Questions: Workbench Plans

by Ellis McMullin and Wolodymyr Smishkewych

Originally published in American Lutherie #81, 2005

 

Kevin from cyberspace asks:

Where can I find plans for a guitar builder’s workbench?

Ellis McMullin of Kent City, Michigan answers:

The short answer is that you can use any workbench with the proper jigs and fixtures. I doubt you will find two identical benches unless they are in the same shop.

The longer answer: I recommend The Workbench Book by Scott Landis (Taunton Press, 1998; ISBN: 1561582700) as a guide in choosing a workbench style. In Chapter 14, workbenches used by Dan Erlewine, Ervin Somogyi, Mark Stanley, and Richard Schneider are discussed. A general plan of the bench that Richard used is included in the book. The book is a wealth of information and includes four detailed plans of workbenches in the Appendix.

Wolodymyr Smishkewych of Bloomington, Indiana adds:

In addition to the Landis book, if you have a spare barber’s or dentist’s chair handy, you might take a look at AL#9, “Barber Chair Workbench” by Michael Sanden (also in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Volume One, p. 343). In the end, your bench will be a combination of your needs, ideas both yours and others’, and the materials at hand. And your needs will be dictated by what you build, as in my case: what is the best bench height for hurdy-gurdies? Good luck!