The English Workbench in it’s traditional form is well suited to a minimal hand tool build.
Woodworking should be accessible, and this traditional bench build allows you to get set up properly with minimal fuss & minimal time.
- Understand how to size your workbench for your own specific needs.
- Download & follow the PDF plans.
- Build a ‘proper’ workbench with just basic hand tools
- Learn how to build your own face vice from scratch
- Flatten your own workbench top
- Complete your workholding by building a workbench planing spike
Throughout this series we also focus on developing core hand tools skills.
By the end you will have not only learnt how to build a workbench, but you’ll have the knowledge and the ideal platform to continue developing your woodworking skills.
We recommend that you build this workbench in softwood, ours is rough sawn redwood.
It’s best to use what is most easily available for your location.
Click here for a more detailed guide on choosing the best timber for building a workbench.
Below is a loose overview of the timber requirements for your English Workbench, further details are provided on the cutting list.
- – 6 lengths of 10’’ x 2‘’ (250mm x 50mm) or 8‘’ x 2‘’ (200mm x 50mm) at the length required for your bench
- – 4’’ x 4’’ (100mm x 100mm) for the legs (can be laminated from 2’’ x 4’’ (50mm x 100mm) material)
- – 1 or 2 lengths of 4’’ x 2’’ (100mm x 50mm).
A Simple Build, Yet Built To Last
- This English workbench design makes for a wonderfully fast build.
- To provide maximum education through the videos, we start our build with rough sawn boards and go through the process of preparing these by hand.
- If you need speed then you can opt for pre-planed material instead.
How to Build a WorkbenchOnline Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
£26.00 (approx. $34.00)
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
What You’ll Learn
Woodworking should be accessible, and this traditional bench build allows you to get set up properly with minimal fuss & minimal time.
Through these videos you’ll learn much more than how to build a workbench.
We cover many tips and tricks for improving your hand tool woodworking.
We also provide a video on how to choose the best length, width & height for your build.
And the PDF workbench plans can easy be tailored to meet your size requirements.
About This Series
Step by Step Instruction – How to Build a Workbench
Building a workbench is a big commitment. We take you through all of the thought processes, options & techniques to help you proceed with confidence.
PDF Workbench Plans
A full set of PDF plans will assist you with your workbench build, regardless of your chosen length, width or height.
The important joinery details are provided in separate dedicated sheets so they are easy to follow.
A Simple, Yet Sturdy Workbench
This build uses timber that requires minimal processing (no laminating), & a design that’s practical to approach with basic hand tools.
It’s a simple build that will last you a lifetime.
Learn As You Build
Learning how to build a workbench is a great way to develop your woodworking skills. The build is forgiving whilst covering many techniques.
We’ve made a point to educate on hand tool use throughout this video series.
Build Your OwnEnglish Workbench – Video Series
- Immediate Access
- Watch Online
- Stream & Download.
Over 5 hours of detailed video instruction with PDF workbench plans.
8 video chapters
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1Chapter
Preparation
27 mins
We start out our bench build by cutting our legs and rails to length. You’ll learn how to cut thick stock square by hand so your workbench will stand flat stout.
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2Chapter
Joining The Trestles
47 mins
We’re building with lap joints for the base joinery. These are fast to cut & a dovetail portion ensures they’ll stay rigid.
To make a solid job we learn to understand face & edge marks, and you’ll also get a solid grasp of good chisel control. -
3Chapter
Completing The Trestles
31 mins
Before gluing up the trestles we notch the legs ready for the bench’s deep aprons, and prepare for the optional planing brace.
We knock the trestles together with nails, which are fantastic for a flexible hold. -
4Chapter
The Aprons
32 mins
We make a start on our aprons, and see the workbench taking shape as we do a dry fit.
A series of bearers are used to provide robust support for our top, so we’re getting prepared for installing them. -
5Chapter
Face Vice Prep & Base Assembly
53 mins
Before we attach the aprons it’s time to layout for our face vice on to the front one.
We can then get it all glued together, and fix in the bearers for the top support. -
6Chapter
The Workbench Top
55 mins
Our workbench top is made up of wide boards that aren’t jointed. This planked design creates minimal work compared to other options, but if your planing from rough boards there’s still going to be a lot of shavings! We teach how to approach the hand planning in the most efficient manner. See this post for a full understanding of this particular workbench top design.
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7Chapter
Building The Face Vice
53 mins
We’re learning how to build the traditional face vice from scratch. All components except for the vice screw and nut are made in step by step detail from timber. This is my favourite type of vice to work with, it’s versatile and strong. But you can install a different vice if preferred – See this post for choosing the best face vice for your workbench.
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8Chapter
The Finishing Touches
44 mins
We’re drilling out for dog holes, flattening the bench top, and making & installing a planing stop complete with spike.
Then it’s time for a clean up and oil finish. The planning spike is a fantastic work aid that we build instead of a complex tail vice – I much prefer this ‘one vice’ style of woodworking, here’s a post to explain why.
How to Build a WorkbenchOnline Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
£26.00 (approx. $34.00)
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
What Our Customers Think
What I really like about your series is that you not only explaining how to build, but also why it’s constructed that way and not the other. For example, you talk much about top movement over time, and how all construction elements are designed to minimise that movement. Or when you talked about workbench height, you explain this with very concrete arguments for both low and high workbench.
Another thing is that you go step by step, exactly, not skipping any obvious thing. I do not recall the moment in which I miss some information that I needed. What I like is that you are focusing on getting job done… how to make thing efficiently… that is a valuable information. So, please continue this in your videos.
Aleksander Stacherski
I just finished building my “English Workbench” from your video series and have to tell you how much I like it and how much I learn from doing it.
Easily justified the cost of the series.
Andrew LeRoy
Well that’s it, the workbench is finished (ish)!
I’m missing me screw for vice till September
So can’t quite say “jobs a good un” yet.
But what I can say is it’s been an amazing project to do an I’ve learned a lot and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for you and Helen making these amazing videos I would probably of ended up with some YouTube screwed together thing!
So thanks again and keep up the good work the pair of yuh!
All that leaves now is for me to crack on with building one of the other projects I can’t wait!
Cheers
Steven Seaton
A lot of work went into this, but the whole process was very satisfying!
A great project for beginners all the way up I’d say – I’ve only be doing this sort of thing for about a year and was able to follow along…made plenty of mistakes, but the end result is rock solid and a pleasure to use.
A brilliant series – looking forward to the next one already (after I’ve made the spoon rack…for all my, er, spoons) Thanks Richard for a fun series
Sean
Build the Projects. Master Your Hand Tools.
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