Workbench Advice
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Tagged: workbench aprons
- This topic has 24 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by karle ham.
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I have started the build of my Paul Sellers workbench and have built a first slab as a trial, but will probably discard that one, and use it for a Japanese planing beam. I used way too much glue, and I have in a couple of areas tiny gaps between the laminates, need to pay more attention when planing. good exercise though!
I’m now going to go into a phase though where I have to commit on the bench design and am still not convinced which option I should take. The length for sure will be around 2.3m (7.5 feet). The issue I have is that my current “workshop”, has a very low ceiling, and the only area where it’s slightly above 2meter is against a wall. I could also put it freestanding but then ceiling height is only about 1.9m. In the freestanding case I could build the wide bench with the well in the middle, if I put it against the wall that’s going to be too wide to reach the wall and probably I should go for less depth with the well in the back.
So any advice what option to go for? Also in case I go for the wall option I was considering making the bench a bit wider than Paul’s single bench design and go for around 77cm (30 inch, including the well of 12inch) to still have a bit more worktop real estate and weight. Is that a sensible idea or would not really bring any advantage?
many thanks in advance for any guidance and thoughts
I made a bench with a well in the top, but I made it too wide, on the theory that if some was good, more would be better. I have enough room so that I can work from behind, but I never do. The back six inches is a place for trash and little-used tools to accumulate. Even when I’m gluing up panels or working on larger pieces, they hang over the edge and I don’t see any advantage–in fact I have to stop and clear off the junk on the back 6″ before doing glue ups. The length is worth while; it helps with planing, sighting, and cutting down stock. I took the bottom of the well out of the last two feet on the right, so I could place larger boxes over the front panel for planing–with holdfasts, it’s easy to get a secure purchase with your project around the front section of the bench. Were I to do this again, I would stick with Paul’s dimensions, and put a removable bottom on that last two feet of the well. Hope this helps
Jim Mount- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Jim Mount.
16 February 2017 at 9:04 pm #309269I would still put the well in the middle. It is easier to reach tools and clean it from debris, shavings etc. And in case you will move the bench inside the room, you can work from both sides.
As for the width of the bench: I think, 60 cm is not enough – that is the width of my current temporary bench, which has no well. I can tell, because I am constantly moving things out of the way. It is also too short, which has the same effect. And finally, it stands in the right corner of the workshop, which makes it almost impossible to plane long boards on the bench – I cannot plane the end of a board, when it is unsupported. I have to use saw horses instead.
I think, these are the kind of considerations to make, when you design your workbench.
Dieter
17 February 2017 at 2:55 pm #309294I concur with much that said in the preceding posts.
My workshop has similarly low ceilings. It makes it harder to move 8′ let alone 12′ boards. So your post has my attention. I’d say height trumps working from two sides in your situation.
Probably the first consideration in workbench size is how large a pieces you plan to build on it. And in our respective cases, height is one of the limiting factors.
The second factor is where tools and material will sit. To compensate for a bench only 5-1/2′ long, I’m busy working on tool and material storage in/under/near/around my bench. A wall behind the bench is useful this way and no more reach than a rear well.
I use a rear well, and from apron face to apron face my top is 27.5″ across. I feel comfortable that, with overhang, I can work
On a piece 36″ wide. Hopefully this is a helpful metric.Keep us posted on what you decide and how your build proceeds.
Rick G.
Thank you all for your inputs! One of my first projects, after a few smaller ones, is going to be a big mission style dining table.
(note that to overcome height issues, I do have some alternatives for assembly, as I’ve built to support my house renovation work a large but portable Paulk workbench, that I can us in or outside weather permitting. It is also very sturdy and flat as it’s based on torsion box, I have been hand planing on it without it moving at all.)I have decided based on your inputs for the bench against the wall, but think I will make it 30inch, a 16 inch worktop, 12 inch well, and then the back apron.
Please have a look at the attached, but the worktop area on this bench where Paul is working seems more like 16 inch rather than 12? (just using the diamond stones as reference). Planning to start tomorrow![attachment file=309301]
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Zeppos.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Zeppos.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.I’m the lucky owner of a first edition “Joiner and Carpentry” set of books from the New Era Publishing company published in 1931, and thought it would be worthwhile to share the picture of the workbench described in there! really fascinating.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.I’m at a similar stage on my bench, I have glued up two sections for the top With all the planing I’ve done they are 8.5″ wide and with aprons that would make them a little shy of 10″. My question is with respect to well width. I was thinking of going with 8″ to keep the bench as narrow as possible…I’m only 5’2 so I want to be able to reach across it easily. The reason I’m building the double top is so I can put a vice on the other side for my kids….I’ll probably need a bigger workshop but as Paul says this is a lifetime bench….if I get it together! I have also glued up the legs so I will need to decide soon on the well size…anyone have experience with narrow wells…or short arms!? Thanks for any help.
Scott
Hi Scott, I would suggest to mock up your intended set up, take out the tools you intend to use most and see if the 8 inch well and your setup works for that. I did the same for the wider top I’m building (I’m 6’2), and although it was just a small test it didn’t show any immediate problems.
19 February 2017 at 7:11 pm #309364Not to hijab this thread, but just to respond to scott75.
A middle well sound ideal for you, minimizing reach. You’ll probably need the additional width of the second side to handle any larger projects. These can span the well – I know I’ve already used my rear apron in this fashion. The kids vise is one more benefit and should lead to some good times.
Cheers and good luck,
Rick G
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