Best Workbench Upgrades

Fast and Easy Woodworking Workbench Improvements

Featured Woodworking Workbench Upgrades

Free Plan: Download this Workbench Drawers Plan

Woodworking Vises

12'' Quick Release End Vise - This heavy-duty, easy-to-install steel vise will be the workhorse of your custom workbench! Machined pivoting nut engages or releases with a 1/4 turn of the 1" dia. main screw so you can easily re-position your workpiece. Extra-wide 12" O.C. guide rods provide maximum resistance to racking, while extra-wide 17-1/2" handle plate delivers maximum stability to handle any project.

Heavy Duty Quick Release Front Vise - This powerful vise is perfect for custom workbenches. A quick-release mechanism engages with a 1/4 turn of the handle, letting you make major adjustments almost instantaneously. Two 3/4" dia. solid steel guide rods provide absolute resistance to racking, while an extra-wide 9" wide handle-plate delivers maximum stability to handle any project. Includes a solid hardwood handle.

7'' Quick Release Workbench Vise - This heavy-duty cast iron vise is easy to install and features adjustable pop-up dog on vise face for clamping panels in conjunction with bench dogs.This heavy-duty cast iron vise is easy to install and features adjustable pop-up dog on vise face for clamping panels in conjunction with bench dogs.

Workbench Dog Hole Accessories

Bench Accessory Kit with 2' x 3' Bench Mat - Get more out of your workbench with our seven-piece bench accessory kit. The kit features a 2' x 3' non-slip mat to prevent work pieces from moving while using a router or electric sander. When more firm clamping is needed, the two hold fast clamps slip into 3/4'' dog holes to hold your work to the bench, while the four Bench Dogs work with the vise to hold your stock while belt sanding or hand planing.

Round Bench Dogs, 2'' Long - Bench Dogs provide a time-tested way of keeping stock from sliding across the workbench while sanding or planing. Ours feature a side spring that allows you to easily adjust the height of the dog—lower for thinner stock and higher for thicker stock. This version is only 2'' long, ideal for use with thinner worktops. The flat section is only 3/4'' high, which lets you set the dog lower than our full-length versions, when used in a thin worktop.

Hold-Down Clamp (Holdfast) - Use this simple clamp (usually called a holdfast) for wedging the workpiece against the top of a workbench that has standard 3/4" bench dog holes and features a 4-1/4" reach.

Dog Hole Auto-Adjust Clamp Plate - This adapter allows you to install your auto-adjust hold-down clamps in the dog holes of your workbench. Multiple hole patterns in the mounting plate accept a variety of auto-adjust clamps.

Dog Hole Planing Stop - The Dog Hole Planing Stop provides a firm backstop to keep your work from sliding around while sanding, planing or driving screws. At just over 3/8'' high, it lets you plane and sand boards as thin as 1/2'' without risk of hitting the stop and damaging your sandpaper or blade. Unlike similar planing stops, ours features adjustable spacing for the dog hole posts, allowing it to be used in most any workbench or work table with 3/4'' dog holes.

Dog Hole Routing Template - This clear template makes it easy to use a plunge router and a 1/2'' straight bit to create a grid of 3/4'' dog holes in your benchtop. These holes then allow you to use a variety of optional bench dogs, hold-downs, dog hole clamps, holdfasts, auto-adjust dog clamps, planing stops, Bench Cookie Risers and more. The template spaces your holes 4'' apart, allowing you to secure your work anywhere on the workbench.

Another great way to drill your perpendicular bench dog holes is to use a Portable Drill Guide - . Just attach your drill to the 1/4'' hex shank and drill away. Robust handles with comfortable rubber casings provide a substantial feel, while the hefty 1/2'' chuck grips large bits with ease.

T-Track and T-Track Accessories

T-Track and T-Track Accessories are another option that make it easy to use a variety of clamps and stops on your workbench.

Other Useful Workbench Accessories

The Dust Right® Bench Sweep makes it easy to keep your bench top clean. Open the cover and it acts as a backstop to deflect dust and debris down into the funnel as you sweep it off your benchtop. Closing the cover provides the same function as a blast gate. A grid inside the Bench Sweep keeps larger chunks of wood out of your dust collection system, and also helps to save screws, dowels and other bits of valuable hardware that could otherwise be lost.

Dust Right Mountable Dust Couplers make dust hose connection and disconnection quick and easy. Simply mount the coupler within easy reach, whether on the workbench or the wall, then attach dust collection to the fitting as needed. With the port easily visible and easily accessible, you won't need to bend over and search under and behind power tools for the well-hidden stock dust ports. Couplers are available in 2-1/2", 4" and 2-1/2" to 4" sizes.

Finally, make it mobile! Workbench Casters feature a foot-activated lift mechanism that engages or disengages with the touch of your toe. Engage them to lift your workbench 3/4" off the floor for mobility, disengage them for stability. Each 2-3/8" urethane caster mount is constructed of durable steel and rated for 100 lbs. - that's 400 lbs. of total capacity with the 4-pc. set!