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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Merrylands, Sydney
    Posts
    21

    Unhappy Do I need a Left Handed Bench?

    I built my first bench about 12 years ago when I knew nothing about what I wanted it for, and it has served me well, however it's time to build a "real" bench and fix all those things I did incorrectly due to ignorance.

    Now for the hard part.

    I regard myself as left handed, though not exclusively so. I write left handed, but swing a cricket bat right handed, throw lefty, cut with scissors righty - all probably due to the way I was taught to cut/bat etc. This all probably explains why I can't write neatly, and never did get that call to open the batting and bowling for Australia.

    When it comes to some tools I'm just unsure what left and right handedness mean - With some it's obvious - I use a hammer, saw and and pliers with my left hand and a screwdriver in either (but that could be because there is better mechanical advantage in screwing in with my right hand). When paring with a chisel I hold the body of the chisel with my right, with my left near the head doing most of the work. Most importantly I use a jack plane with my left hand at the front, right hand at the back - therefore work right to left on a long board (but I don't know if this is right or left handed)

    Now the point of all this. I know that traditionally on a "right handed" bench the face vice is at the left and the tail vice at the right, and plenty of comments to do it the other way around for lefties.

    What I want to know is
    - why this is the case
    - what tools make this an advantage for the right hander and therefore a disadvantage for the left hander

    I'm only getting one shot at building this bench and I want to get it right. I need to make the decision on left vs right handed design, but can't yet see the compelling reason why I should go either way.

    What's the consensus out there on the practical reason for the traditional LH/RH design?
    -----------------------------------------------
    Oh that was easy said God
    And went on to prove that Black is White
    And got killed at the next Zebra Crossing

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Garvoc VIC AUSTRALIA
    Posts
    11,464

    Default

    Most of my benches have always had the vice on the left.
    My current bench has the vice on the right, it didn't take me long to get used to it.
    So my 2 cents worth is that it doesn't really matter which end the vice is on.
    Regards, Bob Thomas

    www.wombatsawmill.com

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
    Age
    80
    Posts
    16,560

    Default

    Don't know, my bench is ex SA schools and had a vise on each long side of the bench so that 2 students could work on the (wider than normal) bench.

    I took the back one off and mounted it on the front, so I have a left and a right vise.

    I use whichever is appropriate although I use the right one more than the left one. The left one has a metal vise clamped in it most of the time.

    Having 2 vises is very handy for long boards as well.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Hervey Bay
    Posts
    559

    Default

    I can relate to much of what you said. I'm a lefty with 2 older brothers - both righthanded, so am right-handed in most sports, left handed the rest of the time.

    Back to your question about the bench. The way you describe holding a plane is definitely right-handed, so I'd expect placing the vice in a right-handed configuration would work best for you.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,065

    Default Lefty Vs Righty

    Just to add another few cents worth. I have built a couple of benches over time and have always put the vice on the right with out even thinking about it. Then after seeing other peoples benches relised that they predominently had theirs on the left......I don't know why I chose the right (when I am Mainly right handed) its just what you get used to.
    For holding long stuff there are drawers under the bench which I just pull out to support the long board. Depending on the depth of the long piece depends on whether I pull out the top middle or bottom drawer.
    I would just go with what feels comfortable for YOU (it is your bench!)

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Kalamunda, WA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,989

    Default

    I was told that you mount the vice on the left for right handed people so when you are cross cutting for length (docking) using your right hand to hold the saw your left is available to support and remove the offcut so it does not fall and tear.

    I am right handed but play all two handed sports left handed and ride any board goofy foot (left). Never considered that I may plane or chisel anything other than right handed. I hold a plane tote in my right hand when planing and when paring hold the handle of the chisel in my right hand and guide with my left up near the cutting edge, is this how true righties do it?

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Blue Mountains
    Posts
    2,613

    Default

    Hi Flinchy,

    Im also left handed. I have, by necessity, like the others, learned to do things right handed. I think you should try and have a go at a few configuratons (perhaps at Carba Tec or the like) before you decide because you may be able do a lot of operations right or left handed.

    Im embarking on a bench project as well and would like to see what you come up with.
    "We must never become callous. When we experience the conflicts ever more deeply we are living in truth. The quiet conscience is an invention of the devil." - Albert Schweizer

    My blog. http://theupanddownblog.blogspot.com

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    It is mostly how you will be planeing. All the other things can mostly be done anywhere on the bench. You can hedge the bet and have a vice either side.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
    Age
    58
    Posts
    12,779

    Default

    Putting a vice at both ends of your bench will limit the length of board you can clamp to the distance between the vices - unless it is a narrow board in which case you can clamp in both.

    Typically, you would clamp a board in the vice, resting the other end on a dead man or a pulled out drawer or whatever, and you would plane towards the vice. So if you plane with the rear handle in your right hand, you will want the vice to your left.

    In your case, I would probably set the bench up right handed.

    I bought an old bench off a bloke a few years ago. He was left handed and had put the shoulder vice on the right hand end of the bench. He commented to me that he always felt he had made it back to front. I told him that it was actually a left handed bench, which made him raise his eyebrows a bit. So I guess he planed right handed like you do.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Kalamunda, WA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,989

    Default

    If your bench is an island and not up against a wall you could put either two vices on one side (at each end) or one on each side of the same end allowing you to work both left and right should you so wish. Sounds like it might be a good idea for you if you swap hands depending on tool use.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    3,567

    Default

    I am looking at designing my own workbench and I am left handed.

    I have been, experimenting, with standing left, and right on the bench.

    I have come to conclusion, that while, I am able to to work with my right side of my body against the bench, while paring, and planing. However I feel that the having the right side of my body against the bench, as being just a little uncomfortable, as if I am twisted, and that the bench is pocking me. Where if I stand with the bench on my left hand side, I do not have twisted felling.

    I never realized how left handed I was until I started making hand tools. I made them and they were extremely comfortable. Yet I watch right handers fumble with my tools, because they just cannot get a grip on the tool, because the tools were back to front.

    I am therefore placing my vice on the right side, so that I can have me left side against the bench.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,883

    Default

    And to really throw the cat among the pidgeons...

    I have my vise on the right end and maybe about 400mm or so from the end of the bench, for the reason that when I am jointing boards I often stand diagonal to the corner of the bench. Of course it depends on the length of the stock to where I position my body.

    Everyone is going to have their own way, and none of the opinions are wrong. I'd visit a few blokes and see how you go working at their benches with different configurations and as Sebastiaan56 wrote, maybe visit C/Tec and see what works best.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Yass
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,196

    Default

    You might just try planing 'left handed' for a bit - left hand on the back handle. Might feel awkward at first, but based on your other preferences I suspect you'd settle into it pretty easily and quickly come to prefer it.

    Then it's an easy decision to build a left handed bence with the front vice on the right and tail vice on the left.

    Tex

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    47
    Posts
    1,484

    Default

    Hi all

    I thought I'd reactivate an old thread rather than start a new one.

    I am a lefty, and am well advanced in planning a roubo style workbench. Tradition says that for a right hander, the face vice should be on the left, and the tail vice on the right. For lefties, this is the reverse.

    I am a pretty normal lefty - left hand on the back tote of the plane, left hand on the handle of the chisel, and saw with the left too. I can see the logic in a face vice on the right, as I can plane towards the vice, not away. And I can saw past the right hand edge of the bench, holding the off cut as I go.

    What I don't get is the tail vice. Is the idea that, by putting it on the LHS, I plan towards the middle of the bench? I think it would be better to plane from the middle out, not the end in.

    Any thoughts on this?

    Trav
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    275

    Default

    Trav,

    The use depends upon the type and configuration of your tail vise.

    My understanding and experience is that the tail vise is there as an alternate means of holding stock not easily or practically held by hold-downs or the face vise.

    For example, when smoothing the faces of boards or panels. You use the dogs in your bench and a dog (or dogs) in the tail vice to grip the board or panel. This way you can work the panel or board both toward the centre of your bench and up toward the face vise without catching your clothing or anatomy on the face vise.

    It's also a good way to hold stock when shooting mouldings, as the thinner stock can be fully supported by the bench and is not subject to flex.

    I've also used a tail vise to help with glue-ups. Clamps can bow and distort some forms but the tail vise and appropriately placed weights can tame the twists and bends

    If you look through a few YouTube videos or the benchcrafted site you'll get the idea.

    Horaldic

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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