When we moved into our new house in 2003, and had started to sort out the garage, we tried to put all of the tools and so on into a single space, one bay of the west side of the garage (it's a 2½ car garage, although the half is closer to being a full car width it wouldn't be possible to put a car into it because of the support beams).

It became apparent that there needed to be a workbench in that space.

I had a look around for any workbench kits that might be available cheaply, and came to the conclusion that they were all too expensive, too flimsy, and too small.

This page tells the story of the construction of the überworkbench. May it be of use to someone.

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I started seriously drawing up plans for the workbench at Thanksgiving 2003. I talked to friends and family who might have some insight, rummaged around in books for ideas, and looked on the net for useful plans. The most interesting looking plans required more carpentry skills than I possess, not to mention a workbench to do the work on, so I found myself honing in on something which involved more sawn and bolted 2x4s than finely worked maple hardwood. Still, I gathered some good ideas, and soon had the rough form sorted out.

The rest of this page consists of my notes and drawings supported by appropriate photos, all arranged chronologically.

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06-Jul-2004 So, does my work bench get used?

Oh, yes. Things in the workshop are not (nor will they ever be) perfectly organised, but things will improve pretty dramatically once the downstairs project is completed and the huge amount of stuff occupying what should be workspace migrates inot the new living area. It's a solid workbench, though, and I am very pleased with how it has come out.

And I finally have something to put my vice onto.

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