Can I take a poll on sizes of workbench tops? I’d be interested to know:
1) Length
2) Width – is it too wide, too narrow, or just right?
3) Do you work on your bench in the center of the shop or against a wall?
4) Height
5) How tall are you?
As it stands, I think that a 36″ wide bench is too wide, so I’m shooting for a 32″ width. I’ll make it as long as I can which will probably be 7-8′. I want to make the height adjustable by adding blocks under the feet.
Thanks,
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
– Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer
Replies
Mine is 36" x 84"x 36" tall and is up against a wall. I am 5'-9" and the height works out well except some of the machines I bought after building this were 34.5" tall so I had to block the machines up so I could use the bench as a outfeed in some cases. The feet cannot be simply cut down due since they were shaped. The width works out ok, but sometimes the back of the bench really just ends up being storage space for projects (drawers,fronts, stock...). Been loving the dogs lately for sanding and the Lee Valley end vise finally works well.
Brad
about 80" long
about 28" wide
middle of the shop
about 35" tall
5'11"
Fortune/Nelson type from the WorkBench Book.
Chris, mine is 24" x 94", with a 34" height. I keep it in the open, but don't usually work from the back side. I am 5' 11". Thoughts ....
I could probably stand it a coupla inches taller, but it's no problem as I don't work for extended periods of time. The width across seems adequate, albeit the far side has a full length tool tray. I wouldn't really want it any higher. The weight is about 300 lbs, which is fair but I wanted more so I built and mounted an underside tray where I keep all my saws, spokeshaves, that sort of thing.
Chris,
Interesting poll. I have two large benches 29 1/2 x 98 x 34 1/4 and 27 x 87 x 37 1/2. Both benches are against the wall. The lower bench is across from the tablesaw (hence the height) and has front and side vices. The higher bench has the mortiser at one end and grinder at the other. I tend to work mostly with wood at the lower bench, and use the higher one for metal work, tool repair, electronics, etc. I am 5' 10".
If I had room for another woodworking bench, it would be 36 - 38" high, 36" wide, and sit away from the wall.
BTY, all my benches and tables are finished with shellac (dare I use the "S" word....). Every year or so I clean them off with a grey pad and naphtha and give them a good rub down with a very thin cut.
Best!
-Jerry
Flairwoodworks,
I like your dimensions @about 34" height (me 6'3"), I'd consider a 28" wide bench if I'm not going to use it for assembly otherwise wider is better. I put mine about 8-10" from wall with cabinet above with boxed doors for tools.
I have a fairly well lit and roomy shop with windows that look out over the lake on whictch I live on .My bench I have now is up against the wall with the windows sounds nice but I spend most of my time using my table saw as a bench for the past ten yrs. .So after my last few project I decided to make a new bench and put it in the middle of the shop .I,m making three such benches one by the table saw one at the compound miter saw and the biggest bench that I will be working on in the middle of the shop.ITwill be 32in. high by44in. wide by 11ft. long and all my tools will be under each bench. I just started this long project this month hopfuly I will be done with the table saw bench in another month.
JUST HAVE FUN PLAYING IN THE SHOP
Chris you saw the pic of my work bench in the corner, it is 36" deep and 7'4 long. I am 6'2" and it is a long reach to the back in the corner. I found the corner spot is not great for working some longer material. Hence, my new bench that will drop down into the center of the shop. I will work as an out feed from the TS as well, so it will be 36" high. My TS is on casters and sits level with a sloping floor. When I was messing around with height, I thought of the hardest thing to do, plane a hard wood on edge. So I measured the most comfortable arm position, arms crooked, not bent over to far and good control...
-----------_o
---------_'-,>
-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
I built mine from a set of plans sold by Lee Valley 4 or 5 years ago. I changed the length a bit from 76" to 80", but otherwise built to the plan. It sits against the wall and is 34.5" high. I started with rough, air-dried hard maple (25 years old) and had a great time turning the gray wood into a solid bench.
Regards,
Ron
Bench 1
Heavy on 4" locking rollers (takes a lot to move it in locked position) is 60 x 24 and a little too wide. Set at 38 Inches high so saw work on dovetails isn't so hard on the lower back. Edge work. Panel work. Smoothing. Occasionally I use the 24 " width for clamping and most smaller clamps just miss that width. I'm considering rebuilding it to 18" with a 6" tool tray on back side - always fun watching a very expensive Japanese chisel fall to the concrete floor off the back side. Also the 18" width keeps the tools closer . I'm 6 foot.
Side screw and double screw end vise- Soft maple under, Rock Maple top.
It's the "after" power machine prep bench. The quiet bench. Mozart.
Bench 2
Fixed 80" x 36". Free standing. 35 inches. Behemoth.
Mostly for chisel work on dovetails. Some for long plane work, edge work, larger work in general and down pounding, power tool work. Lower height is advantage for dovetails and keeping eye level higher above power tools.
Side and tail vises. Too Big. Never use all the acreage. All Rock Maple.
It;s the "before" power machine dimensioning stock bench. The heavy metal thunder bench. Steppenwolf
Both benches double row full length dogged.
In a do-over on the larger, I would center tray it like the LVs but with a gap in the middle of tray for power tool use.
Blocks - Saw them years ago at Highland's upstairs workshop.
Good Idea.
If you do more cabinet making by hand, than other stuff, a smaller traditional cabinet makers bench for me is more practical as most of the work you do is on parts rather than the whole. 45-55" by 18-20". heavy and solid, easy to walk around when working on a piece.
1 side and 1 tail vise, single row of dogs, tray. After the part has been worked, use cheaper, easy build set-up tables for layout, glue up and assemblies.
To me, big benches are a compromise when only one bench is going to be built. Pound, route, plane,saw, sharpen, finish. It's the Pocket Fisherman. They are almost a result of the "Workbench" groupies or FWW workbench books. Tim Allen big. A must have for woodworking. A piece of furniture rather than a tool. Kind of like the blonde in ####BMW325 convertible with the must have ball cap to put her ponytail through. At one time--mea culpa - but with craft comes knowledge. Not wisdom. Just knowledge.
a little
The benches, not the blonde ;-)
BB
BB,
Cool - do you name your benches and shop fixtures? (Mozart, Steppenwolf)
Can you elaborate on the blocks which you think are a good idea?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
They were very simple. Also somewhat ugly. Just boots of what ever height adjustment needed with 3/4 stock wrapped around them on all four sides - tight to the leg. The weights of tables are the keepers. The 1"-10 " "sole" could be of any material you want.
Hope this helps.BB
Currently, I'm using an English-style deep apron bench, 64" wide, 22" deep and 32 1/2" high (yes, I'm quite vertically challenged) with a leg vise left front and a small steel vise on the right front corner acting as a tail vise. It's quite a graduation from the 2/3 of a solid core door thrown on sawhorses I previously worked on, but I'm not sure it's the be-all and end-all to my search. I'm quite limited in my current shop space, so for now it must suffice. It's quite a versatile bench, but I'd feel a lot better if it's weight were about doubled (or tripled). To overcome it's tendency to walk about when I'm too busy to chase it down, I store my compound miter saw, scroll saw, machinist's vise and hardware bin on the shelf below. As most of the work I'm currently doing is on the small-ish side (no huge breakfronts and such), I can't justify the expense of a new fancy model. Speaking of price, this bench was built for just under $100. Three SYP 2 x 8 x 12's, one SYP 2 x 12 x 16, an economy screw from Woodcraft for the leg vise and a 6" steel vise from Lowe's. Throw in a few dowels and screws and you're there. There's no reason to spend a fortune on someone else's idea of what the "just right" bench might be -- figure out what you need, bounce that off of what you want, and put together what works for you.
Sounds like a great bench. Good price to. As to walking, I've known a few that put lead pigs on the bottom shelf. A couple hundred pounds. Or sand bags. They do it all the time on lathes. I don't think there is anything wrong with 32 1/2 inches. Everyone should have the height they need. It's kind of like a plane. Or all good tools - you'all jest gotta fettle a lettle witt it.BB
My bottom shelf, is a torsion box, made up of 2X4s with the edges ripped off, and 3/4 plywood. The voids are filled with about 350-lbs of sand.
It doesn't move without lots of help.
Dy..no...mite!!!BB
That sounds along the same lines as what I've got in mind for height adjustment. I'm planning on having block of wood in various thicknesses with dowels protruding which would mate with holes in the bottom of the feet.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Would you consider making a frame with a top (perhaps several thicknesses of 3/4 MDF or ply) that would go on top of the bench to raise the height? I would assume that only one or two would answer all of you needs. If you have two sets of dog holes then you could put dowels in the appropriate places to stabilize the frame on the bench. I would find it easier than trying to raise and lower my bench.
That's an option, though that would cover up the ever-useful dog holes. It also means that I would have to store a bulky and heavy frame somewhere. I'm thinking of building a 28" tall bench and having risers which could raise it 2-8".Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I do think of the TS as "Arthur". Except when it throws things - then as "Orinoco" (sail away)
BB
24" x 65" and 77" if you open the twin screw and use it for support. All four side are open running lengthwise in shop (which is important for me) but is aligned with a TS in front and an assembly table 32" x 48" behind running across.. unless I put the torsion box over the fixed table on that assembly which is 36" x 60". I am 5' 10 1/2 and the top sits 35 inches high.
With that said.. build it as long as your shop will hold without sacrificed a compromise on other things. With the use to my assembly table.. 6 1/2 feet become 11 feet. And with the TS aligned.. capable of ripping 14' stock on the TS which is the same height by opening the outer door and setting up Rigid friction top stands outside. The weather in Atlanta allows that almost all year in Atlanta.
I just posted pics of a new top I built over the week-end in FG.. SYP top promise. But that isn't what you asked is it? ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Regards...
Sarge..
Edited 5/7/2008 1:24 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47
Chris,
I made my work bench top from 2 hardwood core doors with 3/4 "oak flooring on top. Total length-14+'. It butts against the back wall of my garage. I cut out a section of this for my 8 1/2" compound chow saw which sets flush to top of table. Bench width is 36" with no regets because saw fence sits 18" from wall and is 4' in length to the left of the saw. This provides space to store tools while not in use. The top is keep flat with 3x3x1/4 angle iron running full length. I have Cherry hand dove drawers & storage cablinets under table top. Also, the full width allows the 4" dust collection piping to catch the compound saw chips. The vent hole is flush to the table top. The height of the bench top needs to be same height as the table saw so that it serves as a extension for the table saw. Have fun. Dale
Edited 5/7/2008 2:50 pm ET by dalemerr
Dale,
I sounds like you have a bench which makes the most of modern technology and what's available. Certainly not traditional, but absolutely functional. How much weight can the benchtop take? Can it take much pounding?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
The bench top can take a beating and keep on ticking. I bet it weights 400+ lbs, it took four of us to move it into the garage from my old house and we had trouble. I forgot to mention that I have a Record vise attached to the top so you can plane boards on edge. I cut a series of 1" holes through the top so bench dogs can be used behind the vise when holding wide boards face down. This works great for sanding boards because dogs are below top surface of the boards.
The best part of my top,it was built cheap, I went to a used wood store and picked up the doors for $ 20/ea, the oak flooring came out of a home remodeling project. The two 3x3x1/4 angle irons didn't cost much either. I drilled holes in angle irons the lag bolt the two tops together. The cherry cabinets under the top was built separately which keeps all my hand tools, small power tools.
1) 60"
2) 36"—too wide
3) middle of floor
4) 40"
5) 5' 10"
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent—Disputantum Semirotten Woodworking
What kind of work do you do on the bench? A 40" bench seems a little high for planing. Do you do a lot of routing or the like?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Routing, sanding, planing, cutting joints, and so on. I put it higher than usual because I get backache working on a 36"-high surface. Works fine for planing, but then I don't do a lot. If I ever get around to remodeling my kitchen, I'm going to put the countertops at 40" also.Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent—Disputantum Semirotten Woodworking
Chris,
Mine is 30" deep, 7 foot long, and 39" high. I'm 6'2". The bench is normally used against a wall, but is on rollers and is sometimes used in the middle.
Bob
Any size that fits in the space allowed?
WillGeorge,
That sounds like an answer but you added a question mark at the end. So... sure.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Basement shop.
My work table is 7' X 8' X 36" tall.
Table saw is integrated at one end with a router table to the left of the saw.
In the middle of the floor with enough room in front to cut 8' sheet goods.
Also have a small work bench 48" X 24" X 34" tall.
ASK
ASK,
Does the small bench see more "bench work" than the large work table?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Actually, no. It's usually piled up with cutoffs or other things I am trying to get out of the way. I use the big table for most things except finishing. Which is done in another room under the porch.
My big table was a response to a very small shop I had in the basement of our previous weekend house. There assembly and finishing were all done upstairs, in the kitchen, dining room, play room, back deck, etc.
My wife is glad we bought a different house with a very large basement. She hasn't been down there in about 3 years.
ASK
My workbench is 60" long 26" wide and 35" high I stand 5'10" and I primarily work next to the front vise over the front left leg.
The bench top is made out of mdf and I framed it in pine of which I constructed the base as well. The base features pinned mortise and tenon joinery. The top started out 2 1/4 inches thick but after flattening a couple of times (through a router mishap) its now 2" thick although mdf is said to be pretty flat I've found if not stored properly it can warp.
Its a small but heavy bench but I still jog it some doing heavy planning. If money or space was'nt an issue I would definitely make my bench Larger (about 32" wide and 80" long) and out of beech or maple as it is much heavier. Size is an issue with me as I also rely on it as an assembly table. Alas these things are not within my reach as of yet!
I will post a pic so you can see for yourself what the beasty looks like.
Chaim
Make your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
Chaim,
That looks like a good, sturdy bench you've got yourself. I believe that the longer the bench the better (given you have enough space), but am trying to figure out how deep of a bench is too deep. I'm expecting a top 28"-36" right now.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
If you have it out in the open, you should be ale to reach 2/3 of the way across without "reaching" to do it. If it is agains't the wall, you should be ale to reach all the way across it without "reaching".
Since others are adding pics, heres another idea.
Brad
Brad,
It looks like a 6" wide skirt around the bench slab. The mass of the bench can certainly be attributed to that!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Yup, the skirt is about that. If you do something similar and want a front vise be sure to look at the vise closely. Mine is one of the Lee valley ones, and it flexes a bit since the jaws are too tall. I have always meant to install a steel bracket, but now that the end vise works so well and i added more dog holes I have not been using it as much.
Brad
Good point.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
30" wide, just right.
36" high, same as my table saw.
72" long, wish it was 96".
I'm 6' 4" tall.
Sits in the middle of the shop and has a vise in the center of one end and another in the corner of the other end. If I need a larger table for assembly I clamp a 36"x84" hollow core door to the bench top.
Good idea, having a hollow-core door as a instant expansion of work surface. I've been using a sheet of 3/4" plywood.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Here's an old picture of my workbench/TS outfeed table. The top is 4' x 7' and is on a 2" x 6" torsion box. Part of my DC ducting hangs under the benchtop and I have two blast gates located for convenient hose hookup. The gate in the picture is used for my sanders, router, pocket screw jig, biscuit joiner, and is also used for vacuuming the shop.
The bench is big enough for 90% of my needs, but I usually have to do a bit of cleanup to clear it off for large projects.
I'm 5'-11" and the bench is 36" high. Just perfect for me.
Oops. Forgot to post the picture.
I like that as it would serve well in a dual role as assembly ( I could have used it about 2 weeks ago but have to drop a false top over my current assembly table to get that large) and work-bench. But.. everything comes down to the space you have and you are forced to use it the best you can.
Like closets and electrical outlets.. you could always use more. :>)
Nice...
Sarge..
Dave,
That looks like nice setup, as long as you keep it clear like you mention.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
My bench is 11ft londand 40 in. wide and the same hieght as my table saw ,witch I think is 34 in..It sits in the middle of my shop it also has the router table biult into it with an electric outlet in the top[the outlet has a wood cover about 1in .thick} also it has two small space in the ebnch for tools I use alot also with thick wood lids dadoed flush with the top.I am 6ft4in. tall somy bench is alittle tall for me.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled