Workbench

crafting

Carpentry crafting station. Required for higher-tier wood furniture and weapon upgrades.

Variants

VariantTierCost
Carpentry4 nails, 4 planks

About the workbench

A carpentry workbench is a crafting station used to build and upgrade certain wooden items and to support higher-tier carpentry and weapon-related crafting. In base layout it's a fixed work point, so it belongs in your dedicated crafting room alongside storage of planks, nails, and tools.

Placement & defense tips

  • Set the workbench in a secure interior crafting room next to your lumber and nail storage so you're not hauling materials across the base.
  • Leave open tiles around the bench for nearby crates and for your character to stand and access it from multiple sides.
  • Keep crafting stations out of street-facing rooms; crafting takes time and you don't want to be exposed at a window while working.
  • Group the workbench with other stations (anvil, sewing area) into one workshop room to centralize your production and tool storage.
  • Position it on the floor you spend the most time on so frequent crafting doesn't mean constant stair trips.

Choosing a variant

  • The carpentry workbench is the single listed variant; pair it with the right tools (hammer, saw) on hand, so keep those tools stored beside it rather than carried everywhere.
  • Since it's a stationary station, decide its location carefully when you first settle a long-term base, as relocating mid-game means dismantling and rebuilding your workshop.

Common mistakes

  • Placing the workbench far from material storage, turning every craft into a tedious supply run.
  • Building the workshop in an exposed, unbarricaded room and getting interrupted by zombies mid-craft.
  • Forgetting to keep required tools nearby, so you stand at the bench unable to start a recipe.

Frequently asked

What do I need a workbench for?

It serves as a crafting station for certain carpentry recipes and item upgrades that can't be made freehand. Keep the appropriate tools and materials nearby to use it.

Where should I put a workbench in my base?

Place it in a secure interior crafting room next to your plank, nail, and tool storage. Avoid exposed rooms since crafting takes time.

Can I move a workbench after placing it?

Crafting stations are stationary and generally must be dismantled and rebuilt to relocate. Choose its spot deliberately when you commit to a long-term base.

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