Workbench Height, For What Its Worth

[Bruce Cohen]

This is an outtake of an article appearing in the June 2008 issue of Popular Woodworking magazine. It appears on page 61 as part of a story about Planecraft: Part III. " Most of today's workbenches are designed for assembly or use with tools such as routers. As a result, they tend to be too tall for efficient planning. When you plane you need to use the muscles in your legs, as they are much stronger than those in your arms and shoulders. To use your legs, you must be able to lean so that you are over the plain and work. My test for a proper height is to stand upright next to the bench with your arms hanging straight by your side. Bending the wrist so your hand is parallel to the floor and about 2" above the bench top establishes the best bench for you. the author is Michael Dunbar, and the entire plane article is worth reading.

Bruce

[dlminehart]

Good to know, Bruce. Now, anyone have simple plans for an adjustable height bench? I've seen an expensive ready-made solution, but it would be nice to have a DIY version that one could set for the two heights.

[footprintsinconc]

well, for an adjustable ht table, there was this adjustable assembly table that was published in the fww or shop notes at one. i have a copy of it, though i will have to search for it on my desktop computer. if you are interested, just pm me.