I just got back from the Woodworking in America hand tool conference, and wow, was that impressive. The companies making tools, the talented presenters and – most encouraging – the numbers of young woodworkers attending made this past weekend something special.
But, what really got me going was a visit to the vendor’s area very early on Saturday morning. There, I saw an impressive collection of workbenches tool manufacturers were using to display and demonstrate their wares.
If you don’t have a bench, or are looking to replace one… well, I have some inspiration for you.
Here are a sampling of the benches out in front… some sweet specimens:
![Lake Erie Toolworks](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0135.jpg)
![The Lie-Nielsen Workbench The Lie-Nielsen Workbench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0136.jpg)
![Blue Spruce Tools Bench Blue Spruce Tools Bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0137.jpg)
![Clark and Williams Planes Bench Clark and Williams Plane Bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0138.jpg)
![The portable demo bench from Tools for Working Wood The portable demo bench from Tools for Working Wood](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0139.jpg)
![A commerically available Sjoberg bench A commerically available Sjoberg bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0109.jpg)
![An interesting plywood topped bench from Blum Tools An interesting plywood topped bench from Blum Tools](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0111.jpg)
![A demo bench from Lee Valley Tools A demo bench from Lee Valley Tools](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0112.jpg)
![The Sauer and Steiner bench The Sauer and Steiner bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0113.jpg)
![A short saw bench A short saw bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0114.jpg)
![An offering from Adjust-A-Bench An offering from Adjust-A-Bench](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0117.jpg)
![A bench in potentia A bench in potentia](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0118.jpg)
![And, one very strong bench built my Megan Fitzpatrick And, one very strong bench built my Megan Fitzpatrick!](http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/Tampa_Tom/kdk_0116.jpg)
My vote is for a hybrid of the first two. At least, that’s what I intend to build.
Enjoyed the show and came away with a Adust-a-bench from the show.
Dang, Calvin. Those are some sweet looking benches… nice work!
Just remember, Vic, every bench ever made is a hybrid of at least a few dozen designs…. That’s just the bloodline of of all benches!
Tom, I expected to see a picture of you jumping on a bench!
I didn’t want anyone to know who put the boot prints on the benchtop! 🙂
Nice survey, Tom. I’ll have to send you some shots of my cannibalized Craig’s list mini-monstrosity.
If I had to pick the favorite from what I can see in the pictures it would be the Lie-Nielsen Workbench.
If I had to pick one I could afford it would be the pile of wood on the floor or to make one like Megan’s.
Gee, Tom, you seemed to strike that he-man pose a lot over the weekend…
I was there to PUMP * YOU UP!