We have all downloaded those grainy scans. The black and white photos (of which the book has hundreds) become muddy blobs. The diagrams of vise hardware become illegible. The book is thick, with a unique binding that allows it to lay flat. A scanned PDF usually looks like someone took a photo of the pages with a 2005 flip phone. You cannot learn dovetailing from a blurry shadow.
Woodworking is a trade built on respect for craftsmanship. Scott Landis did years of research. While he is a generous teacher, distributing a free PDF of his work without paying for it devalues the intellectual labor—the very labor you are trying to learn from. the workbench book scott landis pdf
: Landis profiles dozens of craftsmen, examining the specific strengths and weaknesses of their workbenches in real-world use. Where to Buy Physical Copies The Workbench Book - Lost Art Press blog We have all downloaded those grainy scans
So, why is the search for so common? Because the book is currently out of print in many regions, and second-hand prices on eBay and AbeBooks can range from $80 to $250. This scarcity drives woodworkers to the dark corners of the internet. The book is thick, with a unique binding
The book is famous for documenting the "evolution" of the bench, providing inspiration for various disciplines:
Stop looking for the PDF. Start looking for the book. Your grandchildren will thank you when they are planing oak on the bench you built from Landis’s blueprint.
Landis visited dozens of professional woodworkers, detailing how their specific benches—like the iconic Frank Klausz bench —reflect their unique trade and personality.