The ZM Workbench is Is Dead's advanced crafting system. It turns materials you gather into tools, gear, and upgrades you can't find by looting. Every recipe lives inside the workbench menu, so once you know how the bench works, the rest is gathering.
Getting a workbench
Workbench Kits spawn as loot in industrial zones and sheds, anywhere industrial loot can turn up. Grab one, take it home, and place it inside your base.
The bench starts bare. You unlock more recipes by attaching modules to it.
Modules and what they unlock
| Module | Used for | Wears out |
|---|---|---|
| Drill press | Metal working and drilling | Drill bits |
| Grinder | Sharpening, cutting, and grinding | Grinding discs |
| Vice | Holding items and bending metal | None |
| Soldering station | Electronics and wire work | Soldering tips |
| Welder | Joining and repairing metal | Welding wire |
| Sewing machine | Fabric and leather | None |
How crafting works
- Tools go inside the bench. Recipes can call for normal tools like a handsaw, hammer, or screwdriver, but they only count when they're stored in the workbench. Tools take damage with each craft, so keep spares.
- Some recipes need power. If a recipe won't start, check whether it needs electricity and power the bench.
- Consumables run out. Drill bits, grinding discs, welding wire, and soldering tips wear down over time. Carry replacements before a big crafting session.
- Queue it up. You can queue several crafts and let the bench work through them.
- Variants: some recipes can produce different colors or styles, and the bench comes with spray cans in seven colors.
Finding materials
- Track a recipe to see which ingredients you already have across your inventory.
- Ping materials to find tracked items near you. It's the fastest way to sweep a town for what you're missing.
Tips
- Put your workbench inside your base so tools and consumables stay with it.
- Browse the recipe list before you go looting. Knowing what you need turns junk into targets.
- Recipes, craft times, and power needs are set by the server, so the in-game list is always the source of truth.