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There are a number of woodworking fixtures you can get by without for a long while, but a sturdy workbench isn’t one of them. The trouble is, those solid-hardwood benches we all lust after can completely blow a modest woodworking budget. Here’s a bench that splits the difference. You’ll get a top that can stand up to significant abuse, a sturdy, heavy base that keeps the bench planted where you put it, and an end vise and T-track system for holding workpieces and a variety of unique jigs. It may not look quite like a European bench, but it works just as hard as one for a lot less money.

by Rick White

Every woodworker dreams of owning a classic European workbench. The beautiful maple top and elaborate shoulder vise symbolize the essence of fine craftsmanship. But how many of us look at these benches and end up saying, “It’s just too nice to use in my shop”? And when we see the cost of building such a bench, we pass on the project altogether.

On the other hand, settling for a barely adequate bench is frustrating. Without a vise, you can’t hold your workpiece, and without a heavy, solid surface, you can’t expect to strike a chisel without having it bounce around and damage your wood.

Being caught between a rock and a hard place over a workbench is no fun. The workbench is, after all, the heart and soul of a shop. With this dilemma in mind, I set out to build a completely functional workstation for about $300. About half of that cost was for two essential products: The first is a Veritas vise with two screws connected by a bicycle chain that overcomes the racking problem commonly experienced with traditional vises. The chain drive can be quickly released to operate the screws independently, making it possible to cant the jaws a little when holding stock out near the edge of the bench. The second must-have is a T-slot system (see Figure 1). It offers great flexibility and, as you’ll see, lends itself to dozens of homemade accessories.

The first thing a bench should offer is a sturdy surface, and this one fills the bill. You can surface an oak board with a hand plane, and the bench won’t budge an inch. The hardboard top makes a sound work surface, and since it’s screwed down, it’s easy to replace when it becomes worn or damaged. There’s plenty of room for handling large panels, and you can clamp wood for sanding, surface and edge planing, edge and panel routing, joint cutting, and up to this point, any operation you can think of. The completed bench is heavy, which is perfect for deadening the blows of a pounding mallet.

Figure 1: The basic T-slot system opens up all sorts of jig possibilities for holding a project while drilling, routing, planing, sanding, or cutting at the workbench.

In addition to the basic bench design, you may also want to add a cabinet to the leg structure. Although this isn’t part of the original project, spending an additional $50 for one more sheet of plywood and three pairs of drawer slides makes better use of this otherwise empty space. The exploded view on page 7 will guide you through this addition.