Author Sam Allen, writing in Making Workbenches, states that no single workbench design is ideal for everyone. Whether you need room to assemble large pieces of furniture or special clamps to secure the parts of smaller projects, you can build or buy your own "perfect" workbench.
Workbenches have been used since the dawn of woodworking. Early workbenches were simple, but by the 1600s they had developed into the form we recognize today. There have been gradual improvements in bench design over the years, but the basic design of a woodworking bench hasn't changed considerably for several hundred years. Although there are many variations, I will classify workbenches into two groups: joiner's benches and cabinetmaker's benches.
In traditional woodworking technology, a joiner is a person who makes windows, doors, interior paneling, and other woodwork for buildings. A classic design for a joiner's bench was published in 1769 in a book titled The Art of the Woodworker by Jaques-Andre Roubo. A joiner's bench design adapts well to modern materials, and it is especially useful for modern woodworkers who build large projects using power tools.
With the addition of vices and other bench accessories, a joiner's bench can also be used with hand tools. It is particularly useful when planing large boards and assembling large pieces of furniture.
A joiner's bench is a good choice if you want a versatile bench for many types of woodworking. It is also relatively simple and inexpensive to build, so it makes a good first bench.
Cabinetmaker's benches are more specialized. They are designed to fit the needs of furniture makers who use mostly hand tools. Their designs are characterized by a smaller work surface and usually include a tool tray. Vises are an important part of a cabinetmaker's bench. A front vise, a tail vise, and bench dog holes are essential.This article is excerpted from MAKING WORKBENCHES by Sam Allen--Published by Sterling Publishing 1999.
