Plywood Workbench Anniversary

Some of the best classes I have ever taught have been how to build a workbench. It began in the USA and has followed me around ever since. One of the best workbenches I have made to date is the one I built a year ago and have been testing since then. I use it every day now and my, my what a workbench, it's just worth saying how remarkable it is. I have made benches from pallet wood, upcycled wood, new pine, spruce, maple, oak and beech too. They all work and work well. The plywood one is an amazingly solid version has now well proven itself as a work partner 'par excellence!'

I thought my Finnish birch, plywood workbench deserved this mention after having served me so well. If I ever had any doubts, and I never did for a second, my workbench is second to none. It's greatest benefit is its total resistance to any kind of movement via shrinkage, expansion and distortion. My original notes showing finished sizes are exactly as they were a year ago. Open the apron drawer, the slide-in well or test the benchtop for distortion through warpage with a straightedge and you'll find it dead true.

The bench top is but 2 3/8" thick yet there is zero vibration when chopping or hammering on the surface as in assembly or mortise cutting. It is immovable when it comes to exerting any lateral pressure in any direction no matter how much and it holds 99% of all I need with regards to my daily use tools and then those special ones I use periodically. Stowage in the well stow does not mean removing the tools to access, simply making sure nothing overhangs the meeting line is enough. In here I can keep all of my extra planes, awkward planes and everything else. I can now say anyone building this bench will not be disappointed.

You can watch the Plywood Workbench series here on Woodworking Masterclasses, or here on YouTube. For the free drawing and cutting list download, click here.