Thread: Plans for a Work Bench to set up in the Garage

nip down to your local library - they may have some of the workbench books available (search online)

Thanks for your Reply Nick , That's something I never thought of doing . I searched the site and downloaded some plans but they are in Imperial measurements.

There are a whole lot of plans available on the net. Don't be put off by imperial vs metric. You can readily get a tape & rule with both, or just convert - its not hard. And in any case, you should not blindly cut all components from a "cut list" but build & fit the key components as you go.

Importantly, you need to decide on the use for your bench. If you plan on hand tool work, it will need to be very sturdy & have other key criteria. A bench for primarily power tool use can get away with lighter construction. Do you plan to move it often? Will it be taken away for on-site work? What other key constraints are there? And I assume (as you have posted to a woodwork forum) that the bench will be for woodwork. A metal workers bench will have different construction & needs.

Here are some resources:

This is a great article with construction explanation from Popular Woodworking for a good, inexpensive bench . Substitute any timber you like. I prefer Oregon (Douglas Fir) if you can get recycled timber at a good price, as its easy to work & the old stuff is generally stable, quite dense & close grained. However any well dried timber will work OK.
$175 Workbench - Popular Woodworking Magazine
(Download plans in PDF format - Click Here )

Or check out Bob Langs 21st Century Workbench - for plans click here

[EDIT] I forgot the LVL workbench - plans are free & its offers an alternative for timber selection Click Here

Get yourself a copy of Google SketchUp & visit the 3-D warehouse then search on workbench - (Click Here) - a lot of plans available.
The SketchUp models can be modified for your needs and can be explored in great details to see how things go together. There are hundreds of results - some will a lot of details & have full cut lists, others will be very basic models. The warehouse will let you quickly scan a lot of designs & allow you to select something that suits your needs.

Go to workbenchdesign.net (Click Here for plans) as they have a section for free plans & lots of other resources you might find useful.

Buy the Chris Schwarz Workbench Design book if you don't really have a clear understanding of what you want to build or why you have selected a particular design A - there is one for sale on the MarketPlace in this form at present. This will help you understand what makes a good woodworkers workbench & the design options to consider. Or trawl through the Popular Woodworking blog posts by Chris Schwarz on workbench design - Click Here

There is a sub-section on this forum concerning work benches. Some threads are work in progress and some are a show and tell on what was made.

Take a look here, https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213 it might help in deciding what you might want.

Something to remember it may not be your last work bench you build and modification do occur as and when needed.

Originally Posted by Christos

......take a look here, https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213 it might help in deciding what you might want....

That should keep you busy for an hour or two.

Amongst all the other threads in that section, you might find this particular thread useful. A whole lot of benches of all kinds built by Forum Folk, most with a bit of 'design philosophy' and comments on how well they work.

Originally Posted by Christos

......Something to remember it may not be your last work bench you build and modification do occur as and when needed.....

Ah yes, the essential disclaimer - be warned, you may be starting on a longer journey than you expect!

Cheers,

Hi Ross;
Thanks for your reply. My Primary Use for the said work Bench Will be to start on my woodworking project using my handtools, I don't have much except a handsaw , 3 x chiesels and Hammer and some nail. I will attempt to build two seperate workbenches , one will be primariy used for my Mechanical repairs for my vehicle parts and the other is to build my woodworking projects on in the garage. Neither of the benches will move and they will be in fixed position , so I pretty much know where I'm heading. I took your advice and did put my hand up to purchase the Workbench book from the market section, any book or learning matterial will definitely help me.

Originally Posted by RossM

There are a whole lot of plans available on the net. Don't be put off by imperial vs metric. You can readily get a tape & rule with both, or just convert - its not hard. And in any case, you should not blindly cut all components from a "cut list" but build & fit the key components as you go.

Importantly, you need to decide on the use for your bench. If you plan on hand tool work, it will need to be very sturdy & have other key criteria. A bench for primarily power tool use can get away with lighter construction. Do you plan to move it often? Will it be taken away for on-site work? What other key constraints are there? And I assume (as you have posted to a woodwork forum) that the bench will be for woodwork. A metal workers bench will have different construction & needs.

Here are some resources:

This is a great article with construction explanation from Popular Woodworking for a good, inexpensive bench . Substitute any timber you like. I prefer Oregon (Douglas Fir) if you can get recycled timber at a good price, as its easy to work & the old stuff is generally stable, quite dense & close grained. However any well dried timber will work OK.
$175 Workbench - Popular Woodworking Magazine
(Download plans in PDF format - Click Here )

Or check out Bob Langs 21st Century Workbench - for plans click here

[EDIT] I forgot the LVL workbench - plans are free & its offers an alternative for timber selection Click Here

Get yourself a copy of Google SketchUp & visit the 3-D warehouse then search on workbench - (Click Here) - a lot of plans available.
The SketchUp models can be modified for your needs and can be explored in great details to see how things go together. There are hundreds of results - some will a lot of details & have full cut lists, others will be very basic models. The warehouse will let you quickly scan a lot of designs & allow you to select something that suits your needs.

Go to workbenchdesign.net (Click Here for plans) as they have a section for free plans & lots of other resources you might find useful.

Buy the Chris Schwarz Workbench Design book if you don't really have a clear understanding of what you want to build or why you have selected a particular design A - there is one for sale on the MarketPlace in this form at present. This will help you understand what makes a good woodworkers workbench & the design options to consider. Or trawl through the Popular Woodworking blog posts by Chris Schwarz on workbench design - Click Here

Glad this was of some help.

I agree with Christos - this probably won't be they last bench you build, so don't sweat over it too much! And I also agree that as you start using it you will probably reconfigure things over time.

It's a good project to start out on, as it builds basic skills & any mistakes won't matter greatly. I suggest you try to find a simpler design, rather than something overly complicated.

And remember that, at least for the woodworking bench, this is a tool, not a storage system!

As you are looking at hand tool work, mass is going to be your friend, so err on the side of beefier components.

Where abouts in NSW are you? If you in South west Sydney I have heaps of magazines/ books you can have a flick through and copy any pages you want.

Originally Posted by shanesmith80

Where abouts in NSW are you? If you in South west Sydney I have heaps of magazines/ books you can have a flick through and copy any pages you want.

Hi Shane , I'm over in Hills area. Thanks for the offer. i will pick up the Book 1st and have a look through the book and get some design ideas for this Workbench , failing that I will definitely keep you in mind.

I was just thinking I should have built the Paulk Workbench as my first workbench.
And wish someone had mentioned it at the time.

Have a look on YouTube at the Paulk Workbench and its torsion design.
He's got plans in Metric and Imperial and a few variations.
In PDF format.

He's also got a huge series youtube vids of how to build his workbench.
And a huge following.
And others have fitted a vice.


$175 workbench in AUS $ is $240 exchange rate - additionally don't forget timber in Aus being so much more expensive.

Go to facebook groups and ask to join workbench builders,there are a few workbench plans in the file folder there. also paul sellers has a good bench he shows how to build on you tube.

Here's one I built nd have been happy with - it doesn't require a lot of tools to make
Rock-Solid Plywood Bench - Fine Woodworking Article

https://woodgears.ca/workbench/build.html

He also does a few other simple table and workshop furniture builds out of scrap materials on his youtube channel.

If you want a really fast, sturdy bench, I did one using Rack-It shelving that you get at the Green Shed and for a top, I used the beech laminated panel that is 2.2m x 600mm x 26mm also from the Green Shed. Since the Rack-It system doesn't expect you to use a different top, the top needs to be secured to the frame. To do this, I used a bit of angle-iron (from another aisle). I then coated the laminated panel with a Cabots CFP Floor. Basically, I was able to put together a workbench in about an hour (not including the time at the green shed or the poly drying time) with just a drill. Now, it isn't perfect and nor is it cheap but it is fast and very sturdy. Going through the Green Shed's website, it looks like you could do it today for $275 plus the Cabots at around $30 so about $305 all up. I'll go out to the shed later and take a photo.