Woodsmith Workbench

My first project posting. This is my version of the Woodsmith Shop weekend workbench, built a few weeks ago. I’m still in the process of getting my basement shop organised, having been using a rickety old bench that was in the basement when we moved in.

Constructed from framing lumber 2×8s ripped to appropriate size. The top is approx 80”x32” x 36” high to match my R4511 table saw. I have not really decided on the location for the bench, but it works very well doing double duty as an outfeed table too.

The bench is on the large size now it’s built, but I think I will get used to it’s bulk. The thing is HEAVY, with the top being fab’d from 4x layers of 3/4 mdf plus 1/4 mdf as a sacrificial top. 3/4 mdf side panels and shelf, wrapped in 2x lumber also. It is dead flat and was excellent to use for the next project I built, a Norm Abram style router table.

One of the reasons I did this particular bench was that it would be heavy and I will be using some hand tools so wanted some mass. Due to the weight I actually found I could not move it alone. In fact, it sat exactly where I built it for a month before I figured out some mobility. It’s on swivel casters with a simple mechanism that allows the bench to lift 1/2” to move it.

The finish is 3x coats of wipe-on poly. I think the top could probably do with a few more as the mdf soaked it up a lot.

Eventually I plan to add some drawers under the bench for storage. The vice I installed is a cheap example I happened to have already, not ideal but does the job quite well for now. Really enjoyed the project, learnt a lot and found out the hard way that I should have cut my stock slightly oversize as the spruce did move a little and needed some work on the jointer once ripped down.

Thanks for looking!

-- Anthony