The Workbench Book

Scott Landis

Reviewed by:

Robert Weber

Originally released in 1987, Scott Landis' The Workbench Book is widely considered the definitive work on workbenches and other work-holding devices and work surfaces. I must admit that all I had heard about the book before reading it set my expectations very high. In almost all ways my expectations were met. The book was re-released as part of a slipcover set from Taunton including Landis' The Workshop Book and Jim Tolpin's The Toolbox Book and the three together make a powerful reference.

The author starts by providing a brief history of the workbench, from Roman times to the commercial benches available in the early 20th century. Each of the next few chapters takes a closer look at the main western bench forms. He covers an 18th century bench from France, the classic Shaker bench with enclosed cabinets, and three modern open benches, both with and without a tail vise. In each case he closely ties the bench builder's work style with the type of bench he chose to build. This provides useful insights into the type of bench that the reader might find useful. He also provides very detailed instructions on the building of each bench type (including measured drawings in the appendix).

The author takes a quick look at a sampling of other craftsman-built benches and some commercially available benches before launching into two chapters on the most important workbench accessory, (in Western styles, at least), the vice.

After a thorough analysis of various vice types, the Author spends five chapters with various specialty and non-western benches. These are the only chapters in the book where I found myself losing interest, and then only sporadically. What happened is that the subjects I am interested in, such as Japanese woodworking and shaving horses, I found very interesting. The subjects where I have a less passing interest, Lutherie, carving and boatbuilding, I struggled with. I expect that other readers would have similar experiences in the chapters dealing with subjects they are and are not interested in.

Finally, the author looks at the history and development of what is the only real innovation in work-holding and work surfaces in half a millennium, the Workmate(r). This is a fascinating chapter about the inspiration and development of this widely loved and widely disparaged tool. Part sawhorse, part massive vice, part workbench, the Workmate(r) finishes out this comprehensive tome nicely.

As I stated earlier, the only chapters that I struggled with were the chapters on various specialties in which I'm not interested. I also found the detailed accounts of building the benches to be tedious, but certainly see where they would be invaluable for the reader who is attempting to build a similar bench. I will return to those sections when I am ready to build my own bench. The aspects of history and specific use of each bench were especially helpful. This book belongs on the bookshelf of any woodworker who has even a passing interest in woodworking history, woodworking philosophy, or building their own workbench.