Portable & Affordable Workbench for Small Spaces

Huge thanks to Ariat Work for sponsoring this video, my new overalls are the only reason I was out there building!

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WOODCRAFT LINKS

#62 Low Angle Jack Plane:

Low Angle Block Plane:

Chisels:

Miter Gauge:

Green Pencil I Was Using:

Center Finding Ruler:

Calipers:

Small Combo Square:

Marking Knife:

TAYTOOLS LINKS

Twin Screw Vise Kit:

Knobs for Plane Stops:

Overdrive Bits for Dog Holes:

Thread Locker:

Steel Guide Bushing:

Bench Dogs:

In-Line Bench Dog Screw Clamps:

Vertical Bench Dog Screw Clamps:

Cork Rubber:

AMAZON (affiliate) LINKS

Drill Bit Extender:

3" Hanger Bolts (you will need 2 sets of these to get 4):

5" Lag Bolts:

Holdfasts:

Push Stick:

Little Blue Square:
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My Recording Equipment

Camera:

Shotgun Mic:

Lav Mic:

Voiceover Mic:

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FOLLOW

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Links above are affiliate links, I make a small commission if you click on them at no extra cost to you. clicking on them really helps me continue to make more projects :)

#workbench

[miketaylor]

Wow, insainly nice job of breaking this down into into doable steps and showing how to build this versatile bench and showing all it can do. Only you could have pulled this off. You are a rock star!

[dlangh]

I built this using this video as a guide about 6 months ago. Even though I have other work surfaces, I found myself using it a lot for other things. Along the way I added a few things that I think make it much more useful. They are:

1. I glued a pencil sharpener to the side of the workbench, left of the moxon vise.
2. I bought an 8x12 sheet of leather and used a piece I cut from it sized to fit a pencil that I nailed into the underside of the bench just to the left of the moxon vice. I saw this in another video that someone added to a full size workbench. I can't tell you how many times I've needed a pencil when using this and no longer have to get up and go find one.
3. To the right of the moxon vise I built a small drawer to hold my bench dogs. I was careful to make sure that the slides for the drawer were in between the dog holes and I figured if I needed the dog holes above that were directly over the drawer, I could just pull the drawer out and set it aside. My drawer was about 8x8 inches wide and about 1/2 inch or so shorter than the available height. I used 1/4 plywood as I knew it wouldn't hold much weight. I also cut a small piece of hardwood and made a drawer stop right above the drawer using a screw to secure it and just loose enough that I could rotate it down in front of the drawer to keep the drawer in place. In the back I just glued on a small block of wood to prevent it from sliding out the back.
4. Finally since I found I was using this bench so much for things that didn't need the dog holes and often small things would fall through the dog holes, I got a 1x16x36 piece of project pine board from Lowes and glued 4 3/4" dowels about 4 inches long to the bottom of the board so I can when needed just drop this board right onto my workbench and have a larger work area without dog holes.

Anyway, I use this thing all the time, and I wanted to share how I've increased it's usefulness over time. It's really been a great addition to my workshop and this video made it so easy to build, along with links to all the parts. I find it so frustrating when vloggers don't include links to the parts they use, IE the knobs, the vise hardware etc. Having all of that for this really made this video and instructions easy to follow

[halsonger]

This bench looks very useful. If you are using the bench on your dining table or other furniture you may want to add some of that cork rubber or some other padding to the feet to prevent marring. Also, adding a couple of dog holes to the Moxon jaw will let you clamp pieces to a dog in the bench for planing, routing or carving work where you want access to the entire surface.

[vanislescotty]

Love the design. I've watched this a couple of times over the years. I like how you say, "You can also clamp it to any surface that you want." As a wife, maybe you can. As a husband, if I clamped a workbench to the kitchen island or the dining room table, I might be looking for surfaces in another home to clamp it to as I wouldn't be living in mine anymore ;)

[Now_Roger_That]

I can't remember the number of times I've watched this video and other alternatives...only to come back to this one... I've finally started making this project happen with some scrap wood around my job's shop and am excited to make this a reality... Just have to purchase the vice kit ... Thanks for bringing the idea to us, keep them coming...

[erikjohnson]

This is unbelievable. I was thinking about building something like this yesterday! The plans in my head were, for lack of a better description, vague and crappy. I bought your plans and will make something clear and decidedly not crappy now!! Thank you!

[DrMackSplackem]

I appreciate how you always include alternate methods in each step for those with limited tool options. I'll need to build this (or something very similar) in the future, so thanks!

[snmrenn]

I watch a lot of workbench vids. This video impressed! I switched to small living at the latter part of 2017. I no longer have a garage. I am a contractor (Custom AV Integrator). My trade has me primarily working with cables and technology. Since I work out of my home, my shed (which I hoped would have a workbench) is consumed by inventory and other work junk. BUT, I also need skills from other trades. We kind of do it all, and I love creating with wood, metal, plastic, etc. THIS BENCH IS THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS! Thank you!

[doczoff]

Really cool design! I was going to replace the worn top boards of my 30 year old Black & Decker Workmate, but using this design with my Workmate will be far more versatile, and will raise the working level to a much better height that will reduce back strain (those 30 years of wear and tear also apply to me)

[jtdyalEngineer]

This is one of my most favorite builds you've done. Extremely practical. Extremely doable for newbies. The bushing idea fixes a problem I was having drilling a tapered hole with the same awesome drill bit. Those drill bits are fantastic.

[jeremyspecce]

I love this for adding a little hand tool accessory to an existing bench or wherever. I would say, even as a person with a large planer, I’d probably just make this out of 4 layers of laminated plywood because I feel like it would be more stable and harder than a 2x10. If you DO plan to go this route I recommend over-sizing your plywood so if it slips when you glue it up (and it most likely will) then you won’t have start over. Once the glue is dry then trim the entire assembly to final size.

[JohnSpurrell]

Absolutely the best sight for the home craftsmanship ! Also as a beginner you can use cheap plywood with the top layer screwed down which can always be replaced. ❤

[JCAM-zr]

That is fantastic! I live in a small apartment in Central NY and actually use my kitchen to work. This would really make my life easier. Thank you for creating this. 🙏🏽

[DomingoFreire]

I have to tell that you are an amazing woodworker. Congratulations for your job and your videos.
I am from Venezuela and I have a woodworking Youtube channel and I want to tell that your channel is one of the best I follow.
Congratulations SS and thank you for your excellent videos

[lindacgrace]

This is awesome! I am building a tiny house and will be doing a lot of my own trim and cabinetry. This will be invaluable on the job site without diverting too many resources from the actual build.

[mtoldroyd]

Props & respect, specifically for telling us about the jig, at 3:10. Many DIY-ers and YouTubers would avoid "outing" themselves, not showing human imperfections, and not incurring criticism. However, the fact that you did means those of us who follow this can have a better experience. Thank you!

[davidgleason]

Tamar, thank you for this project. After inheriting all my dad’s work working equipment and spending two years watching Youtube videos, I have retired and decided to make woodworking my new hobby. The mini-workbench was the very first project I built. It was terrific practice and great experience. I’m still learning much, but I’ve now built my own small sharpening bench and I am in the midst of making Chris Schwartz’s Knockdown Nicholson workbench. The mini workbench with its Moxon vice has really been invaluable during this build. Thank you for helping me get my start!

[Lincolnstww]

oh my - this is going to get some serious views. Awesome idea/vid

[bencorley]

"And I did it out of 1 2x10" First you had my interest... now you have my attention. This is perfect, I've been wanting to find plans for something just like this. Thank you so much. Keep up the good work.

[randmayfield]

Absolutely well done! As a life long woodworker and retired teacher I can say you're spot on with this instructional and I learned much from watching it. Thank you for putting the time and energy into making it. I subscribed.