Top: 24 in. x 72 in., laminated 2x lumber or 1.75 in. solid maple. Working height: 36 in. Vise: hard maple cheek, mounted at the front-left corner. Stretchers, not trestles. Build it once, hard, and never replace it.
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| LBR-2X4-8 | 12 | 2x4 x 8 ft, kiln-dried SPF, S4S | Laminated for the top; 12 boards yields a 24 in. wide top |
| LBR-2X6-8 | 4 | 2x6 x 8 ft, SPF | Front and back stretchers |
| LBR-4X4-8 | 4 | 4x4 x 8 ft, hard maple or doug fir | Legs - cut to 33.25 in. for 36 in. final height |
| VISE-9 | 1 | Front vise, 9 in. opening, hard-wood-jaw type | Yost / Wilton 7 in. quick-release; mount with 3/8 in. lag bolts |
| SCRW-3.5 | 1 lb | GRK or SPAX, 3.5 in. structural screw | Pre-drill 1/4 in. pilot for 4x4 connections |
| DOWEL-3/4 | 20 | Hardwood dowel, 3/4 in. x 4 in. | Bench-dog set, keeps top clamping action |
| OIL-BLO | 16 oz | Boiled linseed oil + mineral spirits 1:1 cut | Top finish; reapply yearly |
| FELT-PAD | 4 | Heavy felt foot pads | Floor protection; lets you nudge the bench around |
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEN-001 | 1 | Cordless drill + impact driver | - |
| GEN-002 | 1 | Circular saw or miter saw | - |
| GEN-003 | 1 | Random-orbit sander, 5 in. | - |
| GEN-004 | 1 | Bar clamps, 36 in. (8 minimum for laminating top) | - |
| GEN-005 | 1 | 4 ft level | - |
| GEN-006 | 1 | Tape measure, framing square | - |
Cut all top boards to 72 in. exactly. Edge-glue and clamp 12 boards on edge to form a 24 in. x 72 in. x 1.5 in.-thick laminated slab. Eight bar clamps minimum, alternating top-and-bottom. Wipe glue squeeze-out within 10 minutes.
Let the top cure 24 hours under clamp. Sand both faces 80 -> 120 -> 180 grit. The top is now your permanent reference flat surface - treat it like a tool.
Cut four 4x4 legs to 33.25 in. (assumes 1.5 in. top + 1.25 in. of foot pad and stretcher allowance to land at 36 in. final). Adjust by your own height: bench top should sit at the inside of your wrist when standing relaxed.
Cut four 2x6 stretchers - two at 60 in. (front/back), two at 18 in. (sides). Lap-joint or screw-through the legs at 6 in. and 22 in. up from the floor. Lower stretcher first, then upper. Dry-fit, square, then drive screws.
Mount legs to the underside of the top: drill through the leg into the top with structural screws every 8 in. Counter-bore 1 in. so screw heads do not protrude into your storage space.
Drill 3/4 in. dog holes on a 4 in. on-center grid down the front 4 in. of the top, full depth. Bench dogs in those holes plus the vise turn the bench into a horizontal clamp.
Mount the vise at the front-left corner so the front jaw is flush with the top edge. Bore through-holes for 3/8 in. lag bolts; through-bolt rather than lag-screw if you can - it survives a hundred years of vise wracking.
Apply BLO/mineral spirits cut. Two coats, let dry 24 hours between. Buff lightly with a clean rag. Do not finish the top with polyurethane - it cracks when you slam things on it, which you will.
Set the bench in its final spot. Level with shims under the felt pads - a wracking workbench will frustrate every project on it. Drive in two bench dogs, clamp something, and go to bed.