Reddit reviews The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches

This bench is a poor choice for hand tools--it more of a workbench for a homeowner who needs to organize maintenance supplies, or someone who primarily uses power tools

For hand tools, really want something more traditional. Something that weighs at least 300lbs. Something with tree-trunks for legs that won't rack or walk all over the room when you put some oomph behind a jointer plane. Something that doesn't have a bunch of crud hanging above your head that will fall on you when you are putting your muscle into something.

This DVD from Mike Siemsen walks you through how to build a workbench for very, very limited money--$150-175 is feasible. It's an English design that doesn't require vises for work holding.

This video series from Paul Sellers walks you through building a reasonable workbench with a very limited set of hand tools and inexpensive materials. This is also an under-$200 bench.

This book, and also this one by Chris Schwarz represent a deep dive into workbench design. The books include plans for ten or so different benches, all of which are excellent for hand tool work. I built my bench based on plans in the second book. Schwarz also has a blog which, if you go through past years, contains hundreds of posts on workbench design.

Workbenches don't have to be expensive. You can use 2x8s or 2x10s from the home center and limited tools to build them. The first two benches I linked come in at under $200. Schwarz's have a bit more of a range. In general, if you chose inexpensive lumber and hardware, your bench shouldn't cost more than a few hundred bucks.

One last thing: if you're doing it by hand, use a softwood. One of the stiffer/harder/heavier ones like Douglas-Fir or Southern Yellow Pine. Avoid the mystery SPF/whitewood. Not saying you can't make a hardwood bench completely by hand, but it's a lot more sweat, time, and money, and the bench doesn't really work any better once it's done.

https://www.amazon.com/Workbench-Design-Book-Philosophy-Building/dp/1440310408

Very helpful to me

Also consider getting (or borrowing) Chris Schwarz's two books on workbenches: The Workbench Design Book and Workbenches: From Design and Theory to Construction and Use

Well, /r/Workbenches/ of course!

Several books out there have a variety of workbench plans in them; this one is popular and has some not-as-fancy benches as well as some fancy ones: http://www.amazon.com/The-Workbench-Design-Book-Philosophy/dp/1440310408/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398431015&sr=8-2&keywords=schwarz+workbench

I highly recommend "The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches". It's a really fun and enjoyable read, even if you're not particularly interested in building a workbench. He's such an interesting thinker and researcher and this is probably his best work so far.

Schwarz has two workbench books and I have only read this one cover to cover and it has quite a few benches in there so it is quite possible that one of them had laminated dimensional lumber. The bench he feels is best suited for hand work is the Roubo that is featured on the cover and the legs for it are made from 6x6's that he found in the back of a big box store. I am in no way saying that you can't rip down 2x8's or 2x12's and laminate them together I am simply suggesting that buying lumber as close as you can to the proper dimensions for the legs and top ect. the less work it is, and imho makes for a better looking bench if not a more stable bench.

Different types of benches lend themselves to different types of work. A really good book that talks about the way you go about deciding what sort of bench you want to build is Chris Schwarz's "The Workbench Design Book: The Art and Philosophy of Building Better Benches".

http://www.amazon.com/The-Workbench-Design-Book-Philosophy/dp/1440310408

For eye-candy and inspiration (and some instruction), there's the classic, "The Workbench Book", by Scott Landis.

If you're looking for designs this book may help.

I would start by reading this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Workbench-Design-Book-Philosophy-Building/dp/1440310408

You might change your mind on your needs after reading it.
Also, if it was me, I would build one, but not be afraid to build another one after you try it out.

I used this book it doesnt have any plans but lays out rough guidlines and was a good read

Everything you need to know about workbenches.
https://www.amazon.com/Workbench-Design-Book-Philosophy-Building/dp/1440310408

I didn't really follow plans, per se, but I did read Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use and The Workbench Design Book Both by Christopher Schwarz. After studying these, I had all the design elements in mind and worked it out as I went along...which worked out for the most part, but I had a few hiccups due to lack of planning along the way.

The hardware is Benchcrafted, and they have plans too, which are popular, but I didn't use them.