Follow step by step as you build your own traditional woodworking bench.
Requires minimal tools and basic joinery.
COURSE DETAILS
Price: £26.00
Online Video Build With PDF Workbench Plans
A detailed Series, teaching fundamental woodworking skills as you build your own ‘proper’ workbench.
Watch the intro below
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.
The Materials
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 Workbench – Online Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
Only £26.00
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
The Tools
Throughout the videos we build with minimal and basic hand tools to focus on mastering our skills with this essential kit.
And you don’t need a workbench to build a workbench – we build off a pair of sturdy trestles.
Work Holding
This Series includes the detailed build of a traditional face vice and planing stop.
The vice build requires only a single vice screw and nut (can be metal or wooden), along with some generic lag screws for fixing.
All other parts are constructed from timber.
An alternate vice can be installed in this bench if you have a preference.
See this post for advice on choosing your woodworking face vice.
Or read here to learn why your workbench only needs one vice.
The English Workbench is an excellent design to accommodate all manner of work holding.
Bench dogs, holfasts and stops can all be used within this versatile and sturdy bench.
What You’ll Learn
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.
You have cleared up a lot of questions I have had about workbenches.
As you know there are books by the dozen about them.
After your series I know I have to build one and get rid of my old bench…
I really enjoy your approach of explaining what to do and why.
That knowledge makes it all come together. At age 73 I am trying to learn hand tools, I have had no training, and I am learning by reading and now watching videos.
– John Thomas
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.
The Materials
We recommend that you build this bench in softwood, ours is rough sawn redwood.
Click for a more detailed guide on choosing the best timber for building a workbench.
Below is a loose overview of the timber requirements, 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).
How To Build A Workbench – Online Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
Only £26.00
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
The demonstrations are brilliant and the little tips invaluable making repeat viewings essential.
You don’t have to be a woodworker to enjoy The English Woodworker video series but you may want to give it a go afterwards.”
– Darryl Jones
The Full Details
Immediate Access | Watch Online | Stream & Download.
Over 5 hours of detailed video instruction with PDF workbench plans.
Chapter One: 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.
Chapter Two: 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.
How To Build A Workbench – Online Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
Only £26.00
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
Chapter Three: 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.
Chapter Four: 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.
Chapter Five: 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.
Chapter Six: 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.
Chapter Seven: 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.
Chapter Eight: 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 Workbench – Online Video Series
ONE TIME FEE
Only £26.00
Lifetime access to the full series (8 online Chapters + PDF plans)
I never was a TV series addict, until this English Workbench Series…
The whole thing really is a well-wrought story about passion and craftsmanship, told in chapters – and is utterly wonderfully produced: from the simple things like the warmth of the colors of the setting, the delicate acoustic music, the very beautiful sketches and animations which always serve to clarify, to the eloquence and voice of Richard with a tang of artisan humor and of course: the immense amount of knowledge Richard offers and articulates with such clarity on how to use hand tools for woodworking.
There is plenty of material out there in the internet, some also very good, but none combines so many qualities as this series.
I guess that was the best investment into my personal education since a couple of years.”
– Özgür (Oscar)
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