Woodworking Magazine Blog

Last week Megan Fitzpatrick and I put the finishing touches on her new workbench, which was built using an ancient French design, 19th-century fasteners and modern materials (laminated veneer lumber).

We are pleased with the result.

The bench's base and top are made of LVL and can be knocked down in minutes thanks to its nuts-and-bolts fasteners (the leg vise and sliding board jack are maple). The overall workholding and structure of the bench is ideal for anyone who uses hand tools, power tools or both in their work – thanks to Andre Roubo's 18th-century drawings of workbenches.

Lately as I've been sketching workbenches (and I do sketch a good number of them) I've been incorporating more dramatic curves into the details. These curves are still based on traditional proportions (arcs, ogees etc.), but I've decided I like a good swoop or two on a rectilinear bench. This design is the first one of my curvy benches to see the light of wood.

The complete plans for this workbench will be featured in the November 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking magazine, which will go on sale in early October. We held a little contest for naming the bench, and Megan liked "Gluebo" the best (which was submitted by Joel Moskowitz, who is one clever monkey). And while its name won't make it on the cover of the magazine (we try not to use made-up words) it's what we call the bench when we accidentally run into it.

— Christopher Schwarz