Workbench Height

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Typical kitchen counter is 36". Works pretty good as bench height.
 
I like 36" for a general purpose workbench. I can work comfortably standing (which I normally do), or I can pull my stool up and sit if I feel like it. I just got a new wooden stool, which is 30"...that's a bit high, so I'll cut 2" or so off the legs and see how it feels, then take another inch or so until I get it just right for me. Disclaimer has to be that I built my workbench about 30 years ago, so I'm pretty well accustomed to its height. :lol: Rick
 
I'm 6' and have always built mine at 40". I would think anywhere between 36" and 40" would work fine.
 
Tarmsolo60 said:
I'm 6' and have always built mine at 40". I would think anywhere between 36" and 40" would work fine.
Click to expand...

Tarmsolo60 I was in the garage tonight cleaning the air filters on the chainsaws plus the chainsaws themselves with the air compressor then did some filing on both saws. After I was done I measured on the wall the height for the work bench at 36 inches it did seem low, how do you like 40 and what type of work do you do on your work bench?

zap
 
Zap,
I don't really do any woodworking on the bench, I'm more of a take apart and fix things guy, clean guns, general things like that. I'm on my third shop and I've built them all at 40".

Jack
 
mine is at 35'' at 5'11 it works for me. i made the legs from 6x6 so its sturdy and stable. the top is walnut and the front face is hard maple. pete
 
heatwise said:
mine is at 35'' at 5'11 it works for me. i made the legs from 6x6 so its sturdy and stable. the top is walnut and the front face is hard maple. pete
Click to expand...

I'm going with 4x4 for the legs, sides,back and front face will be 2 x 6 with a one inch thick plywood for the top.

zap
 
I have my woodworking benches about 33 ft long rather low 34" Woodworking demands lots of downward pressures. My mech. bench sits higher at 38". With the vice setting above it about another 7". Mech work seems to involve more twisting and turning motions. My Lapidary bench sits at 42" with the center of my wheels 5" above that. This puts the grinding and polishing right in my face and accommodates a stool when needed. I seem to remember that watch makers benches were also quite high. For one bench, I choose adjustable. Oh yea I am 6'0"
 
Cutter said:
I have my woodworking benches about 33 ft long rather low 34" Woodworking demands lots of downward pressures. My mech. bench sits higher at 38". With the vice setting above it about another 7". Mech work seems to involve more twisting and turning motions. My Lapidary bench sits at 42" with the center of my wheels 5" above that. This puts the grinding and polishing right in my face and accommodates a stool when needed. I seem to remember that watch makers benches were also quite high. For one bench, I choose adjustable. Oh yea I am 6'0"
Click to expand...


I thank everyone for the input, the height will be between 40 inches.


zap
 
Cutter said:
I have my woodworking benches about 33 ft long rather low 34" Woodworking demands lots of downward pressures. My mech. bench sits higher at 38". With the vice setting above it about another 7". Mech work seems to involve more twisting and turning motions. My Lapidary bench sits at 42" with the center of my wheels 5" above that. This puts the grinding and polishing right in my face and accommodates a stool when needed. I seem to remember that watch makers benches were also quite high. For one bench, I choose adjustable. Oh yea I am 6'0"
Click to expand...



Cutter I started making the bench tonight, the legs are 38.5, the depth for the table top is 24 inches and the bottom plywood (3/4)shelve is 22.5. I put the 2 x 6 for the front on the inside so I'm not banging my shins against it , length of table is 72 inches.

I should finish Thursday night also I'm thinking of some pegboard on the wall behind the table.

zap
 

Attachments

  • 100_1441.jpg
    100_1441.jpg
    57.8 KB · Views: 369
  • 100_1442.jpg
    100_1442.jpg
    60.9 KB · Views: 380
To me, it kind of depends on what you want to do. If doing a lot of 'fine' work....assembling small parts and pieces, working on small assemblies, etc I like to have a bench a bit taller, or something which can be set at comfortably and have the parts close at hand. If you're doing a bunch of 'heavy' work...belt sanding, drilling, hammering, etc, then I like a bench which is a little lower so you can lean over and exert more force. A compromise might be a little lower bench for the heavy stuff, but with a spot to slide a good chair under so you are 'up close' for any fine work.
 
Cozy heat, good answer! The work you do may dictate the required height. If cleaning saws and re-building transmisions(or whatever) one height may be fine. But if you need the bench for fine work, and you may use a chair for extended periods of time, a different height may be in order. I think, @6'1", you're on the right track for your "Go-to" work bench. Looking forward to seeing it complete. JB
 
Looking to put a vise on this workbench, any ideas on the placement or what type of vise.


zap
 
loon said:
never the right height %-P

DSC07485.jpg


DSC07486.jpg
:)
Click to expand...

Cool dog, never enough room either. I see from some of your other post your dog likes riding on the four wheeler, we need a picture of your dog with a helmet.

I see you live in Ontario is it near Massena, New York or the St. Lawrence River?

zap
 
loon said:
ya we have fun with them..

about 1/2 hour from the St. Lawrence River bridge.
Click to expand...

Alot of nice land was lost on the Canadian side when the seaway was built, watch some video with a apple farmer losing all his land.

I found this site one night, http://www.lostvillages.ca/en/index.html

zap
 
zapny said:
Alot of nice land was lost on the Canadian side when the seaway was built, watch some video with a apple farmer losing all his land.
Click to expand...

In the lower part of New York State, the Catskill dams displaced thousands and eliminated 24 villages and hamlets, all so that New York City could have fresh water. As well, several thousands bodies had to be exhumed and relocated from almost 100 cemeteries. Almost all of this was fertile river valley farmland.
 
A right handed person usually likes the vise on the left side of the bench. Tools on the bench can be picked up with the right hand. The opposite for left handers. A lot depends on whether you have access to either side.

With a swive vise, position the vise on the corner so that in one direction long objects will pass in front of the bench, swivel to the side and the bench supports items in the vise jaws.

The old USA make vises are far superior to the imports most sell today. Wilton, Reed, Starrett, Columbian come to mind. I think there are Sites for vises that have more information. Craigslist is a good source, along with yard sales and estate sales.
 
Georgiadave +1.
My favorite vise is the Wilton 6 1/2 inch heavy-duty "tradesman". It is heavy, strong, swivels, but very expensive.
Re: mounting the vise, I mount all my vises directly on top of a leg (corner is best). You will often be hammering something on the vise's anvil. You want the impact of the hammer to be directed in a straight line to the material, down the leg of the bench to the concrete floor. This way the piece you are hammering will receive the full force of the impact. Mounting the vise between the legs will often result in the impact of the hammer being absorbed by top of the bench rather than the workpiece to concrete floor sequence. Good luck!
 
Georgiadave said:
A right handed person usually likes the vise on the left side of the bench. Tools on the bench can be picked up with the right hand. The opposite for left handers. A lot depends on whether you have access to either side.

With a swive vise, position the vise on the corner so that in one direction long objects will pass in front of the bench, swivel to the side and the bench supports items in the vise jaws.

The old USA make vises are far superior to the imports most sell today. Wilton, Reed, Starrett, Columbian come to mind. I think there are Sites for vises that have more information. Craigslist is a good source, along with yard sales and estate sales.
Click to expand...

Georgiadave thanks for the info, I never thought about the right and left handed thing. We will see if I can find a good old vise made in the U.S.A.




zap
 
I am right handed and have always put the vice on the right side.

As for height, mine is somewhere around 32". I am 5 11" I had it at 36" and it was way too tall when I had to work on something clamped in the vice
 
Comfortable height depends on handtool or powertool usage also. I like handtools and like mine below 33 inches. It gives me more leverage with a plane and makes chisel work more comfortable too.

Matt
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

O
tiny wood burning insert or stove advice needed for a rookie
Replies
8
Views
595
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
scaryflame
S
ColoradoPine
Stove recommendation for ICF house with 13-14' chimney
Replies
16
Views
776
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
EbS-P
EbS-P
M
Large Insert or stove that doesn't a blower for a low height fireplace
Replies
7
Views
851
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Caw
Caw
A
Ditch the ZC for freestanding woodstove or make a Montepellier II work...
Replies
19
Views
576
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
stoveliker
stoveliker
M
Help IDing my Fisher stove (measurements don't match??)
Replies
1
Views
532
Fisher Stove Information, Parts, History and More
coaly
coaly
Top Bottom
Back