Replies

1. 
   roc | Mar 26, 2012 10:47pm | #1

   Wellllllll . . . that depends . . .

   ona what you work on and how you work it.  Here are a couple of thoughts to start :

   For a work bench that you will be hand planing on, especially if you are doing heavy stock removal such as scrub plaining, then hold your hand palm down parallel to the floor and that is the top of the bench.  This allows for the fact that you would be bending your knees and really getting into the cut with the strength of your legs.

   This would be way too low for router work etc.

   Some people add a smaller accessory bench onto the top of this for using a router etc.  If you have any interest in seeing what the heck that is about I will post a link.

   Norm Abrams has a two height bench that is quick to change so you may want to check into the New Yankee Workshop site for that.

   If you were to . . . say . . . want to put a metal worker's vise on top of the bench then the top of the jaws of the metal worker's vise should be at the bottom of your elbow.

   If you work thick blocky wood then the bench top low, if thinner or highly detailed work then higher.

   I hope that helps get you in the ball park.  A person needs benches at more than one height.  For instance a finishing and assembly bench might be quite low.  I can elaborate further but may as well give some others a chance to chime in.

   PS: personally I like a low bench and for detail work I sit down on a stool of the best height.

   PPS: a bench that is too high limits how much force you can concentrate into the work.  I see people up on tip toes all the time when trying to really horse on something and get their weight into it and hard to see when hacksawing metal etc.  The benches where I work are too high for many workers; being set at something like kitchen cabinet hight.  Good for making salads on though.

1. 
   kenzen | Mar 27, 2012 04:54pm | #3

   Determining Heights of Worktables

   Well, that's the type of information that I was looking for.  I will be using large stock as well routing.  I also have the wall space and room to build the different size workbenches.  ThanKs!

1. 
   roc | Mar 28, 2012 12:35am | #4

   Cool

   Hey post  a photo or two when you are all set up.  We enjoy seeing shop photos of all sorts.

   PS: >Wall space<

   Some of the handiest benches are free standing out in the middle of the work space.  As I recall Norm's in the high position was on wheels and when you set it down to the low position it folded the wheels up and set the legs on the floor for more vigorous work.

2. 
   sapwood | Mar 27, 2012 11:38am | #2

   My bench is 34" high, the

   My bench is 34" high, the same as the top of my tablesaw. Sometimes it's too high, or too low, or just right. Mostly I don't even think about it cuz I'm so used to using it as is. 

   I'd take any new bench at any height if it knew how to keep itself neat and clean up after me. 

1. 
   RalphBarker | Mar 29, 2012 07:56pm | #5

   I want one too

   Ah, the mythical self-cleaning bench. Wouldn't we all like to have one of those?  Training it to put the tools away in the right spots might take years, though.  ;-)

1. 
   roc | Mar 29, 2012 10:28pm | #6

   Oh that's easy

   just attatch small bungie cord to each tool.  If you want to really do it up right then a magnetic strip for each group of tools.  Let go of the tool and WING GO ! it flies away and sticks on the wall.

   I measured the height of the benches at work today.  Turns out they are way higher than my kitchen counters.  They are 40 inches.  The top of the bench is at my elbow.

   Naaaaaah Dude Naaaaaah

   Just right if a guy is like six foot six though.

   Que music

   Noooo body knoooows the trouble I's seen.  Nooooooo body knooooows . . .