Shop setup: Workbench against the wall or away?
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For those of you that have tried it, how do you like having the bench set up away from the wall? I have room for either, and am debating this question. I’ve always worked against the wall, but have never made anything as large as the projects I have in my future (coffee/end tables, chest of drawers, dining room table and of course the rocker) The clock was no problem on my current against the wall set up, but it’s about to grow 🙂
My current bench is the “New Fangled Workbench” from finewoodworking (http://www.finewoodworking.com/workshop/video/new-fangled-workbench-revisited.aspx), but I’ve removed the clamp assembly from the middle and replaced it with a well. Love the well, hate the bench 🙂 Great ideas, but it isn’t heavy/stable enough for hand planing in the 6′ length I made it. Width wise I suppose it’s closest to Paul’s design with one top/well. I also think it is going to be too narrow for the larger projects I want to complete, so it’s time to build one of Pauls. I’m leaning towards two tops/well, with it placed away from the wall.
I currently have all my tools hung on the wall over my bench, so access is easy. Paul really seems to work well with the set up shown in his workshop, IE with tools in cabinets and drawers behind him, but I think he could probably work reasonably well in a bathroom on an airliner 🙂 So how is your shop set up for building larger furniture, and where do you keep your tools in relationship to the bench?
Washington State, USA
My own humble blog:
http://toolsofourfathers.wordpress.com/I generally plan my tool storage around my bench location, but prefer to keep things simple by using wall racks, shelves and cupboards within two steps of my normal working position. Use of a front apron allows one to install drawers beyond the reach of holdfasts, but the laying out and everyday user tools within very easy reach of the user. I typically keep my sharpening stones/plates and laying out equipment in these drawers.
I work on my bench (Materials prep, etc.) and generally assemble larger pieces on an assembly bench/table away from my work surface.
I’m presently workshop free following a recent house move, but will be building a new workshop in the new year. 🙂
I have an old cheapie woodworking bench that came from Lowes from my kids, it is up against the wall. I am currently building Paul Sellers bench and plan to set it up near my over head door ( My shop is a 2 car garage ) for my light and I will be able to move around it. It will be a bit less than 5′ as the best lumber I could find was 10′ and I didn’t want a bunch of drop off’s, hopefully I won’t regret it. If I find this is not working I will build a larger bench in the future but hoping this will work.
Steve
Steve Massie, I live in the great State of Florida, US
It really depends on the kind of things you make. If you build big stuff, it is nice to be able to get at it from all sides, an a bench against a wall Can make this. Challenge.
I use an 8′ bench at the school shops because I look over the student benches from behind mine. I would whenever possible have a freestanding bench I can work from both sides for practical reasons. A bench against the wall means I am constantly turning larger stuff around to get it in a position I can work on it from.
Mine, because of space constraints, is against the wall (I have a single garage) and although I had thought that there was some convenience in having tools against the wall and in cabinets when I built the whole shebang, I have since wished I’d had enough space for a freestanding bench. I have managed to fit everything more or less along the entire wall and along one side so mine is more L-shaped to accommodate a table saw which is on wheels so it can be stowed away. I am now much more inclined to go the minimalist workshop route, and when I move, I shall.
From Warrington, UK. Making stuff in my front room.
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