How wide is your Workbench ?

[CheckeredFlag]

I've been thinking about building my own workbench

I'm 6'2", so I'll figure out what height is right for me, but I noticed, if you were to go an buy the top to a workbench, they come in several different sizes, and I was thinking about making my own.

Ever come across a project and wish your bench was just a little bit wider ? or

For most everyday things you use your bench for, do you think what you have is the right size ?

TIA

 

[sberry]

36 wide and 5 ft, not more than 6 long and an island.

 

[MarkG]

25.5". That's 2 pieces of 24" wide by 3/4" plywood laminated together and edge-banded with 3/4" hardwood. Work surface is Masonite laminated to the top and drenched with several soakings of Watco. Wood glue pops right off. Very tough, smooth surface that won't hurt edged tools. Got my ideas from 'The Workbench Book'.

I have a 4 x 8 table on wheels that I use when I need something wider.

 

[machine_punk]

I universally build 28" (71cm) wide benches. This is the widest bench which easily fits through an average man door (32" (81cm) wide). All of my benches are build to be moved, as needed. Much wider and you have a tough time reaching across it.

If you are making a 'built-in' and you like to line the wall with tools and tool boxes, I'd go wider. Anything you want to move easily, though, needs to be narrower.

My smaller bench...
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How I move my smaller bench...
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Smaller bench on the left, larger bench on the right...
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Larger bench, shortly after building it...
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In place, with the 3-in-1 sheet metal machine on it...
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How I move the larger bench (even with a 1300# (590 kg) machine on it)...
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Kev

 

[CheckeredFlag]

lots of good info

thanks again

 

[lilredex]

Mine's 24" deep by eight feet long. It is pulled out from the wall about 10" and that rear section is elevated by 3 1/2" creating a shelf for small drawers, Huot boxes, etc. Works for me.......deeper would only mean more junk in the way.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

I like about 30 inches of work space, if I am using the back side or the wall to store tools I will go a little deeper to still have about 30 inches. If it is too deep it becomes hard to reach your tools.

 

[Jack Olsen]

28"-32" deep. 34"-42" tall. As wide as you can fit.

As many as you can fit, too.

 

[Dugan]

3ft deep, 4ft? tall i think. 7'4" wide to fit between the 8' between beams

I like them deep like another said so your not crowded.

Mines a mess because im still organizing the garage after moving in.

HF has 20 little bolt/part buckets they are the best for organizing bolts and stuff. So i mounted them on the backing.

 

[BikerDad]

You probably have a good reference for how wide YOU like a work surface to be, based on how YOU like to work.

Think about your kitchen counters. Do you wish they were wider, or narrower? Are they just right? If you have a kitchen island, how has that worked out for you? Are you super organized and always put things away, or do you wind your way through stacks of stuff just to get from one room to another? How many sides of the bench do you want to be able work from? What type of work are you going to do?

Answer these questions, and you'll find the answer to your workbench width question. FWIW, my first workbench was topped with a 36" wide solid core door. My second (and current) bench is 25" wide. My next bench (under construction now) is going to be 25"-28" depending on how the materials work out. I like to have access to all sides of the bench.

 

[RivennHewn]

I had the room, so I built mine 45" deep. This gives me room to put a couple middle chest on it, and still have 32" of work surface.

For larger projects, I put the chest on another bench.

 

[ADSR]

Im cheap and like to get 2 pieces out of a sheet.

24" for all my benches.

 

[GTA Matt]

I made 2 benches. I'm 6'5, so nothing I could buy at any store would be comfortable for me. Both are 28" deep. One is 12' long by 46" high, the other is 64" long by 40" high and has large casters on it so it can be mobile.

 

[djjsr]

Using 4'x8's, I made them 32" and used the other 16" for shelves.

View media item 14358

 

[OldracerJones]

I use two, each 48" deep by 96" wide. You can never have too much width when working cars.

 

[roofster]

Mine are 30" deep and attached to the wall. Front legs are 2x6 and lower shelf is 24" so I was able to use 1/2 a sheet. They are about 42" tall IIRC and I'm 6'3".

 

[mtesh73]

30" wide, 96" long with a 6" backsplash, sits atop two HF 44" boxes. works perfectly for me at 5'11".

 

[shooting4life]

Mine are 33 inches deep and very tall, I cannot remember exactly the height but I work standing up and it is perfect for that, I am 6'5". I can reach the outlets on the back wall, I keep parts drawers and various things on the back of my bench. The length of the bench is 15 feet so I do not mind using someone of the rear bench for tool boxes and such.

Also, having a small garage has forced my to store things high up on the walls so I always have a 4 foot ladder out to access those areas.

 

[sberry]

There is a difference in where is going too. Something along a wall could be longer if one doesn't mind some space loss. Island somewhere around 5 ft. It allws 4 ft frame or material to be turned without dropping off the edge. A vise on a post isn't anything to write home about, it needs at least some bench to lay a tool or tape on but my general bench I like clear.

 

[k1rodeoboater]

My bench is 3'x8', I honestly like the depth of it quite a bit, however I built this bench before I moved so I was committed to the size. If I was to have built it here I would have made it 30"x6' since my garage isn't very deep and barely fits my car. There's no way I could park my wife's infront of it.

 

[turnpikecrusier]

Mine is 5.6" X11.6"

 

[softailgarage]

72" wide x 36" deep (2) 1 in garage, 1 in back yard & 120" wide x 25" deep middle of garage.

 

[PCO6]

Mine's 10' long, 30" deep & 36" tall. Vice jaws are elbow height.

View media item 38661

 

[bad_idea]

I am 6' 2". Bench is 42" high at one end and 38" high at the other (the floor slopes that much!). The bench is 14' feet long, running down one wall of the garage. 24" deep. Plenty of flat surface to spread a project out. I have shelves and drawers built into the bench, including a HF 41" tool cabinet. Plenty of storage built in.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

I am 6' tall and my workbench is against the wall of my garage. It is 8' long by 30" deep and 42" high. In my case, the majority of my projects do not include larger more bulkier work pieces. This is why my workbench is 42" high. Now from my 6 or so years using my current bench I have noticed that I tend to store smaller items at the back of my bench. It gets cluttered from time to time and I have to clean it off from time to time. So for me, my next bench will most likely be 27" deep so I don't add clutter to my workbench. Just my $0.02

 

[CheckeredFlag]

Appreciate all the help

thanks again

 

[jakermc]

I've wrestled with this question for a while, as well as depth of the bench. An issue for me was that no matter what the size the top always ends up getting cluttered and I lose my usable work space. My work surface became a shelf!

A few of us got together and began experimenting with a solution that incorporated a pull-out work surface that pushes back under the main surface when not in use. Basically an expandable bench that hides and stays clutter free when not in use. It's not large, but adds another 24" when needed. Great for a lap top when I am downloading help from the internet.

Below is a prototype of what we came up with. What do you think?

 

[redintex]

OUTSTANDING references BikerDad!

You probably have a good reference for how wide YOU like a work surface to be, based on how YOU like to work.

Think about your kitchen counters. Do you wish they were wider, or narrower? Are they just right? If you have a kitchen island, how has that worked out for you? Are you super organized and always put things away, or do you wind your way through stacks of stuff just to get from one room to another? How many sides of the bench do you want to be able work from? What type of work are you going to do?

Answer these questions, and you'll find the answer to your workbench width question. FWIW, my first workbench was topped with a 36" wide solid core door. My second (and current) bench is 25" wide. My next bench (under construction now) is going to be 25"-28" depending on how the materials work out. I like to have access to all sides of the bench.

 

[pawdad]

measure length of your arm if you hang tools on wall you have to reach them

 

[ZRX61]

8ft x 30in.

Correct height formula is:

Distance from your elbow to the floor, minus the height of your vise.

 

[KCarGuy]

I made mine to end up matching the height and the Depth of my Snap-On Roller.
This way it looks like an extention of my Toolbox.
My Bench runs the entire length of my Entrance wall (side wall).
I would have to measure it again, but its a very comfy depth and height.

 

[PCO6]

8ft x 30in.

Correct height formula is:

Distance from your elbow to the floor, minus the height of your vise.

Agree. That's what I did (post #24).

 

[RobSmith]

As for height I used elbow height ! Stand against your bench position and grasp your chin...Where your elbow is ....is the correct height ...it might seem too high... but it works
try it. Even with the vice on that bench height it still works.

 

[Viz]

Here's a link, that was posted in an earlier GJ forum, to another site (EAA). This page is devoted to "standardized" workbenches they use in constructing homebuilt aircraft. The benches are 2' x 5'. Height is 33 3/4", but that can be modified easily to suit your particular needs

http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/worktabl.htm

I liked the idea of being able to put 2 or more benches together, temporarily, either "deep" or "wide" to accommodate most any project. Since I have more than enough room in the pole barn, putting a permanent bench against a wall wasn't a concern. I like these since, with casters on one end, I can wheel one or more around to any area where I'm working. I initially made 2, and plan on doing more. Also, the "leftover" sheets (3' x 4') can be made up into smaller, rolling (if desired) benches.

Viz

 

[sberry]

Mine's 10' long, 30" deep & 36" tall. Vice jaws are elbow height.

View media item 38661

I like that, its got the vise in the right spot for a real right hander. You could put a hundred pcs of tube steel in and that's where it would land.

I like what I got cause it works so well and making it better is a novelty but I like a few ideas on the benches and I can tell whats from some experience, influenced some by available materials but can spot a lot of effort put in a brain fart.
I do it other places but benches I have seen from the best to the worst, had and have my own that are sorry. There are almost always constraints, some places got to function multi use, there is no way around it.
I seen dozens on this forum, some nice design work but the ones I really like would be narrowed down to a dozen easy where it was all it could be what it was sposed to be.

I was thinking on how I could add some drawers to one and really could stand to start over on my welding bench. The ergonomics are so good its kind of pointless and only could really organize a little not leaps so I don't actually do it.
I think there is a garage gallery thread, a bench collection to whiz thru would be good

 

[sberry]

I don't care for a thick top in a small shop. We use 11R and the top and a piece are typical thickness. The help doesn't unless I splain it because our system is visual with hangers for the highly used items but if I have a half a dozen, as many as 8 clamps on the rack I often put them away by adjustment, its just as easy, if I need 1/2 inch I grab one on the left first etc.
I wired it in a hurry from scrap, the whole thing was scrap and out of square but it was fast and it dawned I needed a better cut box, the electric was in the way and part of the loom was piped in the way. A box with the feature would have been easier if it was a project that started off with some basics right, it just got it all hung on as it went.
We got a shelf and hangers for heavy hammers, spuds, bars, all that stuff doesn't need to be tossed in a chest all the time. I should have an air tool cab yet but one bench has shelf for that ant much of the use is there at a vise.

 

[CheckeredFlag]

Here's a link, that was posted in an earlier GJ forum, to another site (EAA). This page is devoted to "standardized" workbenches they use in constructing homebuilt aircraft. The benches are 2' x 5'. Height is 33 3/4", but that can be modified easily to suit your particular needs

http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/worktabl.htm

I liked the idea of being able to put 2 or more benches together, temporarily, either "deep" or "wide" to accommodate most any project. Since I have more than enough room in the pole barn, putting a permanent bench against a wall wasn't a concern. I like these since, with casters on one end, I can wheel one or more around to any area where I'm working. I initially made 2, and plan on doing more. Also, the "leftover" sheets (3' x 4') can be made up into smaller, rolling (if desired) benches.

Viz

thanks

 

[92GreenYJ]

Mine are 32" wide. I just really hate the narrow 24" wide. Doesn't give me enough space to work. I'm 6'1" and can easily reach the peg board and the shelves on the back.

 

[Paticus]

36" deep 8Ft wide. Like everybody is saying, having depth is REALLY nice for sliding things around/making room as well as facilitating big pieces. Are you going to post your bench build?

 

[montess84]

I've been thinking about building my own workbench

I'm 6'2", so I'll figure out what height is right for me, but I noticed, if you were to go an buy the top to a workbench, they come in several different sizes, and I was thinking about making my own.

Ever come across a project and wish your bench was just a little bit wider ? or

For most everyday things you use your bench for, do you think what you have is the right size ?

TIA

Which one most are 7 ft