Thread: work bench position

hi coffenup,

What is the size of your shed ? It will mostly depend on that I guess and what kind of tools you are using.

I just moved into a house with an outdoor small shed ( 1 car garage ) and figured that a main workbench against the wall and a few smaller long ones against a corner or 2 is a better idea to gain space. The main bench used as an out feed bench linked with a table saw with a nice left/right ripping capacity to increase the potential of the workshop. Also french cleats everywhere to be able to constantly upgrade the workshop in this tiny space. ( every time you buy a new tool you pretty much have to rearrange everything to make everything fit ).

As long as your workbench is sturdy and big enough to not get frustrated any other feature is a bonus in my opinion especially if you have enough clamps. You can find really simple tutorials on youtube for really good sturdy benches out of 2x4.

I am far from being a woodworking pro but that what i would advise


Jon

As has been said a lot depends on the shed space you have and the work you will be doing. For most of my life I got by with the bench against a wall to give me as much usable space as possable. My latest bench can be moved by placing wheels under it. This would be the best bench upgrade I have ever done. The bench can be positioned where best suited for the job in hand. As to bench type and construction have a look through the bench threads in this forum and there is sure to be some ideas there to suit your style of work.
Regards
John

the shed size is 5m x 6m workshop
regards Michael

I have been thinking about this as to how I can reply. I do not have a bench more like a table that I work and place things on. This is situated on one side of the garage, where the garage is 4m wide. There is a little bit of room on the other side with a wood storage area against the wall. I find that I am not using the little space as it just seems to gather rubbish.

The original idea was to have an island work space but did not quite work out that way.

If you go with an island bench then the whole area around the bench needs to be kept clean, if against the wall then the area in front of the bench.

Good Morning Michael

I am watching the debate that you started as I have basically the same issue.

My benches have always been against a wall - never really thought of anything else.

Then, three years ago I built a fairly light assembly bench inspired by the Festool multipurpose table. More and more it is defaulting to become my primary bench, partly because the hold downs work so well and partly because I can work on all sides of it.

Should my next bench go in the middle of the workshop?? Possibly? I am accumulating impressions and ideas.



Fair Winds

Graeme


Vertical Hold-Downs.jpg

Graeme
I have had a bench in the centre of half of my workshop for over 15 years and I keep putting stuff on it all the time. I also had a small compressor mounted under the bench but running power to it I used to trip over their cords some time. As I have been lining and reorganising my shed as I have most of my stuff on mobile trolleys. This works 70 % of the time I love the mobile side but its time to settle down and put the dust extractor in a permanent spot and also the lathe and hence the question of the positioning of the work bench.
thanks everyone for your input
Regards Michael

Coffenup, the size & style of your bench is entirely personal, depends on so many factors like the work you plan to do, the space available & not least, the materials you can obtain to make it with. There is a whole thread devoted to different people's benches, many with a bit of design philosophy and other useful info. I suggest you read through it, as it will give you a good idea of the many possibilities, if nothing else!

As to actual placement of your bench, it usually boils down to a compromise, dictated by the space available. I would love to have my bench smack in the middle of the shed, but it's just not practical given the size & shape of my workspace, so it sits against a wall. At least the wall has a large window, to let in as much daylight as possible, but I often have to pull the bench out from the wall to fit longer bits of wood across it (when running dovetails across bookshelf or cupboard shelves, for e.g.). It's not a lightweight bench, & I'm not quite as young & fit as I once was, so it's a pita, but there is no practical alternative.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

....... There is a whole thread devoted to different people's benches, many with a bit of design philosophy and other useful info. I suggest you read through it, as it will give you a good idea of the many possibilities, if nothing else!
......

Good Morning Ian

Thanks for the reminder. That thread is worth revisiting periodically for a drool and inspiration.



Fair Winds

Graeme

thank everyone for their answers
I still have not worked out where to put the bench so I will build one then decide where it goes from
I started today making the legs out of pine
regards Michael

have decided on a 1500 by 700 wide Island bench
now to build it
regards Michael

Are you going to do a work in progress for the workbench?

Originally Posted by Christos

Are you going to do a work in progress for the workbench?

I was thinking of doing that but as a basic wood worker its going to be a basic work bench
regards Michael

Originally Posted by coffenup

I was thinking of doing that but as a basic wood worker its going to be a basic work bench
regards Michael

That's ok Michael, not everyone who reads these pages is an old hand at woodworking. As they say, the longest journey starts with the first step. Basic builds of basic benches gives confidence to those who are a bit timid about giving it a go. Go for it!

Cheers,

here's the start of my work bench the legs I cut the mortises with the power saw and cleaned the cuts up with a chisel & glued the 2 half together using a urethane glue as I thought this would be stonger than a pva glue
I did it this was as I am still teaching my self
20140322_162223_1.jpg20140322_162228.jpg20140322_162306.jpg20140322_183920.jpg
Regards Michael