The PERFECT small shop WORKBENCH

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

WORKBENCH PLANS HERE: scottwalsh.co/products/small-shop-workbench

[@johnfuller4991]

dont know how often you look at this but i didnt here you say what wood you were using. it looks great

[@Dumpasaurus42]

ash

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Sweet build, Scott. I really love that idea of a huge chamfer underneath the dog holes to counteract the thickness of the top. Well done!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks so much Brad! It's working well so far, but we'll see how annoying the dog holes get when i start dropping things through them

[@lawman1965]

@@ScottWalshWoodworking If you begin to drop things through, think about getting a cutting mat and place it over the dog holes in the area where you are say, laying out etc. It's what I've done on my MFT style top on my current bench and stops the frustration. I only expose the dog holes if and when I need to clamp. Another idea is to route a slot for T-Track into the edge banding on the front and one side of the bench. I used Incra t-track and that allows me to use clamps on the side of the bench too.

[@alvinmathew3822]

@@ScottWalshWoodworking Do you have a link to the chamfer bit used to route the underneath of the dog holes?

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

How's the top holding up? Has hogging out that much of a chamfer for the dog holes led to any sort of sag? I'm about to do the same to my bench.

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

Also, if your plunge router has variable speed could you just put the forstner bit in it and cut with that? Or is a forstner in a router a no-no?

[@mr.purple1549]

Beautiful, nice to see a young person who relies on common sense, not what everyone else is doing. Thanks

[@Javier_Is_My_Name]

Just bought the plans for this, and I have to say, at first I saw the price and thought man that seems like a lot (23usd) since i didnt know what i'd actually get. Bought it anyway. Then i realized, given what went into them, it's pretty cheap. It's filled with details of how everything is put together, materials list and dimensions. Well done sir. Woodworking is one skill, making plans is another, and the time and effort you've put into both is obvious. Great work 👍

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@jodiepalmer2404]

Is the website safe? as my internet provider has it blocked, and I cannot access it.

[@jessetitus9908]

I’ve watched this video a dozen times now. Been planning my workbench/ out feed table for months and I think your design is most like what I want

[@zainabali9068]

Every woodworking man and woman needs this!

[@RescueResidence]

You're now one of our favorite builders. Great design. Great detail on the build process. Great humor in the video. Well done!

[@XtraKargo]

LoL. The last second is a perfect send off!😅

[@zapa1pnt]

Yeah and a "send off" it might be. 🤣

[@BrenQ99]

This is a work of art. Those drawer fronts are spectacular. You really accomplished something remarkable here!

[@nathantanner3069]

I like that you left the spill and clean up in the vid nice to see everyone makes mistakes especially in small areas love the bench

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

Awesome build, Scott! Can't wait to chat with you on our podcast tonight!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

thanks Eric!

[@DanielGeorge-c7t]

Lots of great ideas. Pre finishing the work pieces before assembly is indeed a time and back saver. Just be sure the glue locations are not finished since the glue won’t bind. Great Presentation, clearly delivered at a comfortable pace.

[@nehocdrofsnop]

That's a very smart looking workbench, utilitarian but also visual appealing.

[@zapa1pnt]

If a bench is not utilitarian, it has no value. Anything past utilitarian is just showing off. (just kidding) 😁

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

thanks Cohen!

[@robertcox14]

I bought a Dremel kit and started thinking of projects. First, I thought I need a workbench, was in bed last night "thinking" of a workbench on top of a linen chest in my apartment. (VERY small space.) {With drawers!!} As far as I know, I only "thought," but today, here you appear on my youtube list, like someone read my mind? Congrats to algorithm??? Ha ha ha!

[@markkoons7488]

I have room for a 4x8 top, a combination outfeed, assembly and Systainer storage table. Your "big honkin' chamfer" is the only real solution to a detail that was unresolved. Thank you.

[@MrSector9freak]

Cabinet maker from Australia here 🤙ABS, thinners etc works on spilt glue, over spray or even if you laid your pieces wrong and need to pry them apart get some ABS in there and boom just gotta scrape/sand off and go again

[@Wordsnwood]

That was one slickly done video. nice bench too. Special congrats to your better half who clearly is a good sport.

[@zapa1pnt]

"good sport"? We won't know that, until the next video. 🤣

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks Art! She's my #1 fan

[@Luke11ify]

Favorite part was when you spilled the glue - I struggle with anger and frustration and I would have thrown in the towel right there. Seeing you get genuinely upset and swear but still clean it up right after... taking notes from that, such a clean workbench as well, I love the perfect 1/16 separation of every drawer!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

i honestly would've walked away if I wasn't frightened of what would've happened to the cement if i didn't clean it up right away. Especially if the smell permeated through the whole house

[@briang3579]

How this guy isn't up there with the more well worn, I mean known KZbinrs, is beyond my understanding. Please don't be the amazing content maker and only make 6 videos and leave. Keep em coming!!

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Yay! Real joinery with real dowels! Just like I learned in high school in the mid 1960's. Seriously, the new bench looks good. I also need a new one to replace the simple lumber one I slapped together about 30 years ago.

[@zacharysmith3793]

Really really beautiful build. Also simple and clever doing the large champfer for the dog holes. Solves a lot of problems with dog accessories as well as workbench stability.

[@5280Woodworking]

Love the bench, looks great. If I'm being honest I use about 20% of the dogs on my bench, so next build I'm going to do something similar but leave the middle solid and only the sides and front 2 rows as dogs. I have tidy OCD and the amount of crap and glue falling through the center is too much!

[@vanillajustin]

Did I just watch you use your drill press table as a positive stop on your sled??? OUTSTANDING. 😆

[@miller110488]

I love this build, I want to do it for my single car garage shop. I do have a suggestion for the cabinet. Build it a little smaller so you have a small gap on the sides. But, when you use the solid wood for the edges, make them large enough to fill that gap in the front. I've used this trick a lot with residential cabinets when working in a cabinet shop. You can always trim the edge to fit the space a lot easier than trying to squeeze the cabinet in

[@Mastering3d]

All that work and just 25 views thats really sad ,Great job man looks amazing .

[@SteveHiemstraAKAspeg]

129K?

[@ForestWoodworks]

336k

[@jasonm871]

346k now 😮

[@Colby83]

389K!

[@joshualawrence634]

413K

[@sputnik4216]

That's one doggone nice table saw .. I really like that method you've got of lining up the drawer slides, foolproof!

[@ckbama17]

I’ve watched lots of videos on making work benches and this is by far the best design. I’d like like to make a few of these for my garage. You can never have too much storage

[@gsuderman]

Mad carpentry and KZbin skills. Respect!

[@RonYarnall]

I was watching your video and when the contact cement incident occurred, I realized no one thought they should tell you about WilsonArt H2O as an interior construction adhesive. I have never had it fail in laminating things in the same manner as toxic contact cement. I bet once you use it once, you will throw away all of your contact cement (or at least only use it for outdoor purposes). I have been using it for more than 20 years, although it did get hard to find at some points in time. Anyway, really enjoyed your informative video. I find "why I chose to do XYZ" is more valuable in almost any technical presentation than "what I did". Keep up the good work.

[@moos5221]

Oof...I can imagine how you felt when you tripped over that can. I dropped a can of paint 2 days ago on my patio and even though I had a protective cloth layer underneath to catch driplets when painting it soaked through and I had to spend a lot of time on the cleanup mission. I was on a narrow timetable to finish the project before I had to leave for an appointment, so yeah...it's always fun when stuff like that happens. I was too exhausted and busy to get angry though, so I just kept going and project is in good shape now. Nice video and workbench of course, needless to say I guess, it's obvious that it's good...but saying it anyways. =)

[@dayz112]

by far the best workbench project i saw on youtube. congrats

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Never be embarrassed by your really, really, really small shop. Also, what a beauty of a bench!

[@thespiritliesdormant]

absolute beautiful job i think i might steal it for my small garage shop!! A trick i do with laminating to oversized sheets is make both a 1/2" bigger all the way around and the be as accurate when you glue them and cut with a track saw as its less stressfull gluing up and less mess than the router and much easier of a cut. Also with contact cement just dry it up with paper towels and then a little goof off or just a little laquer thinner will wipe the residue away.

[@Pete_76]

Great inspiration for my future workshop! Thanks for sharing this in the typical Scott fashion, with sublime camera angles, state-of-the-art editing and more humor than is good for us.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks so much for the kind words as always Pete!!! You have a gift with compliments

[@im-un-fragile]

"What about me?" "...Screw you!" (begins building futon frame for couch to sleep on in garage) ;) Great video. Just rented a small garage to start building a shop and this was very helpful. Cheers!

[@billygrow3d]

Ok, just 14 seconds into watching as a first-time viewer, and you're a great presenter. You got a Mark Roper vibe. Subscribed & liked.

[@danaltea860]

I just found your channel. Great videos. I usually speed through when someone is making mundane cuts but not with you-it’s entertaining and informative. 👍 subscribed!

[@michaelrobinson9643]

Very nice work Scott - not just the design but the quality of finish and your video work.

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

Man of the people. Dowels and a mirka sander 🤣

[@spacekb17]

A good sander is the right place to splurge. Makes sanding less dreadful.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

$5k assembly table

[@markg3305]

That part at the very end literally made me spit out my drink from my nose and proceeded to search for air in-between great bouts of laughter 🤣🤣🤣 my wife would have killed me right then and there!

[@gerarddelmonte4205]

Jeesh, 10 x12? Kudos for putting out good work in that kind of space. I am building a 18x16, now I have no excuses left. Damn. LOL

[@billbachman6940]

Absolutely love this build. Don’t feel bad i spilled a quart of dark stain in my shop that’s still there to this day. It’s a fun decoration now. Also really enjoyed your face frame builds and glue ups. Well done

[@StephenGoneau]

Love this build. Would love to have drawers below my workbench top but need it for small machines in my tiny space. This is the second time I have seen the Formica surface and now I want to put it on my workbench. Glad to see the steps you followed to achieve it since it will help me a tonne. Glad to see some Canadian content as well and especially local Toronto content. Keep up the videos!

[@Smex9680]

You come across as well versed in woodworking skills. I do enjoy your channel and you do have great ideas thanks for passing along .

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

I'm sorry you feel that way, but you're literally the first person to say that

[@bengarland]

Your step by step makes it look "easy", yet the final result is like "holy s#!+" professional. I now realize that I really need a table saw. Fun fact: did you know that it's basically impossible to buy a table saw in Japan? Even the Japanese tool brands that make table saws for sale in the US/CA do not sell those same table saws in Japan. I could not figure out why when I lived there. I could get every other kind of power saw, just not a table saw.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks! That's wild that you cannot get a table saw? Maybe ask Ishitani where he got his 😂, although his looks very industrial

[@crlsvelez77]

Thanks for The Laugh we all make mistakes That is the Fun of all projects.

[@tjackson86]

Lovely job. You produce some of the best woodworking videos on KZbin. Glad I found your channel mate. A good mix of comedy and woodworking - love it!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

thanks so much for the kind words Tom!

[@somestuff7550]

I love prefinishing too :) beautiful workbench.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

it's the best!

[@Cat_R_Waul]

Another banger from Scott. You deserve way more subs.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks for the kind words Sam!

[@richthomas5013]

Good video. For leveling feet, I’ve bought the largest hex cap machine bolt I could find. Usually 3/4” with a washer. I bore a hole into the 4x4 corner post, thread the nut onto the bolt and then the washer bears against the wood post. Works great. Super heavy duty and when I blow out the trapped sawdust it flows around pretty well so clean up us easy.

[@JasonGrissom]

DuDE! Scott this came out AWESOME! This is my 1st time watching your content. I will be back for sure!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks so much Jason!

[@whisperingpinesstudio402]

Glad to see you replaced your work bench. This one looks great! Really helps people with small shops realize what they also can be capable of. I believe I may have caught a glimpse of my new baby in the back of those MDF glue ups. Let me know if you want proof of life lol.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Are you speaking of the folding trailer? 😁 I love mine

[@TheAaronReynolds]

Dude this is one of the best videos I’ve seen on work benches. I love your funny script/commentary. Very whitty and entertaining while we all watch you work your ass off 😂. Great job 👏 and thanks for some interesting, helpful, and entertaining content!

[@marchebert9813]

Great build. Near the beginning of the video you referenced using dowels rather than dominoes because you are "of the people". I, for one, appreciate that. I have a used table saw, used jointer and thickness planer, etc. Also, the ending joke is hilarious. Well done.

[@robintheshop]

What a great video! I'm completely reorganizing my 20*9 foot shop this spring and a lot of your features are going to inspire how my outfeed table is built.

[@homerthompson23]

I know this is a little late but when cleaning up a spill you should start by making a ring around it with the sand or whatever you're soaking it up with. Then work your way in pushing it inward and adding more as needed.

[@yazeedaziz3301]

I love this guy.. the new bench is sick .. you "nailed" GOAT

[@necrojoe]

IMO, it's worth adding one note: you mentioned using Formica, and that's great. It is NOT the same thing as melamine. Formica (or similar product from Wilsonart, Nevamar/Panolam, Abet Laminati, etc) is a high-pressure laminate, and compared to melamine, it's nearly bulletproof.

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Agree. The actual main ingredient is paper. Used to live near a paper mill, and the base for laminates like Formica is one of their major products.

[@JayBergCustoms]

That is a great bench! I recently added an 8 x 4 assembly table to my workshop with an ash frame (laminated hardwood flooring my neighbor gave me), and I used the B side of some home depot birch ply for the panels. Its already scored me a few jobs from my neighbors who have seen it in passing. I didn't plan our the wheel thing well at all :( so for now it is an immovable object. And it probably weight 600 lbs with everything in it.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

At least it's sturdy! Sounds great!

[@ScoobySnackOG]

One of the prettiest workbenches I’ve seen. I love the look of those faces on the drawers / cabinet👌🏼

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks Blake! I almost took the easy road and just did flat panel drawer fronts, but I like the framed look better.

[@dabeamer42]

I just want to put in a thumbs-up for dowels. My go-to joinery, esp. for joining big boards into panels.

[@pnwdiy2073]

I don't have a small shop but I think you're outfeed table is a great multipurpose edition to any shop, small or large. Great job!

[@alanmatthews9260]

Dude you’re really highly skilled

[@BissellMapleFarm]

On the KZbins.... this is a great channel!

[@steveeymann6374]

Craftsman style maybe? That term hasn't been used to oblivion yet. Bench looks 👍 👌

[@alanmatthews9260]

You don’t look like your standard KZbin Woodworker but you are solid! Way to go!

[@kirk001]

Good lord that's a lot of work! But it's definitely gorgeous and amazing. Stellar job!

[@jrumbel]

The pickles......so good. You have inspired me to build something similar.

[@Douggg1000]

What you could do to improve your bench at little cost is to go to lowe's or homedepot and get a piece of the 1/4 inch x 6 inch x 36 inch what they call project wood (for small projects). And make yourself a ledge shelf just below the overhang of the top of your bench, and above the open space where you are putting your squares, dusting brush, roll of paper towels, dustpan, clamps, to get out of the way when you are working on projects, Round the corners of the ledge shelve. I made such a ledge shelve for my Armor tools metal framed workbench, that is 4 inches wide free space. It is a great place to keep three things, my 3m sanding block, my irwin wood mallet, and a small japanese pull saw. And it does not interfere with my ability to use the border of the workbench surface for clamping. I also made a six drawer module, that is similar to your setup, that gives the open space chamber like you have above. So, the open space chamber plus the ledge shelve. My ledge shelf is 4 inch deep, it all works out great.

[@thisolesignguy2733]

this was so fun and interesting I watched it 3 times. You just gained another subscriber. Thanks for the vid!

[@dhammer5645]

Funny, entertaining and great bench. Great video Scott

[@NorEazter]

The last line of the video made me subscribe. That SCREW YOU at the end sent me into hysterics, cause it was so unexpected. I hope your girl is still speaking to you, but that was hilarious! I like woodworking channels with a sense of humor, and also I can relate to the small shop situation. Well done man!

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Nice workbench. I'm planning a new one with outfeed built-in. I'm a big advocate of using ash as well - strong and durable while reasonably cheap.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

my only complaint is that it's very dusty, more so than any other wood I've worked with. Simply jointing (my jointer doesn't have dust collection) not only throws the usual chips everywhere, but also throws an unusual amount of dust in the air.

[@MSsallay]

The grinds my gears line was hilarious totally caught me off guard haha love the build !

[@JARMade]

Wow Now that's a workbench!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks Jesus!

[@David-hm9ic]

Beautiful bench! A friend, a pro cabinet maker, covered his R/C building airplane bench with Formica. It’s held up for 30 years of building epoxy/glass fuselages and wings and the glue still pops off easily.

[@lilmax38]

Looks awesome!! My boss used Coca Cola to clean up paying they spilled all over the garage. Worked really good. Made me think of that, when you spilled the contact cement.

[@danielsullivan2539]

Very cool project and attention to detail.

[@alexisrivera7650]

I don’t have a domino but I do have a biscuit joiner. I also have a extension just built to the back of my garage which will be my small shop so yea. I need a out feed . I need storage and yes I need an out feed table the same height as my table saw but here the best part. I need plans. Thank you and accept my subscription. Great video.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Great video, Scott, and I love how the bench turned out! The mass of chamfers go to the dog holes we’re great solution, and I’m sure she will serve you well for many years to come. Scott

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks so much Scott! I hope the chamfers don't come back to bite me in some way that I haven't thought through yet.

[@dennisdickson8058]

I wasn’t going to subscribe, then I saw the Rush shirt. Good job on the design, construction, and video. 👍

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

I got a few more in the closet still kicking around from high school that I need to put into rotation again!

[@michaelcrossley7349]

Why have I just now found your channel?! Fantastic content, you are stinking hilarious!

[@therelaxingwoodshop7495]

How did I never come across your channel. Subscribed. Liked and all notifications are on 👍👍👍

[@ditship]

Awesome Job. Loved the end.

[@wiseoldfool]

It looks amazing, Scott. Keith (Rag n bone) Brown just got rid of his MFT style bench because he didn't like things falling into the holes. I also have that fear, so I haven't built one. I will spend the next year or so watching how you go with yours before I consider throwing out the bench I have just finished, and starting again. From scratch. Without a bench.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing, but we'll see how it goes! I was also thinking that I probably didn't need all the holes, but I have no way in knowing what holes I would use more than others 🤷‍♂️

[@johnkarapita437]

That workbench is a thing of beauty for sure. Very well designed and built, Scott! I see, as well, you put that biscuit joiner to use!

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

thanks John! It does come in handy for a few things!

[@johnkarapita437]

I noticed the narrower rails on the smaller drawers. Nice design detail.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

@@johnkarapita437 ooo thanks for noticing that!

[@jaysgarage2769]

What a beautiful and complex piece of work (art) 👍

[@samsboringchannel]

I really enjoyed watching this build and hearing your thought process around each part of it. I need a new workbench and outfeed table for my garage workshop and was quite happy to settle for cheap pine and plywood screwed together but I might have to spend some time having a rethink.

[@josejavier1104]

as soon as you showed the dowel jig vs a domino joiner I was tempted to subscribe. But when the contact cement tipped ......... I bought the plans lol GREAT STUFF

[@johnoerter2883]

LOVE my DowelMax! Made my bench and other things with it. Also made same error … 🥺. Also small shop.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

It's serving me very well so far! I think there were 180 or so dowels in the carcass alone, so I was bound to make a mistake somewhere!

[@johnoerter2883]

@@ScottWalshWoodworking I understand entirely! I've made several pieces of shop "furniture" and some stools and boxes for sale … also, Jim is a creative and careful guy; I enjoy my conversations with him a lot.

[@charliemckay6402]

Milling a slot to accommodate installing clamps through the dog hole is simpler, plus Sizing the slots to fit Your clamps Can keep the clamps square and not rotate during set up or use. Just a thought

[@powell235]

that's a beautiful and well-thought-out table man. I think I will use this as inspiration for my bench.

[@MrMeasureTwice]

Brilliant and great fun to watch... Three times actually.

[@dennissmith5837]

Beautiful Workbench! I’m in the middle of a similar build now (planning & milling) but I’m using some pre-made drawers that I purchased for almost nothing. My biggest challenge is working the dimensions backwards. It will be a little wider and shorter then my current bench that I made from oak from my father’s farm. You did a great build and a great video. Thanks

[@calyodelphi124]

This bench build is an excellent example of how to properly use MDF/HDF for any kind of furniture/furnishing/whatever build: heavily supported and never load-bearing. I've been planning for just over a year now to build my own bedroom furniture from baltic birch plywood because it's so much more stable and durable compared to all the terrible flat pack furniture made out of particle board.

[@mor8266]

Beautiful Workbench

[@flboy77]

This is great. Checks every box. I think you might have designed my shop bench.

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

Thanks for the kind words Ryan! It went through three years of design iterations until I stopped procrastinating and finally built it.

[@Jcurtis1281]

We’ll just finished up watching about 40 videos on work benches. And honestly your level of detail explanation is awesome. Only thing I might do different is do t track and dogs. If one is good both is better?!? Haha. Awesome video

[@Kami8705]

Nicely done. You could probably recess that vise in farther, have the back material set into the work bench top. Saving every little bit of space in walkways is also important in small shops

[@ScottWalshWoodworking]

I would have, but the quick release mechanism would intersect with the entire apron. So to make the vice flush with the top, the top would have to come out farther, rather than the vice coming in

[@papparocket]

NICE! But I am pretty sure that I would be forever hitting my knees on the hard corners of those metal drawer pulls, especially because I use a stool as much as I can to take a load off my knees and back and so my legs would push up against the drawer fronts. So I would definitely need to use a more knee friendly type of drawer pull. With drawer slides reducing friction, you could probably just use a single short wooden knob. And since what is the point of being a woodworker, if you are going to buy something you could make, I would take a crack at making them myself, probably out of some nice contrasting species of wood, like maybe walnut or cherry.