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The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches
The follow-up book to "Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use"
Complete plans, expert instruction and rationale for building nine workbench formsInstruction on improving existing workbenches for better workholding and an improved woodworking shop.
"The Workbench Design Book" not only shows how to design a workbench it also discusses and presents nine specific designs plus critiques of 10 additional workbenches, with suggestions for making any bench work most effectively for the kind of work the user does. The 9 workbench plans have a range suitable for all workshop needs, from handwork to power tools. A discussion of workbench design rules teach what's effective and why in a multitude of workshop situations. Additional workholding options from shop-made jigs and commercial bench dogs to vise hardware are also provided."
Complete plans, expert instruction and rationale for building nine workbench formsInstruction on improving existing workbenches for better workholding and an improved woodworking shop.
"The Workbench Design Book" not only shows how to design a workbench it also discusses and presents nine specific designs plus critiques of 10 additional workbenches, with suggestions for making any bench work most effectively for the kind of work the user does. The 9 workbench plans have a range suitable for all workshop needs, from handwork to power tools. A discussion of workbench design rules teach what's effective and why in a multitude of workshop situations. Additional workholding options from shop-made jigs and commercial bench dogs to vise hardware are also provided."
- GenresWoodworkCraftsNonfiction
264 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2011
136 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 12, 2017
This is a follow-up to
Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use
and seems to have been written mostly to address the complaints Schwarz got that he didn't include enough plans in the first one; there are nine in this one, compared to two in the other one. I don't think he was spitefully trying to prove that more plans wouldn't have made for a more useful book, but he did anyway.
He also took more input from the Popular Woodworking staff, having them write chapters on their own workbenches, which you would think would provide useful alternative views but doesn't really; there aren't a lot of correct opinions when it comes to workbenches, and asking more people just gets you either echoes or bullshit. Mostly echoes, in this case.
If you're only going to read one book about workbench design, read the other one. If you're going to read more than one, this one isn't actively bad but also doesn't really add anything. The only notable thing I'll be stealing from it is Robert W. Lang's wall-hung tool rack design, which is very neat but also doesn't justify the €35 price tag.
He also took more input from the Popular Woodworking staff, having them write chapters on their own workbenches, which you would think would provide useful alternative views but doesn't really; there aren't a lot of correct opinions when it comes to workbenches, and asking more people just gets you either echoes or bullshit. Mostly echoes, in this case.
If you're only going to read one book about workbench design, read the other one. If you're going to read more than one, this one isn't actively bad but also doesn't really add anything. The only notable thing I'll be stealing from it is Robert W. Lang's wall-hung tool rack design, which is very neat but also doesn't justify the €35 price tag.
July 4, 2020
Must Read if Thinking of Building a Workbench
After years of buying power tools and making things for classroom (my wife is a pre-school teacher), home and yard, I have decided to move to the quieter and more enjoyable world of hand tool wood working. This change has created a very great need for a workbench. After YouTubing the subject to an annoying level (teachers have their limits), I decided to look at book reviews that led me to this book.
I found joy in Christopher's humor and easy to follow explanations of different workbench styles. I have a much deeper understanding of how my choices in building a workbench what will support what I hope to master This is a book that I plan to come back to many times as I design and build my first, real workbench. Thank you!
After years of buying power tools and making things for classroom (my wife is a pre-school teacher), home and yard, I have decided to move to the quieter and more enjoyable world of hand tool wood working. This change has created a very great need for a workbench. After YouTubing the subject to an annoying level (teachers have their limits), I decided to look at book reviews that led me to this book.
I found joy in Christopher's humor and easy to follow explanations of different workbench styles. I have a much deeper understanding of how my choices in building a workbench what will support what I hope to master This is a book that I plan to come back to many times as I design and build my first, real workbench. Thank you!
January 30, 2022
Great content, poor (or no) optimization for kindle
This book is a great read for anyone looking at building a proper hand tool work bench, beware though that the Kindle version has not been optimized at all. Fractions appear in the format 11.2 (i.e. 1 1/2) throughout the book, plus there are line end hyphenations from the print version scattered randomly throughout. Worst of all, the pictures are all very low quality, and I when I say low quality I mean that no amount of of zooming in is going to make them readable.
All in all, considering the price of the kindle version isn’t much less than the print version I’d say grab the printed book instead.
This book is a great read for anyone looking at building a proper hand tool work bench, beware though that the Kindle version has not been optimized at all. Fractions appear in the format 11.2 (i.e. 1 1/2) throughout the book, plus there are line end hyphenations from the print version scattered randomly throughout. Worst of all, the pictures are all very low quality, and I when I say low quality I mean that no amount of of zooming in is going to make them readable.
All in all, considering the price of the kindle version isn’t much less than the print version I’d say grab the printed book instead.
September 25, 2018
it's pretty technical
June 16, 2020
Wow. Great writing for a how to book. I want to incorporate every feature mentioned.
January 13, 2023
Great book. Lots of step by step instruction on many projects. Valuable insight for builders.
December 12, 2012
This book is a follow up to Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use. Some people wanted more from that book, as it only gave plans for two workbenches. While I think it was pretty detailed despite that, this one delves into the Popular Woodworking magazine archives and comes up with many more designs, complete with critiques on their merits. It's hard to say which is better, as they both are good. My recommendation is to read both if you're looking to build a bench.
May 25, 2013
Chris Schwarz is an excellent writer with a practical side. His meticulous research makes understanding the history and reasons for the development of various workbench features and accessories do an excellent job of understanding the why's & hows of their development & use. His background material makes it easier to sort out which of the various features and accessories are appropriate for the reader's situation and woodworking style.
October 8, 2015
I skimmed this courtesy of the Sunnyvale library as an E-book. I have the first workbench book which I think is vastly better, it covered benches I'm more likely to build and more of the reasoning behind bench design. On the other hand, some of the designs like the LVL bench, uses laminated lumber and after several years of use remains flat. Other designs are included as well and you may like them more than the ones in the first book.
May 24, 2011
Great book about woodworking and a means to connect to other woodworkers and the history of the craft.
Mark M
Mark M
August 8, 2011
The two Schwarz books really need to be read together. They work much better as halves of the same text. Together they are a tour de force on workbench theory, construction, and use.
April 4, 2012
Good companion to Workbench book by Schwarz. Several Patterns and critiques.
July 10, 2012
Excellent reference for anyone looking to build a workbench for general woodworking.
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November 5, 2016Edited: Today, 12:18am
I've been a woodworker/carpenter for more than 20 years and a really cool workbench has long been on my bucket list. I began researching workbenches in earnest a year ago and began making workbench v.2 (v.1 being strictly utilitarian but served me well for 20+ yrs) several weeks ago. One of the many reasons why 40 books was the goal this year. The Workbench Design Book was time well spent. Five stars- it's clearly written, not too "full of itself", and has influenced how I'm going about the task.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews