Build a Simple Workbench

This design is ready for all your future projects.

- By Neal Barrett

Anyone with a DIY mindset needs a place to work besides the kitchen table. If you have the space for one, a workbench can provide a generous surface, storage for tools and supplies, and accommodation for a work-holding device like a vise (see “A Beginner’s Guide to Vises” on pg 57).

We’ve designed this simple bench for builders of all experience levels. You can construct it in a day or two using materials available at any home center or lumberyard. The finished bench will occupy a 2 x 5-ft. footprint—easy to fit in most basements or garages.

For the materials (see opposite), select flat, straight 2x4 stock; twisted or bowed boards will make assembly difficult. And for an extra step, we'll explain how to attach a vise to this bench after construction—note that you'll need lag screws to fasten it.

MAKE THE BENCH PARTS

Map out your cuts on the MDF for the top, shelf, and drawer. Rip these parts to width on a table saw (1), then cross cut to length using a circular saw.

Then, lay out the 2x4 stock for the legs and rails. To ensure a square cut, you can use a speed square to guide the saw.