13 replies to this topic

[mds2]

Here's a random question for every woodworker. How high is your bench? Do you like that height?

[Boatworks Today]

Well, I have two answers One of my benches is the same height as my table saw (for obvious reasons; outfeed table), and the other is waist height for sanding / assembly (I don't like bending over)..

[John Fitz]

I try to get all my stuff the same height, 34 (or lower....my TS is 34 and in my small shop, I can't afford anything getting in the way)

[Andrew Reynolds]

36" It's okay but I tend to be sitting on a stool while working.

[fransikaner]

Approx 38-39" or so. Bending hurts. There are kitchen studies that recommend consideration of this counter height for cutting boards, etc....

[WoodNoob]

Mines 895mm (~35') which is the same as my table saw. It's pretty good for most things. But I'd like one of those portable moxon vices you can clamp to the top of your bench to do things like dovetails that you need to be closer to. It's a good height for planing, sawing, assembling. But for fine detail stuff I'm either going to need a stool, or a higher bench.
I read lots of stuff when building mine, and went with what was most recommended for hand tool work. But I just don't think there is any one height that will suit all applications.

[Mike M]

Mine is 36" which is a bit high for plane work but perfect for power tool use and assembly. I have a Moxon type vise (homemade) that I use for dovetailing and other chisel work. I also have a easel that holds relief carving projects a few inches off the bench.

[jsiard]

My workbench is 33 ½”, out feed is 34” same as TS and assembly bench is 28”. I’m 5’11” and the 33 ½” height works best for me when it comes to planning, dove tail and chisel work. My sharpening station is at 36” which feels the most comfortable when sharpening manually or with a honing jig.

[mds2]

My bench is also my outfeed table and it is 36 1/2" which is right at my belt line, but I think is too high for me. I'm going to lower it to 34".

[wdwerker]

My big out-feed table is 34 inches high. My miter saw, drill press, and all the counters down one side of the shop are at 40 inches. Nice to have a long line the same height for long part handling.

www.steveduncan.com

[Wood-butcher]

These are all good heights. But what you have to consider is: How tall are you? What are you mainly going to use it for? How tall is your saw, if you want it to be dual purpose? If you don't like bending over and make it taller, it may end up too tall for vertical pieces when you are dry fitting or glue ups. You might want to consider 2 tops at different heights.

[Johan]

I second Wood-butcher's comment.
"How tall are you?"

A fool proof method is this:

Stand upright next to the bench.
Let your arms rest against your waist.
Check where the palm of your hand is.
That is the ideal height for your bench.

[rmac]

I don't think there's really a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Depends on how tall you are, what kind of work you're doing, whether you generally work on big things or little things, whether or not you like to do some of it sitting down, and even whether or not you like to get the kids involved. I also don't think that (within reason) it matters all that much. As with most things, you'll adapt to what you have.

For the record, I'm about 5'-7" or 5'-8", and my bench is 34" high. That's a little higher than the "ideal" palm height suggested by Johan. I also have my lathe mounted a little higher than recommended by the standard rules of thumb. In both cases, the extra height helps me because I'm a little bit nearsighted. So there's another factor.

-- Russ

[MIKWoodworking]

I have a 32" a 34" and a 36", the 36" is a little high.