Making Workbenches: * Planning * Building * Outfitting [Paperback]

Sam Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

No single workbench design is ideal for everyone: some craftspeople assemble furniture, while others require only special clamps for smaller projects. Based on the author’s 30 years of experience, this informative handbook will help every woodworker construct exactly the bench he or she needs. Anyone with basic skills could build either the sturdy and versatile joiner’s bench or one for cabinetmakers, and adapt them for individual use. Other workbenches have storage drawers and a cabinet, or are designed for specialties like carving, veneering, guitar making, and more. And this book offers more than just plans for building the bench—it features information on setting it up, installing the tools, and using it for planning, joinery, power tool operations, and assembly.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A useful primer.”  —Woodshop News
“A very fine reference source...valuable.”—Fine Tool Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402741936
• ISBN-13: 978-1402741937
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Furniture

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for setting up a shop, May 20, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Making Workbenches: * Planning * Building * Outfitting (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for learning all of the parts that go into a workbench. There are even some workbench plans for tops, bases, and vises in the book. Although there could be more plans, there is enough information in the book to take one of their plans and adapt it for your own bench. Many different benches, tops, bases, and vises are discussed and pros and cons are given for each. If you are just setting up a shop or are tired of your old workbench and want to save some money by making your own, this is definitely the book for you.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only 20% of the book is devoted to building workbenches, February 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Workbenches: * Planning * Building * Outfitting (Paperback)

Book is OK. Only About two chapters, 20% of it deals with making workbenches. The rest is about how to use the bench, how to buy and use tools. Probably not worth the money

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good -- narrow focus, January 13, 2002

By 

"ruffian25" (Evansville, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Workbenches: * Planning * Building * Outfitting (Paperback)

This book is well written but it doesn't cover all aspects of wood workbench design and construction. It covers a simplified design that allows for a "traditional-looking" bench with a pattern of 3/4" holes over the top and front apron for anchoring work to the bench. I was hoping for coverage of the construction of a traditional european wood workbench using classic joinery and hardware. Unfortunately, it was not the case.