Every woodworker dreams of it: that perfect, solid, traditional workbench. For years, it was just that—a dream. But a few years back, when I finally moved into my new shop, the stars aligned, and it was time to make that dream a reality.
My design is heavily inspired by Christopher Schwarz’s iconic Anarchist’s Workbench. For the material, I opted for southern yellow pine. Now, I know top-grade lumber is the holy grail, but here in sunny Florida, second-grade construction lumber was the best I could get my hands on. So, I made do! The trick? Buying wide boards and carefully cutting them down to find that coveted straight grain.
Construction was largely done upside down, which is pretty common for most benches and tables. It’s a bit disorienting at first, but it makes for a much smoother build. And of course, no proper workbench is complete without a top-notch vise, so I fitted it with a fantastic Benchcrafted vise.
The real “old school” moment came with flattening the top. No power tools here! This was pure sweat and elbow grease, meticulously flattening the surface by hand with a hand plane. There’s something incredibly satisfying about that process, truly connecting you to the craft.
Finally, the bench is finished with an all-natural tung oil, giving it a beautiful, durable surface. It’s been done for a while now, and let me tell you, working on it is an absolute dream. It’s stable, stout, and handles everything I throw at it. As an interesting aside, if you look closely at the background of the photos, you can actually see the progression of the workshop buildout as it happened alongside the bench’s construction!
It’s more than just a workbench; it’s the heart of the shop, built with passion and patience. What’s your dream shop project? Let me know in the comments!
Wood Fire Workshop 
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