Warning: My garage workbench collapse was a total disaster yesterday

I built this big pine workbench three months ago in my basement shop in Denver, but I skimped on the leg supports and used just two screws per joint. Yesterday I put my 40-pound vise on it and the whole thing came crashing down, splitting the top right down the middle. Has anyone else had a workbench fail on them, and what kind of bracing did you use to fix it for good?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_shane3d ago

Only two screws per joint? That is wild. Did you use any glue at all or was it just screws? I've had a shelf fail before but never a whole bench. Might want to think about metal brackets on the corners next time, like L-brackets.

rayc832d ago

Nah I gotta push back on the "only two screws" thing. Two good quality screws with proper pilot holes in solid wood is Actually plenty for a joint like that. The real trick is making sure your screws are long enough and you hit the center of the board, not just blasting them in wherever. I've built benches with similar joinery that held up for years with zero issues, no glue either. The problem is usually people using cheap screws that snap or not predrilling so the wood splits.