Thread: Bench Height

Built all my stuff to the same height as my band saw
Then built platform for the triton and planer & scms to come up to the same level
makes life easy with long lengths to rest on




The original point and click interface was a Smith and Wesson.

I can't remember what height my bench is anymore.

I know that when I built it, I made sure that when working on it, I would not have to bend my back at all for just tootling around it. Best thing I ever did, because I went from chronic back ache (no damage, just being bent over all the time) to having zero pain at all.

I think it's around 900mm or so, and I'm 5'9". I'll measure it tomorrow and work out how I arrived at that height. Might be belt buckle height or something like that.

I also figured it was easier to lop off some leg than to add it later. Especially when the thing is 6' long and 3' wide with a 2" thick top. Only douglas fir, but still heavy enough.

Next version will prolly be the same, but in ash. I hope it doesn't crash through the floor...

I like it a bit higher than nad height. Belt buckle height is right for me for everything but planing. If I work for too long with my back bent I start getting clumsy and impatient. Not good when everything used is sharper than a lightsaber.

Originally Posted by Woodlice

Belt buckle height is right for me for everything but planing.

So do you use a lower bench for planing?

Just checked and found that belt buckle height is about where mine will end up (provided I'm not wearing my funky hipster jeans).

I made mine 900 mm high for no other reason than that that is the standard hight for benches (like in a kitchen).

I actually think though that it could probably do with being 50mm higher. I'll have to pack it up one day and see. I'm 5'10'' btw.

My bench is 2' 10". I have two saw stools also the same height as the saw bench which is also 2' 10". I am 6' 1" and too bloody old to stoop at a bench, but these are all comfortable, especially for the 1.00pm snooze.
Jim

Well actually I dont, yet. I wouldnt mind another bench just for planing perhaps incorporating a shuting board or two. Just a matter of getting around to it I guess. Still making the first which is at the buckle height, and Im using a bench (it was a bar) that is a bit higher still.

My technique becomes sloppy when I have to hold the plane up around gut height - it feels better, like I have more control (specially with a #7 or 8) when Im at it with bent knees and the plane at groin height. Can breathe easier I guess too though Im sure this sounds silly, but it ties in with being fatigued quickly.

Mine is 940mm, which sometimes i think is a little low. Mainly when i'm working on small stuff close to the bench, but when planning larger section timber it's a little high sometimes. I think it's pretty close

Palm height is definitely too low!

Mine are at 940, which is about 100 above palm height, (I'm 5'15") and a tad low for some purposes, however I have ALL benches, as well as tablesaw and router table at the same height, AND the grinder, sanders etc are on top of them, bringing them to a comfortable level.

With an engineer's vice or the patternmaker's vice rotated through 90° I can easily hold stuff higher for planing.

On the rare occasions I am chopping with a chisel, I am usually seated at a stool, which is also how I spend a lot of time doing other things and 940 is a perfect height for that.

I'd be concerned that while 990 is comfortable for some things, a lot of tasks will be not quite right and you'll need to stand on a stool!

My cutting/layout/assembly table (the one with the frame and no top) is much lower at just on 800mm, to allow for assembling bigger things on it, and I often clamp packers to the structure to bring it up to the same height as all the others.

cheers,

P

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

I'd be concerned that while 990 is comfortable for some things, a lot of tasks will be not quite right and you'll need to stand on a stool!

If need be there is room for a bit of lowering. I guess I'll have to wait and see (or build a stool).

Yeah, assembly is a good point that I didnt think about. Probably because I havent assembled anything large on a bench before - I always opt for the floor as there is more room and less distance to fall should the unthinkable happen...

Mines around 990....and I'm about 6"1......when I first started I was worried it was too high.......I think the concern mostly is does it feel right when you hand plane.......I think higher the better...because you can always, like said, bring it down latter....and you get used to it.......now it feels strange to plane lower.....and chiselling definetly feels better up high........good for your back to plane high and will ensure you keep your plane blades sharp..... lending to a good posture......because you don't have as much power to get by, with a bluntening blade when your up high.....

But it could be hard if you intend on using scub planes and the like.....'hogging it' (right ?)......I don't do that anyway......If I want a big chunk off I'll just cut it off, over busting my guts.....

Maybe take your time with the decision......to find the ideal height for you.....start very high.....and every couple of weeks take 1" off the legs at a time until it starts feeling 'right'.........goodluck

Mine is half the height of the old verandah post that I cut two of the legs from, minus the bit of wood rot I cut out, plus the two bits of 4x2 that make up the feet plus the thickness of the bench. It's barely high enough but only after I've swept the shed.

950 m&ms for the work bench

about 750 m&ms for the second roll-a-way equipment table
saw horse about 650 m&ms

Both bench/table heights extremely useful for different types of jobs

cheers
RufflyRustic