The Joinery Bench

wizer · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:51 am Post subject: The Joinery Bench

I just saw this on Chris Shwarz blog. It's a great idea. I think workbenches are too low, even for average height people without back problems. You may be reluctant to raise the bench height, but if you have the room you could have one of these:

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/The+Joinery+Bench+Has+Its+Time+Come.aspx
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Shultzy · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:59 am Post subject:

Too low for me Wizer, my workbench is 39" already Laughing

. I have back problems and this height doesn't give me any gip.
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George_N · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:22 am Post subject:

I'm reading Chris Schwartz's workbench book at the moment. In the book he proposes 34" as the optimum height for hand tool work (I think he's 6'3"), the reasoning being, that you can get your full weight bearing down when planing, which you wouldn't be able to do if your arms are bent significantly. He goes on to say that if you mainly use wooden planes, the bench should be 31" high because the plane bodies are around 3" deep. It looks from the blog like he has had a bit of a re-think. I guess that those heights may be fine if you prepare all your stock from rough sawn by hand but a 31" high bench would have me bent double.
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Chems · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:26 am Post subject:

My saw bench is 33 inchs and this is the first surface I've had which I can plan on. My main bench was built before I got into woodworking and is pretty high, talking 45inch at a guess. Its great for hand routing and bits but can't do any planning as my arms get worn out as they are above heart level. But that once is coming out over the coming weeks to be replaced by a Robou so one of these would be ideal. So ideal actually I may just start one tomorrow!

ondablade · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:51 am Post subject:

I guess height for planing, versus height for chisel work is the question - how to accommodate what are essentially separate requirements.

Two possible disadvantages of this approach that strike me are that they seem likely to (a) result in lighter individual benches that are more likely to move about in use, and (b) to entail some walking backwards and forwards between benches
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Late starter....

houtslager · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:58 am Post subject:

you could always make a secondary bench to sit on top of your "planing" bench to allow you to do chisel work or detsil work. This generally was a simple open box about 10" high

hth

hs
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Chris Knight · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:30 am Post subject:

Steve Maskery · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:07 am Post subject:

He says:

Harbo · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:21 pm Post subject:

I have had a similar device for years - made from one of the original wooden topped Workmates
Not as sophisticated, but fitted with two Record Holdfast sockets and it folds for storage. I can even fasten my small portable Record metal vice on it too and the feet can be adjusted for uneven surfaces.

Rod Smile

wizer · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:52 pm Post subject:

Benchwayze · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

That's a Workmate on steroids!

Nice and neat for sure!

Thinking about it... One could always make a 'supplementary' benchtop. Two full length runners underneath. One runner gripped in the vice and the other, resting on the bench. The runners would need to be diffferent depths is all.
Or is that crazy?

John Very Happy

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Mr Ed · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

I am quite taken with the idea of this, having said that I don't really ever have an issue with using my normal bench for joinery. I mustn't once again fall into the trap of allowing shop improvements to distract from real projects though!

Ed
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Chems · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:07 pm Post subject:

There is a fine balance thou ed, having the right area to work in improves the enjoyment of working 10 fold for me.

Mr Ed · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:27 pm Post subject:

Chems · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:24 pm Post subject:

I find that I spend much more time making projects then they go off to their owners and I have no physical reward for my work, but with workshop improvements I get to use it everyday Smile