Woodworking Bench Plans
A woodworking bench is a must for anyone who wants to work with wood. It is meant both for safety and convenience while working.
It has to be built well to withstand all the movements while one is at work. It has to be able handle the weight of the wood and the force from the tools.
A workbench can as simple as 4 sturdy legs with a flat, thick surface.
It can be as complex as something with lots of drawers, extendable slabs under the main table, moveable layers, and all the fancy stuff that can be fitted into it.
Here are some of the best woodworking bench plans in creating a sturdy workbench for your woodworking project.
Basic Workbench Plans
Whether you’re building a simple or a complex workbench, note that it has to have these important features:
- It should be strong enough to hold heavy tools and materials.
- It must be durable enough to last for more than just a few projects.
- It should fit the workspace, with enough room so you are able to comfortably move around while working.
- It must be able to hold up steadily despite movements while working, such as adjusting the position of materials, the vibrations and force of the drilling machine or saw, etc.
Basic Workbench Materials
Workbenches typically have 4 legs and a top. Some have two boxes to hold tools to be more organized while working.
These boxes can also be used as storage for materials and tools when not in use.
The legs are typically 2x4s that are screwed together. The material for the boxes and the top may be plywood.
Some people use an old door slab or an old tabletop for the top of the workbench. It depends on one’s budget and preference.
Nonetheless, the most important thing to consider is that the top should not be too heavy for the legs, but it must also be sturdy and not crack under force, pressure, and weight while in use.
Basic Dimensions of Woodworking Bench Plans
A workbench can be of any size and design as long as it suits your preferences and purposes.
Typically, workbenches are 28 to 36 inches deep, 28 to 38 inches high, and 48 to 96 inches wide.
The width and depth of the workbench are usually dictated by the available space in the work area. If it is for outdoor use, it can be bigger.
The top is typically made of plywood. Other materials may be used, depending on preference and budget.
And as mentioned, the legs are usually made with 2x4s.
The height is typically dictated by what is comfortable to the user. The important consideration is that the user should not stoop so low or overreach when using the workbench.
The top plywood cover is usually equal to the overall depth divided by the overall width.
So, if the overall width is 50 inches and the overall depth (height) is 25 inches, the top should be ½ inches deep.
The length of the legs for the top substrate is usually equal to the overall width minus 3. If the entire workbench is 50 inches wide, the length of the 2×4 legs should be 50 – 3 = 47 inches.
The number of 2x4s to use for the legs is calculated as the overall height minus 4. Hence, if the height is 25 inches, compute it like this: 25 – 4 = 21 inches.
How the workbench looks like depends on the user. There are many types of woodworking bench plans that come in different designs and functionalities.
Just remember that the workbench you create has to be sturdy, durable, comfortable to work with, and doesn’t take up so much space so you can freely move around while working on your woodworking project.
