Maximum workbench depth ?

[yeldogt]

Trying to confirm that 36" deep is really too deep for a wall based workbench/ workstation.

Years ago a source gave me a truck load of butcher block tops that got stored away in a barn. With my new home started I'm laying out how the current outbuilding will become my new shop/studio/garage. Going to be using as many as possible.

In the mix are 3 huge 1 3/4 Ash tops 36" x 12' -- one end of the building is just about 24' wide. Using two of them along that wall seems like a good idea. So -- I was playing around. Keeping them 36" -- you really can't reach shelves or cabinets on a wall behind. It does allow for cabinets sitting on the back edge -- but, anything on the bench is now in the way.

Hate to chop 6" off -- but ... it seems that 30" is the ideal depth with shelves or cabinets above. Any thoughts? better ideas?

Have no idea what I'm going to do with the third. Have many others 5/6/7.5 feet long .. from 24" to 30 wide. Maple/Ash/Birch .... also have 2 big 3'5' maple tops that will make great assembly tables .... only need one really.

 

[bimmer1980]

Unless you have long arms, I would think 36" would be a bit too deep...... Make the cut and then glue the scraps together for appropriate sized shelves to supplement the workbench....

 

[BigGarage]

Trying to confirm that 36" deep is really too deep for a wall based workbench/ workstation.

Hate to chop 6" off -- but ... it seems that 30" is the ideal depth with shelves or cabinets above. Any thoughts? better ideas?

I do not know the "ideal depth" but I built mine 24" deep and I've never regretted it.

Dennis

 

[rsanter]

36” is too deep unless you plan on having toolboxes and organizer boxes along the back of the bench that will then be taking up 6” to 12” of the space.

Options.
Make the bench mobile with wheels so it can be pulled out to be used as a floating workbench, then having the greater depth could be a great thing.

Cut 6” off the thing and make that cut off piece a shelf along the wall

 

[Bessy]

I find 24-28" deep to be ideal for benches against the wall. I'd suggest ripping the board's down to 28" and taking the 8" leftover piece to build a floating shelf of sorts 24-30" above the bench top. Depending on how solid these tops are you may or may not have a challenge ripping them without the pieces coming apart, if they are end grain faced.


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[dogdog]

I build mine at 36" deep it's way too much.. was OK when I build it, and I was standing on something to give my self some height, then it is ok... now. maybe it is because I grow horizontally too much. Just doesn't feel the same. 24 is definitely too shallow... I think 30 or 32 is good. Unless you have something specific. IMO, try reach over with your hand if you can touch the other edge it's good in my book...

 

[budget76]

the one good thing about deeper is there's more space to push teh **** out of the way if you're one to let things pile up on the workbench

me - i'm going to shrink down what I have today. going to go to one 30"x8ft bench, one 22"x8ft. the shallower lets me store less **** on the bench and is deep enough for most of what i do. the 30" tends to accumilate small things towards the back that i never gave a good "home"


though i do agree 36" is DEEP. I'm 6'2 and think i'd still hate to try to reach that far

 

[yeldogt]

This is high end commercial product -- new ... much of it still in boxes. The Ash I assume was for industry. 1.75" thick ....12' long -- it's really heavy. It was "too good to use" .. now I have to use.

Want to make sure before I cut it down ...

Playing around some more with what I have now -- the 24" is very usable ... but 28" is better. I sort of agree on the 30" -- it's nice but you tend to stick things in the back. I think 28" with a shelf may be ideal. I don't need a 1.75 thick shelf -- but I have nothing to use it for.

I also have 20 ....5' x 8" 1.25 thick cutting boards .... think they are for the front of a deli counter . In boxes ... 8 -- 7' ones as well. I'm a pack rat ...

 

[Mike Folks]

Made mine out of 2" X 4" framing with a grizzly butcher block top, 72" X 30", 2 1/4" thick. #T21250.

 

[MoonRise]

Freestanding, like an island or workbench or assembly table/island in the 'middle' of the floor, then 36" wide can usually work OK. Because you can reach from all 4 sides. YMMV and all that.

From a woodworking perspective, 24" is usually a good depth for most uses.

Chris Schwarz and Monsieur Roubu think that a 20" deep workbench is plenty deep for a lot of woodworking uses.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/the-return-of-roubo/

Another workbench plan calls for a 24" depth. Use your butcher block top instead of gluing up boards to make a top.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/no-nonsense-workbench/

Standard kitchen counter top depth is 24". If that (mostly) works OK for you for a counter top depth, then use that depth.

You can check "The Workbench Book" by Scott Landis.

Free preview of the first 23 pages ( plus front and back covers ) available here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=cjAnhBR2kLAC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Stuart at ToolGuyd thinks that a 24" depth is pretty good.

https://toolguyd.com/workbench-size/

Another mention of 24" depth being pretty good.

https://www.monarchmetal.com/blog/3-measurements-to-consider-when-crafting-the-ideal-workbench/

More ruminations on workbenches by Chris Schwarz. Including his notice that 24" deep is the same as kitchen counterpoint depth and that size works for a LOT of uses.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/rules_for_workbenches/

Roughly where are you are located and are you looking to 'rehome' some of those butcher block tops?

 

[bczygan]

A shame to cut them.

Make a roll around table with one and sell the others to buy 24" deep ones. I have 20".
Bill

 

[1360]

I built my bench 36" deep, but I have longer than average arms (6'7") & love it!!

 

[SundayFunday]

Mine is 36" deep and I see no negatives to the depth. I can easily reach to the back of it when needed and I can reach everything on the pegboard up to about 6' high.
I like having room to store "stuff" at the back of the bench.

I would build to the material that I had on hand...for you, build it at 36".

 

[Kevkx125]

My three bench's are right around 30" deep I like the size works well.

 

[u2slow]

I tried to make 48" work, because plywood comes that width. Too deep... can't reach. Although it swallows up bigger heavier things you can roll underneath.

36" would be good. That's my target going forward.

 

[didit]

24"-30" is a good range. Mine is 24" deep and 5' long. I've been using it without a problem for several decades.
It's nice to have a secondary rolling table for the times you need more space and want to reach from all sides. I use a small scaffold section with locking wheels that can be folded up when not in use or used as shelving. That could be a perfect use for your leftover tops.

 

[woodee]

Mine is 96" x 25" and seems perfect for me. Wish I had your luck, I looked for over a year for cheap used butcher block or bowling lane wood. Gave up because the best price was new at Menards specially with my rebates.

 

[oldwino]

I prefer 24” depth. Easy to reach everything and you don’t end up with a **** trap next to the wall. Also makes good utilization of material (double layer of 3/4” MDO from a single sheet with no waste)

 

[kald]

If you can reach 36" at your desired height, that is the question.

I had a 4' x 8' steel work bench that i loved but was really to big an became a catch all.

 

[Showkey]

Another vote for 36”. Top work area and storage under the bench are the premium feature.

The other critical dimension is the height.........which is far more sensitive to the user’s stature.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I debated between 24" and 30". Went with 24" and am satisfied, but sometimes wish I had gone 30". I think 36" would be too deep though.

I posted a thread about it here.

 

[19Vert64]

Still a work in progress but I decided on 26’’ depth. Seemed comfortable to me.

 

[yeldogt]

Thanks everyone. I'm average stature -- 6'. Don't have extra long arms. Was surprised when I went back and checked the size. Have another Ash that is 5' x 32" .. all the others are 30 or narrower.

I was told the Ash tops are mostly sent to industry as they have more pronounced grain -- very hard. Obviously, my first thought was not to cut ... but, I want to make the best use of the space. Plus -- I only need 2 of the 3.

 

[ericlar80]

Mine is 26" because I didn't want to take up too much of my walkway. If I had the room, I would like to go at least 30". If you have cabinets above then you can't go as deep.

 

[Slednut]

Mine is 33 1/2" deep, mostly because I had some free 32 inch drawer slides. I don't have any problem reaching the cabinets except for the top shelf.

I think 32" would be a good depth.

 

[38Chevy454]

I went with 32 inch depth. Mainly because I could cut the 48x92 hardboard top into three 32x48 size pieces to fill in the 32 inch x 12 ft long benchtop. Supported under the thin hardboard with 2x6x12 ft lengths. Bench is built onto the wall, with front legs at the 4 ft spacing. Rock solid and I like the hardboard, with some polyurethane coating, as it makes a nice smooth work surface. Polyurethane gives some spill resistance for fluids. I also made shelves under two of the sections, one with one shelf approx mid height, and other with two shelves. Third spot is full height with no shelf.
Back to the original question, I do not find the 32 inch depth to be a problem being too deep. I have pegboard behind the workbench, and it goes up 4 ft above the benchtop. I couldn't really reach the top even without the bench being in the way. When I actually need to reach high, a quick step ladder makes it easy.

 

[zmotorsports]

I say build them whatever you think you can easily reach without issue. This will vary from person to person.

I'm 6'2" with relatively long arms and my son is 6'5" with even longer arms. Our last shop I made the benches @ 26" deep and they worked well for the 25+ years I worked in that shop but when I built my new ones in my new shop I went 30" deep. I really like them and can tell the 4" depth difference more than I thought I would.