How to build a workbench in 5 easy phases
Prefab workbenches generally cost between $450 and $1500 ex shipping.
If you build one yourself you will save yourself at least half of that money if not more. And when you buy your materials smart, your savings will be even greater.
If you don’t know how to build a workbench but you want to practice woodworking as a hobby it’s important that you follow these 4 easy steps.
Building a workbench is easier when you are prepared. You need the right tools, working space, the right materials and most important, easy to follow plans on how to build a workbench.
Prepare a place to build your workbench
Having enough space for your woodworking project is essential. You will be working with lengths up six feet, make sure you clear a space in your garage or cellar about 10 by 10 feet.
If your space is limited, ask a friend or neighbor or even your local wood store if you can assemble your workbench there.
Get Easy to follow workbench Plans
When you have step by step plans, even a layman can learn how to build a workbench. I found a set of plans that has enough designs to choose from and all plans made sense and were easy to follow. The best thing however, was that they came with over 16000 (!!) other woodworking plans.
Get the Right Materials
There’s cheap wood and expensive wood. There’s even plastic lumber. A great place to find good quality wood at a low price is in a used building materials store near you. A friend of mine used an old solid door as a table top. He was lucky to get one for free.
If you get your wood from a wood store I advise you to read through your workbench plans first and have them cut your wood in advance for you. This will save you time and work.
Now all you have to do is drill holes for dowels and make incisions for fixing the ends together.
Invest in Woodworking Tools
You will need good tools for good woodworking. Don’t save too much here. Good (power)tools can last a lifetime, cheap ones don’t work properly, and their lifespan is rather short.
You’ll need to buy new ones every time, not to mention how bad it is for the environment.
All this doesn’t mean you have to buy every latest invention on woodworking. A circular saw, a sanding machine, a seesaw, a power drill and a general power screw machine are basically all the power tools you will need.
You probably have most hand tools already. I inherited mine from my dad: chisels, screw clamps, hammers, screwdrivers etc. He built us wooden toys with them. The best thing about old woodworking tools is that they were built to last in those days.
So if you find some in an old toolkit in the top of your attic, it’s well worth doing some sanding, whetting and polishing to get them back into shape.
Get to work on your Workbench!
If you have all the wooden parts cut in advance, the assembly should be a peace of cake.
As soon as you have you basic woodworking bench assembled you can start work on the accessories like vises, dog holes and dog bench.
There you have it. If you simply implement these 5 steps you’ll see how easy it is to build a workbench.
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