Build a cheap simple sturdy workbench

It has been a lot of fun seeing all the workbenches this week. Thanks to all of you who sent pictures.
Whenever a non-woodworker visits your shop, they might marvel at — or at least be curious about — some of your tools.  Your workbench will probably receive little attention, yet for most woodworkers its really the most critical element of a shop. We call it into service on every project we build.
If you want to set up a wood shop, your first project must be a workbench. There are plenty of plans available for the "ultimate" woodworking bench, but all you have to do is look through this weeks viewer pictures to understand all that a work bench really needs to be: a sturdy table.
This video shows you a workbench design that Ive been using for years. It costs next to nothing to build: a few 2x4s and a sheet of plywood, yet it will provide you with years and years of quiet service. Plus, with this basic design, you can modify it in any number of ways to suit your particular needs. Its all held together with a lot of yellow wood glue and 2 1/2" decks screws. It isnt a showpiece, but in my mind thats a plus. You wont be fearful of abusing it.

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Simple box joint jig

Handy Woodworking Tip TimeHere is the first in what I hope will be an ongoing feature. I often have viewers ask me how to make certain jigs or perform certain techniques. Frequently, I have covered these topics in my videos but its difficult to sift through them to find a certain tip. So I decided to start compiling these tips into their own short videos on my Mere Minutes channel.
I was inspired to do this because viewer Per Almered took the time to create a brilliant little jingle for me. I thought it was funny, clever and decidedly quaint, so why not build a series out of it?
Per is quite talented. Please listen more of his music here.Box JointsI thought I would start out this series with a simple box joint jig I used in my Knitting Box video back in February. I doubt many of my viewers are into knitting and may have missed this technique.
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Building a simple shop cabinet

Just wanted to get some input on this dumb little cabinet in todays Mere Minutes. Well, that and theres some stuff at the end that is mainly for family and friends. Feel free to end the video at about the 5 minute mark.

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Build a really simple pair of sawhorses

Even if you spend most of your woodworking time in a well-equipped shop, there are times you will need a good pair of sawhorses. I use them all the time, especially for working on outdoor projects. If you dont have a any, build a pair! I guarantee you will find all sorts of uses that you never expected.
There are a lot of different ways you can make a sawhorse; it seems everyone has his own preferred method. Here is a pair you can easily make in less that an hour, using five 2x4s. I used my miter saw for all cuts.
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Build a really simple garden bench And a contest!

Heres a really easy project anyone can build in a weekend. I was inspired to build something that required very few tools and would be a nice summer project. To build this bench, you will just need a saw (any kind), a drill, and some screws. I built mine with four 2x4s and six 1x3 boards. Total cost: $30. I can imagine all sorts of ways to enhance this bench too!
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