> **why does my workbench twist?**


There are basically two or three ways you can make a joint rigid

## Joinery

Maybe I'm wrong but it looks like you used butt joins held together with a single screw and some glue. Glue works best on joins where long grain is pressed against long grain. Glue generally doesn't work well on end-grain.

Only having a single screw means the joint is more likely to twist and rack.

The traditional way to join table parts is to use mortice and tenon joints, a quicker/easier alterative is to use two or three dowels per joint. I find lap joints are easy to cut and very strong and rigid when glued - they don't look very spiffy but that doesn't matter for a workbench.

[![example lap joint][1]][1] (screws are there only to clamp glue until dry)

Obviously, this doesn't help with your existing structure but you might wantto consider this aspect next time you build a bench or table etc.

## Bracing

Michael Karas covered this in his answer. This can make a huge difference. In your shoes I would add bracing to make the structure more rigid. Adding boards as an apron around the top may help if well secured to the legs.


  [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/vmSYg.jpg