In this one-week course, students will build a 34" high x 24" deep x 70" long workbench with a laminated top, Dominy wood vise, and an open storage shelf. The ruggedness and heft of the workbench’s mortised and tenoned base cut to a cabinetmaker’s exacting precision combined with its thick bench-top gives this workbench a solidness that can withstand daily use from sawing, chopping, hand-planing, and hammer blows.

We will assemble a laminated bench-top, chop mortises, cut tenons, and learn the process of lathe-turning a “wood” vise screw and threading it. Students will employ production techniques to efficiently and safely cut multiple parts to accurate sizes. They will learn, during bench construction, about vises, bench dogs and other hold down methods.

Machine use and set-up will be explained in detail, as well as alternative methods using hand tools. We will sharpen and “tune” a bench plane for the final smoothing pass of bench tops, to remove machine-made planer marks.

The base joinery features “keyed” tenon joints. Tenons that extend completely through a mortise are "keyed" where they exit with a wedge. This joint connection creates a strong glue-less assembly that can be tightened or dismantled with a hammer blow.

If a 2' x 6' piece of plywood (pretend it’s not flexible and 3" thick!) fits in your car or truck, then you should be able to get a “knocked-down” bench home.

An additional material fee of $125 is required for students wishing to take home a completed workbench.