Sign in Subscribe

Workbench Info Page

Paul Sellers | How To Build a Workbench Page

A portal to everything we have available and everything you need to know about building your Paul Sellers' Workbench.

Workbench VideosWorkbench FAQ'sWorkbench Cutting ListTools and EquipmentWorkbench Blog PostsWorkbench Gallery

Paul Sellers' workbench in a workshop with brick walls and shavings on the floor.

"Making a workbench is a perfect project for any woodworker to develop and hone their skills. It also allows you to better understand the wood and the tools woodworkers rely on day to day. I wanted the workbench … to be something that inspired everyone by its simplicity. It also possesses those qualities that a lifetime workbench should have. The whole methodology of its construction does not rely on dead-on accuracy. Anyone making a workbench should not worry so much about whether they can do it, whether it looks like a fine furniture piece or whether anyone is judging them or their skill levels or standards of workmanship. It is simply a workbench."

Workbench Features

WorkbenchPhoto1
"The workbench is the anchor for the work itself and the undergirding for developing each and every component in a project. It provides support for the whole project, and we usually apply finishing work here too."
WorkbenchPhoto3
"A good working bench is simply rock solid, as immovably heavy as possible and supports a solid vise, preferably one with a quick-release mechanism for ease and speed."
WorkbenchPhoto1
"When you are building large frame projects the whole thing will often rest on the benchtop. The gluing up stage of most projects usually takes place at the workbench too."

Workbench videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiCnhVgVD5Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KQN4MZ9Oqchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHRBtgNsrLkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06si-zVX8FAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkTqt-rxQfkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9W9xQS-EdQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVbuBGSfLC4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlgRPJbp0C4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPOZYiTBCrUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XggMZmBlNA0

Tools and Equipment

  • Square
  • Knife
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Combination gauge (or marking gauge plus mortise gauge)
  • Tenon saw
  • Handsaw
  • Chisel set ½", ¾" and 1" (12mm, 18mm and 25mm)
  • Chisel hammer or mallet
  • Smoothing plane
  • Brace and bits (or screw gun and bits to suit)
  • Router plane
  • Plough plane
  • Rabbet/filletster plane
  • Hammer (steel)
  • 10" steel rule
  • Jack plane
  • 10" rasp
  • 10" flat file
  • Winding sticks
  • A workbench or improvised support of some kind such as:
  • Two saw trestles or…
    a portable, folding workbench or…
    a picnic table.
  • Seven or so 36" (91cm) sash clamps (for frame clamping and clamping the laminated top)
  • Some shorter sash clamps, bar clamps or G-clamps

FAQ's

The following links will take you to the relevant section of the Workbench FAQs page.