Any wood even plywood can be used to make a bench.
Best wood for traditional workbench. If you re really on a tight budget you can get away with almost anything that allows you to secure your wood in place for planing and sawing and use clamps to secure your workpiece. Choosing the best type of wood for your workbench top depends on both your budget and on the type of work you plan to do not to mention your own aesthetic preference. Simple to build simple to maintain and simple to use. The free workbench plans below vary in skill level the cost of supplies and the time it will take you to complete them.
After a few years of use your bench will look like every other used bench beat up broke in and awesome. If you want the fastest and most cost effective build then softwood s definitely your answer. Each type of wood has its own peculiarities which will be explored below in order to allow you to make the most informed decision possible. Hardwoods certainly win in two obvious areas.
The material should be cheap easy to get heavy if possible dry ish and heavy if possible. It s been a long time more than three decades since tage frid provided these directions and lots of new people have taken up woodworking in the meantime. The best thing about a good woodworking workbench is that it s simple. Use these free workbench plans to build yourself a workbench in your garage or shed that you can use to complete all your projects and maybe even get yourself some extra storage depending on which plan you choose.
Rule of thumb guides best workbench height there s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to workbench height. An inch or two plus or minus can make a big difference depending on how your bench will be used. Throughout our blog you ll find guides to help you plan your workbench build from choosing wood to picking the best vice. Choosing timber that makes a practical workbench to use.
But for many people hardwood is the more desirable. If you are seeking a more traditional looking wood workbench the windsor design model fits the bill. A wooden workbench has always been the center of a traditional woodworker s workshop.