to side shear forces on the legs. There is a place for screws and dowels but when it comes to workbench legs, buckle down and make some proper mortise and tenon joints. Yes, I know they take a lot longer to make than the old pocket hole, zip-zap-zoop operation but years from now you will always walk but your first work surface and feel a sense of pride. 

3. You need clamping options. A good vise will take you a long way as you can clamp down most small to midsize pieces in it. However there are going to be small irregular shaped pieces you need clamped laying flat on your work surface. For this reason I suggest having dog holes or a t-track on your workbench that gives you the option of using inline clamps that put pressure on the side of your workpiece and leave the face exposed for chisel or plane work. 

4. Pick a design you can actually make in a reasonable time frame. While you want your workbench to be strong, stable, functional and look good, think through the design and whether or not you can realistically build the design you picked. You don’t want your workbench project to turn into a magnum opus, right?

5. You can frankenstein together a few designs. Some designs feature vices that are quite spendy. You should be able to get away with making a workbench for about $300-500 in material costs. Look at some vice options and pick something that is going to fit your budget.

Once you have your work bench built every project you take on after will be that more enjoyable. You will also have the pride and experience of building something truly sturdy and well built under your belt.

If you need some tools to get started on building you work bench, consider using this link and help support more content like this.