In the first part of our guide, we explained why a stable children's workbench is a better long-term investment for many families than a mere toy workbench.
However, one question remained unanswered:
How do you build a children's workbench that not only lasts for one or two years but provides joy for as long as possible?
This is precisely the question we repeatedly asked ourselves during the development of Werkstarter. Many decisions were not as obvious as they ended up looking. Some ideas we discarded, while others proved to be much more sensible over time than originally thought.
In the end, we always came back to three points: a stable construction, a workbench that grows with the child, and a system that can be expanded even years later.
Why we rely on a steel construction
When looking at various children's workbenches, people often first notice the worktop or accessories. The actual foundation of the workbench quickly recedes into the background.
However, it is precisely this foundation that determines how a workbench feels in everyday use.
Children rarely work carefully. They hammer with enthusiasm, lean on the worktop, or brace themselves on it while sawing. That's why we wanted to develop a construction that stands as still as possible and doesn't wobble even under heavy load.
For this reason, we opted for a welded steel frame.
Not because steel is fundamentally better than other materials, but because it allowed us to achieve precisely the stability we envisioned. The workbench should behave unobtrusively during work. It should not draw attention to itself, but simply reliably fulfill its purpose.
- High stability - The workbench remains steady even when hammering.
- Durability - A good workbench should be usable for many years.
- Torsionally rigid - The construction remains stable even under load.
Why we use aluminum profiles
For the cross braces, we deliberately opted against a classic steel construction and chose aluminum profiles instead.
The reason is simple: they give us significantly more possibilities.
Initially, the focus was primarily on height adjustment. Children grow quickly, and we found the idea that a workbench would have to be replaced, even though it was still technically perfectly fine, unconvincing. With aluminum profiles, the workbench can be extended or custom dimensions can be made, so that the workbench can be used ergonomically for many years.
New shelves, tool holders, or other accessories can be added at any time without having to drill holes or modify the construction. This was particularly important to us, as requirements often change with each new project. What is perfectly sufficient today may look completely different in two years.
An open system therefore seemed much more sensible to us than a workbench whose equipment is fully defined on the first day.
- A children's workbench should not only grow with the child's height but also with its owner's ideas.
Why we chose beech multiplex.
The worktop is the part of a workbench that is most heavily used. This is where sawing, sanding, hammering, and sometimes just experimenting happens.
That's why we didn't want to make any compromises here.
After various considerations, we decided on a worktop made of beech multiplex. Due to its multi-layered construction, it remains particularly dimensionally stable and can withstand intensive use. At the same time, wood can be sanded down if necessary, or even replaced after many years – something that is only possible to a limited extent with many other materials.
It was particularly important to us that a workbench is allowed to show signs of wear. Small scratches or dents are simply part of it for us. They tell the story of the projects that were created on it.
📋Why Beech Multiplex?
| Property | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Multi-layered construction | High dimensional stability |
| Robust surface | Resistant in everyday use |
| Durable | Accompanies many projects |
| Repairable | Can be sanded down if necessary |
Conclusion
Every decision in the development of our children's workbench had a specific reason. We were never concerned with incorporating as many features as possible or creating the longest possible list of equipment.
Much more important was the question of what a workbench needs to look like so that it is still happily used after years.
That's why we opted for a stable steel frame, flexible aluminum profiles, and a robust worktop made of beech multiplex. In our opinion, these are not spectacular features – rather, they form the basis for a workbench that can accompany children in their crafting for many years.