Hey, let somebody else build it for me....

Updated March 15, 2007

Fine Woodworking Magazine Workbench Review
A Fine Woodworking Magazine review of several ready made workbenches was published in the special Tools and Shops issue in the winter of 2006/2007. An excerpt is available for free or those that a premium subscribers the full review is available online.

Diefenbach Workbenches
High quality workbenches of the European variety. Many sizes and types available

Benchdog ProBenches
Benchdog makes a large variety of well designed woodworking accessories and is especially famous for it's very nice router table system. They now offer two workbenches in 50" and 72" lengths. Like their router table system, these benches come with some interesting options such as choices of cabinetry and a mobile base.

Wood Direct Benches

Laguna Workbenches
Laguna Tools who is famous for their excellent bandsaws and other power tools, now offers a line of European styled workbenches. An owner found that these benches are made in Bulgaria.

Lie-Nielsen Workbenches
Toolmaker Lie-Nielsen now offers a beautifully made European style workbench using excellent German made hardware. Each bench is essentially a custom order to your specs. Wonderfully made. Highest quality.

Waldman Small European Workbench
A European styled workbench with a 2 9/16" thick solid top and full width end vise: the 59" x 20" Waldmann is constructed of high quality, kiln-dried, glue-laminated European red beech wood. The bench feature a heavy-duty trestle base and completely sealed finish. At $777 through Amazon, this is certainly one of the lowest cost heavy duty European made workbenches available.

Waldman Large European Workbench
As above, a European styled workbench with a 2 9/16" thick solid top and full width end vise: the 74" x 23" Waldmann is constructed of high quality, kiln-dried, glue-laminated European red beech wood. The bench feature a heavy-duty trestle base and completely sealed finish. At $977 through Amazon, this is certainly one of the lowest cost large European made workbenches available.

Large Waldman Workbench and Cabinet
A European styled workbench with a 2 9/16" thick solid top and a tail vise: the 74" x 23" Waldmann is constructed of high quality, kiln-dried, glue-laminated European red beech wood. The bench feature a heavy-duty trestle base and a full width cabinet. Available at $1149 through Amazon.

Workbench World
Ready made workbenches of many types. Located in Australia. Cost of shipping to the US would be interesting...

ULMIA Benches

Most woodworkers (including myself) consider the ULMIA European style workbenches to be the finest made today. Lots of pros who don't want to take the time to build their own bench just buy one of these. (Hey, even Norm Abram uses one of these in his shop) But, be forwarned--they are expensive. There are several designs available and several sizes as well. And, if you like the benches, but, can't afford them or just want to make your own based on the ULMIA designs, Woodcraft offers detailed plans you can buy very inexpensively. See the Plans for Sale section of this site for the link.

Available from Garrett Wade:

ULMIA Large Bench
Master Cabinetmaker's Bench
Ultimate Folding Bench

Available from Fine Tools:

ULMIA Benches

Available from Dick Fine Tools in Germany:

ULMIA Benches

Inexpensive Benches Available Online

Not as much fun as building your own, but it's just a click away...

Sjoberg Joiners Beech Workbench
Would work well in a small shop and not very expensive. Lite duty front and end vises.

Sjoberg Benches and Accessories
Though Sjoberg benches aren't as heavy duty as the Ulmia benches, one of the nice thing about the company is that they offer many types of benches in lots of sizes. And, they have a complete line of various cabinets, tool holders and accessories.

MBI Silver Vein Workbench
You can order this bench from Costo.com for only $359.99. It features the ability to size it to 60, 72, 84 or 90” when you cut the top to length. The MBI Silver Vein Workbench features an adjustable width system that allows you to customize the width to fit your own space needs. Premium, industrial grade sealed 1.5" thick shop top. Though it has no vises, you could add a nice metal front vise and you'd be all set.

Blum Tool Company Portable Workbench
Definitely not a Workmate, this bench can actually work for light duty woodworking. A very clever torsion box design with holes to position pipe clamps for front and end vises.

Fisch Precision Tools Work Bench
Less then $200 this bench has two vises and might work okay for small woodworking projects.

American Workbenches
Though not ideal as a woodworking bench due to its size, lightweight softwood contstruction and lack of woodworking vises, it should work fine for simple home handyman projects.

Woodcraft Benches

At a store near you. And, available online, too.

Sjoberg Benches at Woodcraft
If you have a Woodcraft store nearby you can stop by and see the line of Sjoberg benches they carry or order one online if your too far away.

Lee Valley Benches

Innovative designs. Nice exclusive Veritas products. Plans and Equipment are also available.

Veritas Workbenches are a contemporary design for a cabinetmaker style of benches that makes extensive use use of the innovative Veritas line of round bench dogs and accessories.

Veritas Carvers Bench