Work Bench

[theboman]

The ol' Iron Hill Shed is still a work in progress. Started boxing in the tool room and wondered about a workbench. I'll run it all along the back or a side wall, now my questions.
1. How high? 2. How deep?

I was thinking 32"-36" wide and 36"-42" in height. That sound about right? BTW, 6'1" tall here (no need to let you know how purty I am...).

 

[Cami]

It all depends on how you work. If you're the sole user of the benches then make them to suit you. Do you remember using a workbench somewhere that was just right? Maybe at an old job or a friend's place....drop by to say hello and bring along your tape measure.

Let me tell you about the benches in my shop...

One is chest height and only 16" deep. It holds a couple bench grinders, a small drill press and gets used for handwork on small stuff when I don't feel like stooping or using a chair. On account of it being so tall and narrow, it's anchored to the wall to steady it. The bench is so high that I wouldn't want it any deeper than it is; working or lifting something heavy at that height AND far from the body would be too strenuous over the course of a day.

I have another, shorter bench that is 96" long and 48" deep that usually lives against a wall. That back 24" collects junk most of the time but when I work on something larger, like railings, I pull it into the middle of the bay and get at it from all sides; it beats working off the floor.

I have a couple of 48" square welding tables that see the most action. They're easy to move around and where they're put depends on what's going on in the shop.

A few general thoughts:

When I make a wood bench that only sees light use, I don't bother making the whole bench top super skookum. I'll only re-enforce the foot of bench nearest the worker; nobody bangs on the backside of a bench.

If you want a vise on the bench in a spot that isn't right over a leg then make a leg to install under the vise.

Years ago, I had a small work table that was tall enough that I had the work close-up like with a watchmaker's bench except I was standing...That was one tall table but very comfortable for light work.

An accessory I've had on benches at home was a small vee shaped notch cut out of the bench top so I could use a coping saw and provide better support for the work than just hanging it over the edge.

Want something heavy? A piece of steel plate with pipe legs welded on is quick to make and doesn't generally move around. With a simple table like this don't go with less than 3/4" plate and 6" pipe. I've used a few over the years and loved them all...but never owned one of my own. The only problem is you need a forklift or crane to move them around.

 

[Harvey9]

My table is 36" high, I'm 5'10", this is a good height for me.

 

[czechsonofagun]

The ol' Iron Hill Shed is still a work in progress. Started boxing in the tool room and wondered about a workbench. I'll run it all along the back or a side wall, now my questions.
1. How high? 2. How deep?

I was thinking 32"-36" wide and 36"-42" in height. That sound about right? BTW, 6'1" tall here (no need to let you know how purty I am...).

I have working bench 24"x96" and 30" high for dirty work and 4'x8' assembly table 4' high for clean(er) work.
For laptop, coffee, writing, sketching and such I use my reloading table.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have two work benches that are next to each other. They go along one of my side walls. At the side next to my roll up door is my welding bench. It's 8ft wide and 4ft deep. It has a metal top and at it's corner is where I have my vise. My welding stuff is there and my compressor is under it. It's big enough to do most anything on it, but it's also where my clutter ends up. Next to it is where my wood bench starts. It's two feet deep. I can see where deeper might be better, but if it's clean, there's plenty of room for most anything. First thing after my metal bench is my lower area for my chop saw. The top of it's cutting deck is level with the benches on either side. Then the wood bench goes off another 8ft and is at the same height as the metal bench. This allows me to cut fairly long pieces of wood on the chop saw from either side. There are limits and sometimes it doesn't work out, but that's pretty rare. I forget the height off hand, but I like to work at things at about hip level. I also have two folding tables and a fixed table that come out when I need them. I like the flexibility of having open space, or lots of work areas. It just depends on what I am doing.

Eddie

 

[CurlyDave]

Get something clean and put it on your kitchen counter. See if that is the right height. If you want to try higher, shim it up with a small piece of plywood and some 2x lumber.

No matter how good the lighting, how convenient the sink, and how easy to clean the surface is, do not use tools on your wife's kitchen counter. Don't ask how I know.

 

[eepete]

All my benches (tractor and electronics) are 36" tall. All but one are wood, and the 2x4 front piece at that height means that all "standard" chairs with arms fit under them. Most are 4x8, one bigger and a few smaller, about 15 in all. I also have chairs with the air pistons in them. When you put them down all the way, you can do very close in work.

I'm 6'3" slouching down to 6'1" on most days :laughing:.

Tractor/dirty benches are 4'x8' wood and 3'x8' metal, also 36" tall. Wood bench is bolted to the wall and has a big vise on it. I do far more fine work than heavy work, so don't know how well this relates to your tasks.

I've tried taller (easy to cut off the legs) and didn't like it. "Standard" 30" tall tables are just too short for me.

Pete

 

[/pine]

I have always made my benches so the top hangs over the frame or face frame at least 2" so there is a "clamping edge"...

I generally use solid lumber for a top but I usually cover it with plywood...if you only use something like 3/4" plywood...you can allow the plywood to hang over the edge then fasten a thicker member under the plywood edge for clamping surface

 

[crbr]

Nice write up on the various work tables in the shed.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm 6'4" and my standing assembly bench is 42" high and 30" deep along the back wall and 18" deep along one side wall for my grinder, mini drill press and tool chests.

My sitting bench is 36" high and 30" deep

 

[Mike Costello]

This is the workbench I built for my shop. It is 38" high, 24" deep and is L shaped. The longest side is 18' and the other is 12' for a total bench space of 30'. I used 3/4" sheets of formica for the surfaces which allows for easy cleaning of spills etc.

 

[theboman]

You folks are worth a million dollars! I think I'll do the sink height. It makes perfect sense to me. I leave an edge to get a bar stool/etc. under if'n need be too. Mostly it's for pittle work...

 

[nickel plate]

Budget providing-I used four Sears Craftsman pedestal/roller bearing drawer units(35-1/2" high) placed over a 16' distance, with a 24" wide 1-7/8" thick Microlam with a 1/4" replaceable tempered masonite top skin. I am 6'-4" tall and the overall height is perfect. Since it is not attached to the wall, it goes with me when we sell.
Edit: My drill press and vise are mounted on bases with C-clamps so they can be re-positioned anywhere along the bench top.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I posted pixs in wrong thread, here are my work benches.

 

[4U2NVME]

Get something clean and put it on your kitchen counter. See if that is the right height. If you want to try higher, shim it up with a small piece of plywood and some 2x lumber.

No matter how good the lighting, how convenient the sink, and how easy to clean the surface is, do not use tools on your wife's kitchen counter. Don't ask how I know.

LOL, that is advise well spoken.