How to Build an Easy, Sturdy Workbench

How to Build an Easy, Sturdy Workbench

Follow me as I build a strong but simple workbench that every DIY’er should have.

Amazon links to the equipment used in this video…

► Stanley Saw Horse: https://amzn.to/3vUD8oO
► Mitre Square: https://amzn.to/3f2sRjV
► Countersink Drill Bit : https://amzn.to/33F2DPf
► Quick Clamps: https://amzn.to/33qSuW3
► Dewalt Impact Driver: https://amzn.to/3tvYFmq
► Dewalt 18v Combi Drill: https://amzn.to/2MiM71A
► Bench Vice: https://amzn.to/3uzOzCf
► Tri-Dolly: https://amzn.to/3tq74b3

The Amazon links above are affiliate links. It doesn’t cost you anything to click on them but I do earn a small commission if you do. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

50 Comments

  1. Jocelyn Beauregard on October 26, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    Nice job Stuart….



  2. micdev42 on October 26, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    This is a great video – and the later one about the retractable casters is even better! One question: you say 920 mm is the prefect height for you. How tall are you? Would that make a difference when building a bench? Thanks



  3. Richard Derman on October 26, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    Stuart, after perusing many different workbench plans, this is the most rational one I have found. Pretty much everything makes sense to me. I have a couple of questions that I hope you (or another subscriber) can answer.
    As shown on the video (6:47), after notching out the 2×4 for the leg, the bottom tail sits slightly off of the back side of the top. Does this tail always stay "flapping in the breeze" or does it get tied to the frame somehow? Also, toward the end of the video @ 10:55 or so, it appears as though there is some additional bracing used to attach the MDF to the back. Am I imagining this? Are plans available for this as-built bench?
    Thanks for the great project, and thanks in advance for any answers to my questions.



  4. john manning jr dc on October 26, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    Very engaging. Beautiful build.



  5. Tony Knight on October 26, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    Rolls Royce job !



  6. House Fairy on October 26, 2023 at 9:46 pm

    Excellent video! You made it look so easy.



  7. Lee Stephenson on October 26, 2023 at 9:48 pm

    Hi Stuart, please can you let me know what screw bit you used for this job? Apologies if you’ve already been asked! It looks like a ratchet bit? Thanks, Lee



  8. Pi of things on October 26, 2023 at 9:49 pm

    Thank you Stuart! Finally finished my version! As a noobie, I made a few mistakes, primary of which was to not align the fence of my mitre saw! Which I fixed following your other videos.

    Thank you again.



  9. Michael Benson on October 26, 2023 at 9:50 pm

    2×4 not 4×2 please correct your description.30 yes in timber industry



  10. Ally E on October 26, 2023 at 9:51 pm

    Can anyone advise if CLS would be acceptable for the framing and legs?



  11. James Marris on October 26, 2023 at 9:52 pm

    Thank you for another great video. Most impressive part for me is the top was already square due to being cut by the shops panel saw. My experience is these things are never working when I ask :). Agree with other comments here you are one of the best DIY channels on YouTube. Cheers



  12. Ionut Onea on October 26, 2023 at 9:52 pm

    lovely job !!! It s very good for inspirited me building my work bench ! GOD bless you ! 🙏



  13. Brians Golf Works on October 26, 2023 at 9:53 pm

    I’ve used the 2×4 Basic leg set. The leg set is awesome! Make your workbench with 2×4 legs plus 1/2" top to any dimensions add your top and bottom and you’re done. There are also connections for a center shelf. For about $120 you can’t beat them.



  14. barry wills on October 26, 2023 at 9:54 pm

    Stuart is the bench thick enough to put a 10.5 face vice onto as seen on Amazon Thanks. Barry



  15. ed pp on October 26, 2023 at 9:54 pm

    What’s a big box stop?



  16. Kathleen Grehlinger on October 26, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    I wish you were my neighbor. I love listening to you and I’m learning so much. I’ve built a twin size toddler house bed, a workbench and a closet built in unit and getting things square is the most challenging aspect of any project. I see now that the right tools, clamps and attention to detail are the answer. That square jig you used in this project….wow…never knew such a thing existed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.



  17. The Grocer on October 26, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    Stuart great video, I love a bit of DIY and this bench will be perfect. Wondered if you could recommend a Vice size for this bench.



  18. Jimmy Adams on October 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm

    Some great tips Top Lad all the best from Australia 🇦🇺🇬🇧👍🏻



  19. Richard Anderson on October 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm

    Very good indeed but total overkill for what I need. It looks heavy enough to fall through my shed floor….😅



  20. The Home Depot House Plant on October 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm

    nice one geezer



  21. CP on October 26, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    Hmm. The title said "easy" !



  22. peter chapman on October 26, 2023 at 10:02 pm

    Excellent bench.
    A tip for gluing lengths of 4×2 together, sprinkle kitchen rock salt onto the glue, it helps the timber lock together without sliding under pressure.



  23. Rex Hamilton on October 26, 2023 at 10:02 pm

    I’m looking at this being my first build as I just purchased a miter saw. My concern is if ever there comes a time I’m moving, I’ll never get this out of the basement. Thinking about building this in two halves and have a latch system to unify them. Or maybe a hinged ply top and make one the thickness shorter… what am I not thinking about?



  24. PAULIE FPV on October 26, 2023 at 10:04 pm

    Brilliant work 😮



  25. Iain Nash on October 26, 2023 at 10:05 pm

    Very expensive mistake – I completely forgot to reverse the notch in each leg when I glued the legs and they all face the same way



  26. Martin Holt on October 26, 2023 at 10:06 pm

    Nice job with the workbench, it’s giving me ideas for my new garage!



  27. David Lloyd on October 26, 2023 at 10:07 pm

    Hi all, I started woodworking about 2 years ago and I’ve tried several types of products such as fancy bird tables, planters, pens etc but I’m now getting close to building my 1st furniture as in a mitre plus sanding station. I’m using Formica laminate for the top, oak trim and plywood drawers. Can someone please advise how to finish the drawers fonts and inside please? I’m thinking of a Matt emulsion paint and a water based varnish on the drawer fronts but I’m guessing. Should I spray inside the drawers? Should I apply varnish to the laminate? I’m really sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place but I’m a newbie and unsure how this works. Thank you in advance. David. Uk



  28. Anthony Wilson on October 26, 2023 at 10:07 pm

    You could drive in some small mails, just two into one of the surfaces you want to glue together, nip them close to the surface. When you clamp the two pieces together they will stop the glued surfaces slipping.



  29. Mark Tate on October 26, 2023 at 10:08 pm

    when you refer to a big box store do you mean a B&Q or Wickes or equivalent in the UK?



  30. Neil Freemantle on October 26, 2023 at 10:09 pm

    Great video as always Stuart, thanks



  31. Enki G on October 26, 2023 at 10:13 pm

    Which local big bix store are u referring to?



  32. Bob Wallace on October 26, 2023 at 10:14 pm

    Can you give measurement’s in inches also?.



  33. Stringandsealingwax on October 26, 2023 at 10:14 pm

    This is a great project, but I’d never get the legs the same length.



  34. AN1Guitarman on October 26, 2023 at 10:14 pm

    Your intro is LOUD. You need to equalize the volume between your main video content (Especially pre-intro) and your intro so your viewers aren’t BLASTED by surprise halfway through the video.



  35. Ensign Cthulhu on October 26, 2023 at 10:15 pm

    I like the idea to put the 2×4’s flat around the perimeter. Designs that have them on edge seem to promise issues with dropping carriage bolts for a vise through.



  36. d.k. on October 26, 2023 at 10:19 pm

    Nice



  37. Panos on October 26, 2023 at 10:27 pm

    9:00 – "gave them a bevel". It’s a chamfer, not a bevel.



  38. Chris on October 26, 2023 at 10:27 pm

    WOW fantastic video. Straight to the point no drama and easy and strong table !!!



  39. Andrew Arthur Matthews on October 26, 2023 at 10:27 pm

    These are far and away miles the best simple and easy to follow videos.
    Keep them coming



  40. Club penguin69 on October 26, 2023 at 10:28 pm

    Overall it’s a decent table. If you’re not using it for big heavy projects. Its gets unstable when using my jigsaw and handsaw. Table starts to shake and lifts off the ground. Maybe I’m doing something wrong?Also the folding mechanic works great https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh when setting up, but I can’t get the table to fold down. It gets stuck 3/4ths on the way down.



  41. Anne Sauer on October 26, 2023 at 10:29 pm

    Great video, thank you!
    I need a good workbench for my ceramic studio, and your bench looks like the perfect fit. Just one question. I need a wider workbench, How wide can I make this bench before it needs additional support along the sides?
    All the best 🙂



  42. Richard Bate on October 26, 2023 at 10:31 pm

    thanks for the fantastic video and after reading the comments i know, when finished, i will have a fantastic work bench. one quick question howeve, how did you attach the back panel?



  43. d.k. on October 26, 2023 at 10:33 pm

    I wood of made it different



  44. The Polish Chef on October 26, 2023 at 10:34 pm

    Great job !!



  45. Fred Mercury on October 26, 2023 at 10:35 pm

    16:30 Sprinkle some salt on your glue and the wood won’t slip when clamping.



  46. Bob Wallace on October 26, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    Why didn’t you use any glue, during the assembly?.



  47. Michael Packwood on October 26, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    What a really good and well made, well explained project. Gives me confidence and the real desire to make something similar. So many high-speed-follow-it-if-you-can vids about woodworking, some of them are off-putting. But this one is great. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain the whys and hows. Only half way in, but had to comment. Subscirbed!



  48. Kurnal Aggarwal on October 26, 2023 at 10:37 pm

    the author does like to from scratch, shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxD-QRFQz730FJEh4f9BYSf-nkIMIC9hL_ as another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us dont have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we wont be able to practice the full stack project, is still great.



  49. Ray St.Clair on October 26, 2023 at 10:37 pm

    Any chance of any plans, cut list and components used (screw sizes etc)



  50. fossfix on October 26, 2023 at 10:39 pm

    I Want one 😭, THANKS