Making a Workbench Using Home Depot Timber (CHEAP)

In this video, I'll show you how we made a Scandinavian style workbench using cheap material from Home Depot. Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it can't clean up nicely!
👇Want to make this bench? Get the plans here: 👇
mattestlea.com...
💸 Budget Parallel Jaw Clamps
mattestlea.com...
(The ones we purchased are no longer available, but these are a similar spec and price)
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🕵️‍♂️ WHO AM I?:
My name is Matt Estlea, I'm a 25 year old Woodworker from Basingstoke in England and my aim is to make your woodworking less s***.
I come from 5 years tuition at Rycotewood Furniture Centre with a further 1 year working as an Artist in Residence at the Sylva Foundation, which is where I began growing my business. I then returned to Rycotewood to teach Evening Classes for 2 Years, while also teaching City and Guilds Furniture Making for 3 years. They were some long 12 hour days!
In September, 2021. I resigned from teaching at the school to focus on my own business.
In addition to all that studying and teaching during the week, I occupied my weekends working at Axminster Tools and Machinery in Basingstoke. For 5 years, I helped customers with purchasing tools, demonstrated in stores and events, and gained extensive knowledge about a variety of tools and brands. I discontinued this job role in 2019 to focus on teaching at Rycotewood and my own business.
During the week, I film woodworking projects, tutorials, reviews and a viewer favourite 'Tool Duel' where I compare two competitive manufacturers tools against one another to find out which is best. I also have a Free Online Woodworking School which you should definitely check out!
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I like to have a laugh and my videos are quite fast paced BUT you will learn a lot, I assure you.
Lets go make a mess.
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[@MattEstlea]

💥Plans on SALE until end of May! 👇 mattestlea.com/product/sawhorse-workbench-plans/ Supplied with both Metric AND Imperial Measurements! 📏 Also, Notebooks and Notepads are now available here! 📖 🔴 Notebook: mattestlea.com/product/notebook/ 🔴 Notepad: mattestlea.com/product/notepad/

[@ctuso]

Looks fantastic! I'm sure she is enjoying the new bench!

[@weldabar]

Where is the link to the clamps.?

[@alfslee8906]

Matt is there a way to get the plans to install the vise, i made my own workbench during the lockdown and lately i bought a similar vice for it, got the idea in my head but i am struggling to get it done properly.

[@RobHarveyMusic]

@weldabar Hi Weldabar, check out the main description of the video and you’ll see the link to the clamps!

[@darkflamejam]

@@alfslee8906 are you struggling that the back face isn't at 90 with the bottom?

[@trungnguyen-xx2et]

This is a pretty solid little workbench. While once you figure out how it comes together, it is physically Easy to assemble kzbin.infoUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh by yourself. But the diagrams explaining the steps are really pretty bad. I could not get the handle pins in all the way despite multiple attempts, so I just used a screw I had on hand for the 2nd handle. I could not get the first pin in further or pull it back out. You are supposed to hammer it in, but I had no leverage and the handle is plastic and I did not want to risk breaking it. I will get a lot of use out of the bench because of the convenient size and height. It does fold up nicely for storage. They even explain how to fold it so you don't get pinched...that is important!

[@jeffdarlison9676]

The first half of the kzbin.infoUgkx3ICSK6nSknaL_45CU2NmFSoXjarGMDiJ book is everything about wood: types, tools, finishes, setting up shop etc. The second half is all about doing projects for inside and outside of the home. The color pictures are helpful. After reading a dozen of these types of books, this is probably the best overall (layout, color photos, plans). Only detraction is that many of the projects use a table saw/router/planer, which are usually expensive and take up space, so the plans are less friendly to newcomers and the budget conscious. But I know I can use a drill, circular saw or a jigsaw to make the projects.

[@ADwOS]

8:33 Hah, I've been making 'partially' collapsible stuff for years... whether it's planned for or not is another discussion.

[@matsuomasato]

this series literally couldn't have come at a better time! Just this week I've started planning for how to build a workbench in my apartment

[@saramulry]

Many bagels were eaten and burned off immediately with the hours and hours of hand planing ❤️

[@curtiscliffe2562]

Great video. If you could give one piece of advice based on what you've learned from the project. What would it be?

[@thecatlinux]

Top marks you two , well produced both in filming and your obvious wood shaving skills Long time since I’ve watched one of your videos , glad I did SPLENDID

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Richard :)

[@ryanpalmiter6863]

I was trying to watch this with my 2yo. Your music had her dancing which allowed me to watch! Thank you

[@anselmcs595]

I came for the editing and left thoroughly inspired.

[@chm1701]

Staying in the USA for 2 months, renting an apartment, travelling the country AND making shavings too. Sounds bloody great 👍 P.S. I really enjoyed the video too. It was a slick edit with good music. Keep up the great work, Matt, and I look forward to watching more.

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Chris, glad you enjoyed!

[@kennethholmes9315]

I love the way pine end grain looks. It came out beautifully. Have a good one

[@hillbillychic3933]

That's the nicest thing to ever come out of a Home Depot!

[@xris785]

Ok ok that parallel clamp plane stop is clever!

[@MattEstlea]

It's so handy!

[@markduggan3451]

I was wondering why I hadn't seen any videos from you for a while. Glad to see you back and happy.

[@ASousaMakesIt]

Great job. Without fancy tools just a skill. Your videos are getting better and better. Looking forward for the next video!

[@tangotango3406]

Great video! Thank you for posting! As a former Soldier in the American Army, I was statin Europe a couple different times and can absolutely appreciate your perspective on our various cuisines. Haha! Great post! Thanks again and keep up the amazing work!! 🙌🏻

[@VeretenoVids]

Looks like you had a fun trip in spite of the con awkwardness and no doubt the sugar high you got from the local cuisine! 😂 Love the project. It was great to see it being put together in a small space so we mere mortals can consider that perhaps we can do this as well.

[@JeanLucCoulon]

Beauty in the detail!

[@s.k.8904]

the end grain on the wood when it was all put together looked awesome well worth the time spent picking it out! I also like that ya'll didn't use much power tools.

[@MattEstlea]

It's our favourite detail too! Thanks Shellie :)

[@Chaozstard]

Great Video Matt, fits right in with the apartment too.

[@SCSharpsandCustoms]

Okay, I love your videos, I’ve learned so much, and then I spied a freaking Glassjaw shirt on you!!! Please respond to this comment, I have to show you my first project from my first woodworking class!

[@hugov392]

I can't imagine finding timber that nice in any hardware store in the UK.

[@theeddorian]

Probably even in the UK, if you do as Matt did, and look through the larger pieces (avoid studs and 4Xs - whatever they are in the UK) and look to heaver pieces good for joists and decking, you'll discover that the better pieces of timber were set aside for the boards and such that would be subjected to heavier duty. Another trick, is with the pine marked for cabinetry and interior use, at least in HD and Lowes, buy the wider, heart sawn (have the pith running down the middle) pieces that are as clear of knots as you can find. Then you can rip the pith area out of the board and what's left is two quarter sawn boards that will look good, and won't be as inclined to twist or bow.

[@MattEstlea]

It took a lot of digging I can assure you!

[@soul146]

Indeed, I have to travel a good distance out, over 1 hour drive to nearest lumber mill. Can't find hardwood anywhere closer :(

[@nicolasrodrigo9]

Same thing in France

[@tbuc2920]

That was quit enjoyable to watch. The average Joe has no idea what goes into making a saw horse work bench. Nice job Matt. I picked up a few ideas when I make my work bench in the near future.

[@1deerndingo]

Hi Matt. Great to see you back. Yaaa! It's a pretty looking bench and as usual very well designed and manufactured. Love to see more about how you mounted that vice.

[@MattEstlea]

First time I've done it! Learnt a lot from the process. Will do a video on it at some point :)

[@davidchapman6031]

100% agree on the rounded edges on lumber. Spent yesterday afternoon taking off the edges on numerous pieces of lumber to make them square. That was a fun couple of hours I’ll never get back. 😂

[@tychobogaert6470]

Bro, big ups to show that you can do great stuff with minimal space and gear! Loved the video!

[@tychobogaert6470]

Thank you Matt! This is amazing… I did send you a message via your website contact form to ‘hit you up’, hope you received it. Thank you for the great content you provide in the world of woodworking!

[@MrBigMalT]

That was a joy to watch. Most KZbin content of US based builds involves thousands of $$$ worth of tools in workshops the size of my entire house. And here you are using 95% hand tools, and achieving a beautiful end result. How did the “lumber” prices tack up compared to here in the uk?

[@infin1ty850]

This is exactly the type of video I needed because I don't have an existing workbench so I'll need to do this on the ground as well.

[@MattEstlea]

Good luck! :)

[@boblaw6534]

Nice one Matt.

[@concddad]

Maybe someone already said this and I missed it, but in case they haven't: It can help when planing on a shaky workbench to set it up with its end, or a spacer attached to its end, butted up against a wall. You can put firm-ish padding between it and the wall to protect the paint, etc.

[@djjurky]

Excellent content and production quality!

[@markwilson7369]

Matt so glad to see you back, your content is the BEST!

[@mr.landalas9046]

That editing is absolutely underappreciated and the bench something to admire. The bookmatched endgrain is such a lovely detail, that it looks luxorious while being functional. Brilliant!

[@haydenharris5506]

It’s just nice to see you back

[@donmeredith74]

You make it all seem so easy! 😂 Beautiful work. Thanks for posting.

[@MattEstlea]

I can assure you that some of those 2 second timelapses you watched were in actual fact 2 hours. It definitely wasnt easy!

[@JeanMinutile]

Great Video I hope we'll get to the see the bench being used in the future !!!

[@xl000]

It reminded me of all the stuffs that you generally don't do when you live in a rented apartment. For me it was no woodworking, no DIY and a very limited set of tools to fix my bicycle. Basically one drawer in a small desk for the entirety of my tools.

[@davidstewart1153]

I'd like to see a video on your travel tool selection, even if it was just a quick rundown.

[@mattwal43]

Good to see you back.

[@TheBluealan2000]

So nice to see you back mate, thank for another entertaining and informative video

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Beautiful work Matt! Love what you and Sara did on it.

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Erik :)

[@HerbsActuallyWork]

Stunning

[@ShadowFoam]

Killer video Matt! Quite the happy coincidence as we've just posted our workbench video too! Love the scandinavian style of yours, would be ideal for adding foam I reckon 🤔 What do you reckon?

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic workbench, Matt! 😃 You guys did a fantastic work! Stay safe there with your family! (Cats included!) 🖖😊

[@felixgarcia4001]

I just acquired 2x4x8's and a 2x10x16 at a residential construction site near my house (I asked if it was trash beforehand). Gonna use it for a workbench and in process of designing it. This video def helps with deisng process for the vice in particular. Great video and perfect timing!

[@GuruMat8]

Great to see you back, mate. Looking forward to see what you create on that workbench.

[@JesperMakes]

Hi Matt, what a great vlog! I really like the amount of effort you put into making a video - the editing, storytelling, and also the fact that you often explore new formats other than just "how to". That river table video , I must have seen it 10 times 😂. Cheers from Denmark

[@MattEstlea]

Haha thanks Jesper! I think I'll struggle to top that one!

[@humantiger72]

Holy macaroni! Your results are pure art, but the process...wow. I wish had more time

[@mm9773]

I see I’m not the only one who hates blue tools enough to actually go through the process of completely removing the paint. I did it with two old Record vices, but I’d do it with a new one, too.

[@KennethLRubenstein]

Great work and great to see you back. If you want to visit Denver you have a place to stay and a shop to work in,

[@KennethLRubenstein]

That includes Sara too.

[@stuffbyneilsmith]

Welcome back to KZbin Matt, you've been missed. Cracking video to make a return from your 'little trip' Until I saw a power tool being used I almost thought it was a Peter Sellers style video

[@georgeortiz4670]

omg i go to that home depot that you went to in the vid! So cool to think that you were able to build such a nice looking workbench using lumber from there, really inspirational for my future builds!

[@johnanthony2386]

Great to see you back👍

[@MattEstlea]

Good to be back! Thanks John

[@PatLap]

Dude! That’s an amazing workbench!!! 🤗

[@richardpeace3292]

Glad to see your back - look forward to your next project, hopefully won’t be too long a wait next time!

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Richard. The wait won't be as long next time!

[@adamchatko]

this may be an obvious question to those more skilled, but I am genuinely wondering what the purpose of stripping the paint from the vise was if you then just te-painted it again? also: how stable is this workbench? in relation to racking specifically? great video as always, I enjoy watching your content, and honestly if I had to single out one influence that got me itching to pick up woodworking myself, it would certainly be Matt Estlea... Great job both of you!

[@hattabg]

I believe the paint was flaked and cracked. That's the main reason 🙂Good question about stability. No idea.

[@MattEstlea]

Workbench is very stable, mostly due to the tightness of the cross halving joints on the table supports and the wide footprint. Vice was repainted just because we didn't like the blue colour it came as standard. Wanted something to match the space a little better. It was a lot of work but well worth it.

[@VivienLEGER]

saw on insta you were editing ... well that's trully a very very nice video. I really enjoy how fresh it is. I like that we can find in your editing the attention to detail we already find in your woodworking, that a very awesome 2x4 wordbench!

[@MattEstlea]

It's always nice to be commended on the editing. I swear it takes as much consideration as the project itself sometimes! Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind words :)

[@safe1968man]

Wow. Cool bench. Happy to see back on the tube.

[@szymonz.7542]

Luwaks & Estlea come together perfectly. :)

[@FMuscleZ28]

Matt: Planes out rounded corners. Also Matt: rounds out sharp corners.

[@MattEstlea]

Hahaha goddamit

[@angelremigiocardenasgutier2422]

Una verdadera obra maestra. Felicitaciones 👏👏

[@albertreed966]

NICE workmanship!

[@jameymikels1886]

You were right across the bridge from me in Southern New Jersey!

[@applebutter4036]

Just amazing work as always Matt!

[@mariakarpintera8818]

Hello Matty...been waiting for your new video... it's great to see you back😀

[@MattEstlea]

It's great to be back, thanks Maria :)

[@theworkshopboxshop]

First time iv watched this, been so busy great Workbench Matt and Sara some nice joinery looks like you had loads of fun looking forward to more content

[@JohnLIpe1]

Very good craftsmanship you have a great talent 👍👍

[@christycullen2585]

Absolutely Fabulous build Matt you truly are a master woodworker

[@colinwilson8747]

Beautiful result after all the hard work.

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you Colin! :)

[@dpgt3478]

Thank you for making a video I’ve been checking everyday and finally! Haha thank you sir 🇺🇸

[@MattEstlea]

I'm sorry it's taken so long! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@stevesoldwedel]

It's surreal seeing, on KZbin, an apartment I've been inside, featuring a person I actually know.

[@littlebit8901]

Good work!

[@alistairmacfadyen1925]

That looked epic Matt!

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Alistair!

[@alvinbk92]

I need a workbench like this! Looks like Brooklyn. Been looking for a place to rent to make stuff in NYC, it's been my goal to open a shop.

[@feelsdadman]

The attention to detail on this build is outstanding - and very different from most U.S. creators, who either say - don't use this wood, or just screw it together and paint it because it's ugly anyway

[@chm1701]

Well said. Plus, it doesn’t use Walnut, which is a refreshing change.

[@MattEstlea]

Appreciate it Kurt. There's a place for both ways of working. I'm just putting my own spin on it. Glad you enjoyed!

[@jelcodiekr1408]

Great workbench, gotta ask though, why strip the paint to put on new stuff, just a colour change or am i missing something

[@clinteastwood3684]

It just looks better against the natural wood than blue, i guess?

[@hadengibbons3539]

@@clinteastwood3684 I think what jelco is asking is why didn't they just paint over the existing paint if they were going to change its color?

[@clinteastwood3684]

@@hadengibbons3539 ahh got ya. Steel needs protection just like wood. I suppose they put a better product on?

[@saramulry]

I hated the color of the existing blue paint, plus it was chipped & peeling in certain parts because it was a used vise so I wanted to strip & repaint it ☺️

[@clinteastwood3684]

@@saramulry mystery solved lol

[@MattrsMore]

shout out buck bro's chisels. haha that was my first set

[@martonfekete3251]

Hi Matt! This workbench turned out pretty nice! I'm basically a woodworking-video enthusiast and a novice in woodworking as a hobby. I have a question about the construction and durability of the workbench. I'm not american so I don't know the quality of that Home Depot timber but I guess it's not as dry and "ready to use" as the ones you normally use. Won't it twist and warp with time or will the alternating grain direction and bookmatching prevent it from distorting? I mean time will tell, I guess 😀 but still, it would be great to hear your explanation. Cheers from Hungary!

[@vedicapproach8105]

As an American I can tell you that your intuition is correct and this bench will at a minimum need to have to working surface planed soon, and at worst will be completely unsalvageable. That wood is green and notorious for warping and twisting.

[@andymacrae78]

Great job. As a casual diyer I enjoy the experience that you share. I see you used Ryobi tools in part here, what's your opinion on this brand?

[@1pcfred]

Ryobi is owned by TTI. They also own Milwaukee and AEG. Oh, and Hart.

[@markkleckner3060]

Awesome work, God Bless!

[@hebierob]

Classy all the way!

[@montylewis6601]

i don’t know anything about this channel or woodworking, but my roommate is watching this video without headphones in our living room and i heard wawa being mentioned. what foods did u get and what’s ur rating of the hoagies on a 1 to 10 scale. also what seasonal drinks did they have when u were there. thank u for ur time xoxo

[@MattEstlea]

I. Fucking. Loved. Wawa. Hoagies were alright. I enjoyed the Bowls more than anything. I didn't notice any seasonal drinks at all, but one store had a bunch of leftover Christmas Coffee Blends that tasted INSANE. So I got three of them and bought them home with me. Thanks for commenting :)

[@remysidewinder5853]

lol im sure the neighbors loved this

[@jamesduffin9417]

Beautifully done!

[@MattEstlea]

Cheers James! :)

[@DaleMarek]

Great job. Looks amazing.

[@martyjosephson4937]

Hey Matt, and Welcome, come on down to florida, please

[@andykg73]

Woohoo you're back, it's about time it's been too long 😃

[@rrmerlin3402]

Very nice. I would like to see the making of that great stool. Thank you

[@rauschguitars]

That's clean work, well done!

[@laroseauxboisrosewoodwoodw8585]

Wow Matt , this is to bad that you did’nt say that before , i need to build a dream shop would of love some one to help 🤣😂 But nice video and am sure of a hole bunch of peapole that’ll love this ❤️👍🏼🇨🇦

[@janodjano5828]

Hey man Finding your style, interesting/ enjoyable… Guess I’ll keep watching. May consider keeping the back ground music lower in the audio mix, as you are speaking. I say the to those who don’t have an accent. Cheers and Enjoy

[@cromakey]

Monster work!

[@justinbrown471]

Great video, great skills, inspiring! Many thanks.

[@jameshennessey8956]

There was a workbench convention AND a Matt Estlea in my backyard and I didn't know about either!? criminal

[@jennessalynam7682]

Nice! P.s. Cute cat. I have a black cat too. Black cats rule! Lol

[@mohdalisyed]

Great video, love the background music, it sounds so optimistic. The workbench wasn't bad at all. Very elegant design. Did you consider a small Moravian?

[@g0fum]

Great video Matt.

[@MattEstlea]

Cheers James. Glad you enjoyed :)

[@mattlinardo]

Wawa is the Best! Wish I knew you were in New Jersey, would have been cool to meet you.

[@MattEstlea]

It's so good!

[@akcalder92]

Awesome work

[@Glyphmorph]

My first project which is still in progress has been making a table for my compound sliding miter saw. Seeing all this mess you're making in that apartment makes me feel quite a bit less of a jackass for the mountains of sawdust I've cleaned up in my living room. I mean it helps that there's virtually nothing else in my living room but damn. I still don't really recommend turning your living room into a woodworking shop if you have any other alternative.