Workbenches, Revised Edition: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use

Years of experience as a woodworker and builder of benches for his own use, are evident in the text.The pros and cons of all aspects of the bench and its various fittings, are given in a matter-of-fact way and the conclusion seems to be that you should make the bench to suit your needs. Something the author is well able to advise upon.

Building a woodworking bench for your workshop is not something you can do without some consideration. Yes you can build a Steve Ramsey Basic Mobile Workbench and that will serve you well but as your woodworking skills develop you'll want a solid lump of a bench that will stay put while you plane some nice chunk of hardwood. The problem you have is which suits you best and where do you start. This book gives you most of the information you probably going to need to help you decide. The book mostly covers the English Nichloson and French Roubo with insight to various others along the way. There's plans in the book you can use to build your own and some great insight into things like moxon vices and bench hooks. If your into woodworking then this is not only a great book to read but a valuable resource for building a workbench.

Great book. Gives good design theory and hands on practical tips about building benches, like how to plane tops, what joints to use and how to cut them with which tools. Schwartz's stated aim here is to get you to look at a few different but traditional designs and discusses their merits and demerits in order for you to design a bench suited to your own individual needs.It gives what the Schwartz considers to be 10 rules for bench design, although it does give four detailed design and build plans for four benches which you can copy precisely; The English Workbench, The Knockdown Nicholson, The French and The Ancient Roubo. All of these benches are excellent designs for serious woodworkers.I originally bought his second book, The Workbench Design Book, where the 10 rules are expanded to 16 principles. There are a handful of further bench designs, some modern and some experimental. None of which are as useful as the ones in this first book. Much of the text in the second book is repeated verbatim from this original book. So if don't want to buy both books and were wondering which to buy, for sure buy the first book. You won't regret it.

Excellent book! In this book you will find everything you need to know about the history of workbenches, workbench design and how to actually build one. The book contains several workbench designs as well. If you’re planning on building a workbench this book is for you!

This book is truly comprehensive and, unlike a lot of woodworking books, even those that may be quite helpful, it is actually a joy to read. Very well put together book – useful plans, illustrations and photographs, clearly structured, etc.Incredibly well researched and clearly explains the pros of cons of different bench styles, timbers, and workholding options for different types of work. Highly recommended.

This is a very good book if you wish to understand and build your bench. There are comprehensive plans and editorial for a Nicholson style bench and a roubo and a knockdown and tabletop accessorie if in an apartment. This book will not make your brain hurt. It’s very good.

If you're going to build a workbench, read this first

A valuable book with neat insights into what to look out for when building your own bench. If only it came with more detailed instructions and plans