Let's now move on to what you should look for in the perfect workbench for luthiery, starting with…
Sturdy Stable Construction
The foundation of any good workbench is stability. It must be able to handle the weight and pressure from various tasks without any movement.
Go for one made from heavy, solid wood like oak or maple for the best stability. Or, if you're buying a pre-made bench, make sure it has a sturdy frame and reinforced joints.
If you're happy with your current workbench but wish it was a little more stable, add weight to the base of the bench. This is easily done by adding a lower shelf that can be used to hold tools that are not commonly used (the heavier, the better) or, better still, weights.
Size and Surface Area
A good luthier's workbench needs enough space for lots of parts and tools to be laid out at the same time. Guitar building, unlike some woodworking tasks, for example, boat building, rarely uses very long pieces of wood. Therefore, a bench size of three to five feet long by two to three in depth works well.
This will easily accommodate larger guitar parts like bodies and necks while also providing enough room for tools. As for the height, most luthiers go for between 30 and 36 inches.
Vices and Clamps
It's best to go for a bench with a good quality front vice and, preferably, a tail vice. It's also worth inserting a set of dog holes. These are small holes that are drilled into the workbench that allow “bench dogs” to be inserted to hold wood pieces in place. These allow even more versatile clamping options for securing various shapes and sizes of wood.
A Soft, yet Durable Work Surface
The surface of your workbench needs to be firm enough to provide the required stability but gentle enough that it won't scratch or damage delicate pieces of wood. Another option, if you have a larger size bench, is to cover parts of the bench in either leather or rubber padding to protect more fragile instrument parts during assembly or while finishing.
Tool Storage and Organization
A workbench with drawers, shelves, or a pegboard can significantly increase your efficiency. Pegboards are great for frequently used tools like chisels, files, and scrapers. Drawers are better for more specialized and less frequently used tools, while magnetic strips are a fantastic space saver for holding metal tools, like files or calipers.
Lighting
Ideally, your workbench needs a task light or an adjustable LED light mounted above or very near it. It's also well worth getting a light with a flexible arm that will let you direct light to exactly where it's needed, for example, when fret leveling, when shadows can obscure fine details.
A Tidy Workbench is a Happy Workbench
If possible, install a dust collection system near your workbench. This will obviously be overkill for those starting off in Lutherie or weekend luthiers, but a small handheld vacuum or even keeping a broom as well as a dustpan and brush near your workbench will help you maintain a clean, tidy, and safe workspace.
Soft Jigs and Forms for Instrument Shaping
Luthiery often involves the use of custom jigs and forms for shaping necks, bending sides, and securely holding bodies during assembly. Your workbench can be enhanced by adding a few custom jigs that are tailored to the types of instruments you most often build, for example:
- Body Molds that hold guitar bodies during glue-ups.
- Side-Bending Forms that bend sides to the shape of the instrument.
- Neck Rests that support the neck of the instrument during fretwork or sanding.
Finishing and Sanding Station
If you have enough space, then dedicating part of your workbench or, better still, a nearby or adjoining surface for sanding and finishing is a great option.
Sanding and finishing requires specific materials and tools, for example, fine-grit sandpaper, polishing cloths, and buffing compounds. Keeping these in the same place on or near your workbench will save you time and create a clean environment for the final stages of your next build.
