Home Shop Workbench
Crafting any type of woodworking project in a shop without a good, solid workbench is a lot like trying to create a memorable meal in a kitchen with no countertop space. However, if you’re like most woodworkers, you’re probably much more interested in getting to work on your projects than you are in building your bench. If this describes your situation, this workbench is just what you’ve been looking for…because it’s both simple to build and cheap!
We built this example in a single afternoon…for around $50! It features nearly 14 square feet of workspace, plus a storage shelf below for portable tools, materials, etc. Its dimensions were arrived at for the sake of working comfort and convenience, while allowing us to put it together quickly and affordably. Let’s get started.
LIST OF MATERIALS
(finished dimensions in inches)
A | Legs (4) | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 35 |
B | Rails (5) | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 27 |
C | Main Frame Members (2) | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 68 |
D | Stretcher | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 65 |
E | Shelf Support | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 59 |
F | Sub-Top (MDF or Particleboard) | 5/8 x 30 x 68 |
G | Shelf (MDF or Particleboard) | 5/8 x 18 x 62 |
H | Top Covering (Tempered Hardboard) | 1/4 x 30 x 68 |
1: Preparation – buy your materials. For this bench, you’ll need the stock mentioned above plus the hardware described in the List of Materials. We recommend that you sort through the 2 x 4 stack at your lumberyard to get straight, true stock that’s as knot-free as possible. Also, avoid using Southern yellow pine, since it’s hard, brittle and splits easily. Instead, use fir or hemlock.
If you’re planning to do a lot of really heavy work…or are seeking a “classier” look, you could use oak, ash or hard maple instead of construction-grade 2 x 4’s…although this approach will increase your costs substantially. We made our Sub-Top from particleboard, although MDF would be more durable – though more expensive.
Be sure to use TEMPERED hardboard for the Top Covering, as it’s considerably more durable than non-tempered hardboard and can be easily replaced after a few years of hard use.