The level of construction detail for two bench types was a pleasant surprise. While I am unlikely to build either style soon, Schwarz provides plenty of other information that may prove useful in modifying my current bench. Good photos and drawings. ( )

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I have admired the writing of Chris Schwarz for a couple of years now, ever since I discovered Woodwooking Magazine issue 2 in a Wal-Mart while killing some time one day. Finally, I had found a woodworking magazine that seemed to be aimed right at me. A mix of hand tools and power tools. A mix of projects and how-to articles. And, done with taste, style and no advertisements. What a great magazine. Since that find, I have subscribed to Popular Woodworking (his “regular” magazine), his blog and haunt the bookstores for each new edition of Woodworking magazine.

Since I come at woodworking from my interest in medieval history, I tend to favor the period furniture reproduction type of projects and that’s a lot of what he does. Also, what woodworker isn’t also interested in collecting tools? Add to that the workbench “thing”. It’s the largest and most facinating tool in a woodworker’s arsenal and it’s the one big item that almost every woodworker has to make for themselves.

I made my current workbench several years ago when I determined it was time to move from the door on saw horses version that seems to be some sort of universal starting place for hobbyist woodworkers. It’s fine. I still use it every time I am in the shop. It’s got a lot of things going for it: it’s long (10′), it’s against a wall that faces west under a large window, it’s heavy, really heavy. And all was good as I persued the hobby.

Then, through the pages of his two magazines and his blog, Chris introduced me to a new tool, the hand plane. Suddenly, my workbench was obsolete. I didn’t figure this out right away, but over the course of struggling to learn the hand plane I discovered that the surface that couldn’t be high enough was too high. The massive bench that could easily dampen vibration from power tools was weak to the racking forces of a large guy pushing a #7 plane. Hrm.

So, I need to make a new workbench. Then, just as I make that determination, Chris’ writing reveals his almost unhealthy obsession with workbenches. The thing that he brings to the conversation is the “why” certain features are as they are. We have noted the different styles of workbenches in other books, but now we are getting some information on historical benches and methods of work that places these benches and features in context.

Even though I had read a lot of the material contained in this book before, the whole discussion, put all in one package was very valuable. I love the many historical etchings and photographs. The more the better.

I firmly believe that there is no perfect bench. I think this is something Chris Schwarz has already come to grips with. What your bench needs to look like depends on not just what sort of projects that come off it, but how you work as well. This book will help you understand what sorts of things a bench can do and help you sort through the options in designing and building your own.

This was one of the few books I have ever pre-ordered from Amazon and I waited impatiently for it to show up. It was work the wait, an excellent book. Don’t miss out on the version with the CD, it contains drawings and a PDF of the book. Highly recommended. ( )