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Been looking at work benches in anticipation of the move next year. I was wondering how many people use their workbench as an island vs placed near a wall and the advantages and disadvantages in daily use.
I'm on the look out for some demolition/recycled timber to use if not I may have to go with some 2x4 pine.
I have a few benches against walls, but my main work/assembly bench is an island.
Advantages - have full movement around my main bench and other benches are allocated for certain tasks and items.
Disadvantages - more benches means more mess.
I have an island bench. Also have dedicated benchs against the wall. Sharpening station and SCMS.
Other things are on mobile bases..drill press and morticer. All my storage cupboards are also mobile.
That way can shove everything down one end to do big stuff on the bench. (Still got no room in the workshop though)
On your main working bench, since they are islands how many sides you you have vices on?
Zip. My vice is on my bench against the wall immediately behind my main bench. Have approx. 850mm between the two which is where I stand/work most of the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by DSEL74
It will depend on the space you have. I now gave 2 benches. One is against the shed wall due to limited space. The new bench that was meant to replace it is in the garage where I can work all around it. I find this so usefull that it has so far not made the trip down to the shed. I am more less a 2 shed guy now. Anyhow enough of a ramble but if you have the space then the island option is the go. BTW I have a face and tail vice but there is no reason not to fit vices both sides if it suits.
Regards
John
I have/used various wall and island benches but prefer working on island benches
Currently I have two island benches,
1) 1800 x 900 behind my TS so it forms an island with the TS
That bench has a conventional WW vice and a tail vice and the tail vice can also hold a removable shoulder vice.
2) 2200 x 900 assembly bench (both wood and metal work) and has a 4" engineering type vice on one corner. 90% of the time this is covered in mechanical crap, motors, half build stuff etc
Then I have several small (450 x 1200) benches up against walls
My all steel 900 x 900 MW bench is under a 1000 x 1000 mm welding/spray paint fume hood. That bench has a removable engineering type bench on it.
Of my other side benchs, one is covered in battery recharge stations and the other has a general tool rack and MW cutting tools on it. The front 200 mm of these bench is free for small task but they too end up being covered in crap.
There is also a very nice 1800 x 600 mm wall bench under a bouganvillia covered window which SWMBO has commandeered for her craft work. That was going to be the location for my WW lathe but alas - not happening.
That bench has a teeny weeny little two inch vice on it for SWMBO's craft work.
I have a Dawn 225 front vice (on the left) and a twin screw end vice (full width).Quote:
Originally Posted by DSEL74
On the other end I have an apron that goes down below the thickness of the top so I can clamp to that.
On the other side from the front vice the top rail of the bench is set back by about 100mm so I can clamp to the top.
The top is about 70mm thick.
My bench is a modified (my design) Shaker style. Got is out of a woodwork magazine.
Thanks for the feed back guys it seems if you have the space or only one bench then an island is the preferred way to go.
I'm just over 5'11"" is there recommended way to establish the best working height for the bench. Non specialised woodworking, a bit of everything, box making, tool making, furniture etc.
In terms of design a split top Roubo seems to be the current flavour of the month.
I'd suggest no less than 900 for your height. Needs to be comfortable for component work so you don't have to haunch over and upset your back. I'm about 6'1" and like my benches around the 1000 mark.
If your bench is to double as an assembly bench, then it would be better as an island. The constant turning around of a piece of furniture on a wall bench is a PITA. Much easier to walk around. Having said that, the one down side of an island bench is the risk of knocking stuff off the far side, particularly tools. The more expensive, the more likely to fall. Personally, I prefer to have an assembly bench and a work bench or two. The former against a wall and the latter freestanding.
It's not just your height but the length of your arms and what type of tools you use that affects height e.g. hand tools maybe work better at touch lower than power tools.Quote:
Originally Posted by DSEL74
Even after all that, personal preference also makes a difference - this is why maybe making the height adjustable has some merit.
I drilled a stepped hole into the underneath of my bench legs and jammed 3/4" nuts into the top of the hole and then screwed in the 3/4" x 4" bolts. I rested the head of the bolts inside a recesses in the middle of 65 mm diam x 10 mm thick HDPE disc which means I can slide the bench around if I really want to without marking the floor but my bench is so heavy it does not move at all during normal WW activities.
I'm about the same height as you and after experimenting at a few heights I settled on - Yep, 900 mm.