The
price range for workbenches from a few bucks to
over many thousand dollars will make us look a little
bit closer into this field of one of the most used tools
in a workshop. Before we have a look at the different
types of workbenches, make sure we are all familiar with
the simple term. For a woodworker, a workbench is where
workpieces can be clamped to easily. Workbenches are the
back of every workshop, even nowadays in a rather machinery
oriented environment, it gets increasingly downgraded
to a table or cabinet to store the tools. But without
a doubt, every professional woodworker should have a good
look at the different kinds of workbenches available before
deciding which one best suites his needs. So let's dive
into an overview on workbenches.
Overview
on different kinds of workbenches
We
can generally divide the market for workbenches into
these groups:
- Woodworking workbenches
- General garage workbenches
- Portable workbenches
Woodworking Workbenches
It
all starts with heavy duty woodworking workbenches likethis
one from Sjoeberg or Ulmia. These benches, made out of
beech wood are certainly the most robust of its kind.
Often, with benchtops up to 4 inch thick, they come with
two different types of clamps. The
front clamp, traditionally parallel pressing against the
workbench side. The back clamp can open (depending on
the bench up to 10 inches) and presses against the grain
part of the benchtop, giving it an extra strong force.
Standard
woodworking workbenches
The
standard workbenches for today's woodworker are sized
in between 50 to 60 inches length (1400 to 1600 mm).
They often include cabinets for tool and machinery
storage like the Sjoebergs
SJ1400 workbenches. Rockler
offers workbenches two different versions: with top
and trestle or just the workbench top and kit and plan
to built your own bench base. This is a very nice alternative
for anybody who wants to get a robust benchtop made out
of laminated birch and combines it with its own needs
of a workbench base. Light - DIY workbenches or Garage
workbenches
General
garage workbenches
Apart
of these typical woodworking workbenches, a large variety
of garage workbenches can be found on the market. In
today's workshop, these workbenches become more and
more popular as auxiliary benches. Often rather cheap
to buy, they serve as additional storage space as well.
A good example for these garage workbenches is Northerntools
AnySize™ Workbench Kit
where you just build a 36 inch high workbench according
to the workbench plans. Once you have got and cut the
lumber parts, which are not included, this workbench can
be built very fast at low cost.
Portable workbenches
Black&Decker
Workmate Workbenches |
The
final group of workbenches are the portable ones. Everything
useful for on the site workbenches and jigs. It all started
with traditional saw horses with a board on it and now
goes to very sophisticated clamping devices for heavy
duty use. First, what comes in mind is Black&Deckers
workmate. Originally designed for DIY enthusiasts around
the world, it got popular among kitchen cabinet makers
and woodworkers for its ability to give an extra hand
on the workplace.
Professional portable workbenches and clamps
Triton
Superjaws |
The
professional counterpart to any workmate are Tritons superjaws.
More like a clamping device with a tremendous clamping
range from 0 - 35" it can also perfectly serve
as a workbench. Just get two of them together and put
a board on it - and the workbenchis ready. As the clamping
pressure comes from a foot pedal,
it leaves your hands free while applying a pressure of
up to 2440 lbs. Probably the highest pressure on any type
of portable workbenches.
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