table saw height

[shmish]

Hi,

I have a BT3100 and was thinking about building a cabinet for it. I'm interested in adding 4 casters for easier mobility and I'm thinking about lowering the table height. I'm about 5'5" tall, and was wondering what heights other people prefere for their table saws.

thanks!

[JTimmons]

This is going to be one of those answers as to what you feel comfortable with. I like my tabletop lower about 4-5 inches below my waist. I feel I have better control that way, not reaching so much, but rahter just slightly bending over. Reaching on a table saw isn't a good thing, IMO at least.

[RayintheUK]

A good friend once told me that the most comfortable height was best obtained by standing upright and getting a measure above the floor of where your hand meets your wrist. When I built my mobile cabinet, that's the measurement I used and it's perfect for me.

Ray.

[vaking]

BT3100 out of the box stands 38" tall and it is the tallest saw amongst all saws I know. Most other saws stand about 34" - 35" tall. The typical kitchen counter is 36" and that one is standard. All cooks are using it even though some cooks are 5' tall, others are 6'6". Many workbenches are also 36" tall. In my opinion anything within the range of 34" - 38" is "reasonable" - the rest is a matter of personal taste. When I built my mobile base I decided that having all my surfaces at the same height was important, what exactly that height would be - was not that important, I would get used to it. I settled for standard kitchen counter height - 36". All my surfaces are now at that height and I am quite comfortable with it. I am 6'0.

[bigsteel15]

I'm 6'5" and went with the same suggestion as Ray. Mind you that puts my work surfaces at 42" so not too many people will be asking to use my shop...

[gsmittle]

I'm 5'9" with a bad back, so my saw is about 37" so I don't have to bend over. I'm in the process of building all my work surfaces the same height. If I have to bend over a little for a relatively short period of time, it's rather painful.

g.

[crokett]

My BT3000 is at the stock height+ about 3/4" sitting on its mobile base. I keep it there because it is at the same height as my assembly bench that doubles as an outfeed table. The saw being that high also clears the bench I have on the side so I can cross cut longer pieces of stock.

[LCHIEN]

the BT at 38 inches is a little higher than most benches and other saws. But I have come to like the height (I am 5'7") at least in part because I have been wearing graduated bifocals for a number of years and I like the work a little closer to my eyes. I have built some accessory tables and my router table to the same height. For the router table it simplifies the bifocal wearer's problems of bending over and looking up (at the router below the table).