The Facts

• A workbench must be sturdy and solid. This means that the frame must not twist and that it should have minimum bounce when hammering or pounding on its surface. This is an important consideration since a plywood surface, let's says, without adequately strong framing and support underneath, can result in lots of bouncing when hammering on the bench. For this reason, 2-by-6s or 2-by-8s---due to their thickness and heft---make a better, more solid work surface than plywood.
  
  

Structure

• The common 2-by-4 is a good building material for the frame under the bench's work surface. And the flooring or foundation beneath the bench is another important consideration. The benefits of thick, wide boards for a firm work surface, and the sturdiness that a 2-by-4 framework gives will be for naught if the floor itself bounces under the force of a work project.
  
  

Other Features

• A vice is a standard feature of a workbench. The steel-jawed vice, common to general work projects, is a useful component. Workbenches special to woodworking, though, have wooden jaws that are kinder to wood stock, which can be easily blemished by the metal workshop vice.
  
  

Drawers

• You can never have too may drawers on your workbench. There's always the need for a nail or a screw or a sleeve of staples for the staple gun. In this sense the workbench is a lot like the kitchen counter.
  
  

Cabinets

• Stand-alone cabinets are versatile. They can sit on the bench when convenient. Then, if you need more room, they can be relocated temporarily and put back later. Alternatively, cabinets can be installed on a wall above the workbench surface.
  
  

Potential

• Think about the kinds of projects you'll do and make sure your workbench has the surface area to accommodate your work demands. Allow room for expansion in case future use calls for a larger work area. As long as you think ahead, the original workbench doesn't have to be the final workbench. Add on and make improvements as your work projects call for them.