Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Plan

The Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Plan is based on the workbench shown in Plate 11 of Roubo’s “The Art of the Joiner”. It captures all the functionality of Roubo’s design, but is a simpler, easier to build version.

The bench is 84″ long by 20-1/2″ wide by 34″ tall and has a 3″ thick top. The bench can be built shorter or longer with simple adjustments to the plans.The Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Plan incorporates the Classic Leg Vise (Retro or Solo, the plans use Solo), a Planing Stop , and holes for a holdfast.

The bench is assembeled using a drawbored half-lap mortise and tenon joint. It is designed to be built out of mainly 8/4 stock and some 4/4 wood.

The Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Plan consists of three 20″ x 30″ printed pages of measured drawings that show the bench in all the necessary views including exploded, with specific details describing each part. Concise yet extremely detailed, the drawings are printed on 20-lb. bond paper and shipped rolled in a cardboard tube. Full construction notes can be downloaded below.

Important Note – Crisscross Design Change

In February 2025, Benchcrafted released a new version of the Crisscross Solo and Retro.

The length of the Crisscross arms (the two main parts of the mechanism) were shortened by 1-1/2″. This allows the Crisscross to be fit into a wider variety of workbench heights and allows for a greater variety of vise installation positions without affecting performance. The mortise for the V2 Crisscross arm is now 18″ long, the previous version being 19-1/2″ long. All other aspects of the Crisscross Solo and Retro remain unchanged.

Updated instructions and addenda for older plans/instructions can be downloaded below or on the Benchcrafted website.

Additional Information

Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Contruction Notes

Benchcrafted Classic Workbench Crisscross Addendum 2025 .