Materials

• Luckily, you will not need many materials for this project. To start, get two 4-by-8 pieces of plywood, one 3/4-inch thick piece and one ½-inch thick. Plywood is thick and sturdy, which will make the top of your table more secure. You will also need 14 pieces of 8-foot-long 2-by-4. This is a standard size, which you can pick up at any home improvement store. Choose boards that are straight because warped boards will weaken the workbench. You will also need a drill with a screwdriver bit and screws.
  
  

Table Top

• Most of the work you do in this project will focus on the table top. Use a table saw to cut two pieces of 60-inch-long 2-by-4 and five pieces that are 22 inches long. These will provide the frame for your workbench. Create a rectangle from two 22-inch pieces, running parallel to each other, and two 60-inch long pieces for the other two sides. Screw them together. The wood should all stand up on the 2-inch edge, providing better support for the edges of your frame. The frame should form a rectangle that is 24 inches by 60 inches. Place the three other pieces of 22-inch 2-by-4 inside the rectangle at 15 inch intervals to brace your table top.
  
  

Secondary Shelf

• The secondary shelf will sit under your table top and serve as a place to store wood scraps and tools. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to a length of 57 inches and two pieces to 22 inches. Form them into a 24-inch by 50-inch rectangle with a 3-½-inch overhang on all four corners. The overhang will attach to the legs, allowing the secondary shelf to sit between them. Cut your piece of ½-inch plywood so it is 50 inches by 22 inches and attach it to the top of the secondary shelf.
  
  

Legs and Completion

• Next you will need to build the legs. Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 to 33 inches, four pieces to 8-½ feet, and four pieces to 17-½ inches. Place one of the 33-inch pieces on the ground with the wider side of the board down. Take one of your 8-½-inch pieces and attach it to the 33-inch piece so that the edges are flush with each other. This will be the bottom of the leg. Next, measure 4 inches from the top of the 8-½ inch board and screw in the 17-½ inch board. Essentially you are creating a 4-inch gap, which will allow the secondary shelf piece to fit to the legs. Place each leg in the inside of the bottom shelf piece and screw it in. The slot should line up with the 3-½ inch overhang on the outside of the rectangle. Screw the top of the legs to the inside corners of your table top so that the tops of the legs are even with the top of the table. Finally, cut your last piece of plywood to 24 inches by 60 inches and screw it into the top of your table.