Workbench question

[number9]

Guys, I am going to (finally) build myself a workbench for general use in the garage. I went to Lowes today and bought the lumber and screws. I have one quesiton for you though..... What is the general height used to usually build a bench? One thing I hate about some benches I have worked at is that when you sit down on a stool up at the bench my knees hit it or it is not high enough vs the stool to actually sit with my knees under the bench and work comfortably, like at a table.

I am prob going to pick up this stool http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91200 - I don't like the flame job, but it is cheap and at HF, so I can run down and pick it up instead of ordering and waiting a week for it to get here - and paying shipping. I may just run down and pick it up tomorrow so I can use it to mock-up and help determine bench height. BUT, is this 28 1/4" seat height the general height most stools are?

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[dps]

I would figure out which is most important, workbench height while standing, or workbench height while sitting, and design for that. So for one I just finished, I chose a nice height while I am standing, which is mostly what I'll be doing. I ended up liking about a 37" height so I don't have to stoop. I have an adjustable height stool that I can use for sitting.

If sitting is predominant, I'd get the stool, sit on it, measure from the floor to the top of your thighs and add two inches for maneuverability. That's the bottom of any skirting or apron that you might use. If that piece is a 2x4" and you put a piece of 3/4" ply on top, your work surface would be about 6" above your thighs, which is okay for most work. If you were going to do fine stuff like jewelry making or modeling you might be more comfortable with a surface top that was a couple inches lower, but you really have to experiment setting up a couple of example heights to try out.

 

[vlpronj]

If you sit a lot to do work at the bench, think about what you'll be working on at the bench. I.E., if you do work on a lot of heavy equipment, every inch you raise your bench height is another inch you'll have to lift whatever piece you're working on. A convenient height, in this case, would be whatever point your hands are at when you're carrying something (or maybe 1/2 an inch lower/higher) - so you can slide it right onto the bench without lifting it up more.
Of course, if you've got a lift table, it doesn't really matter...

 

[Stuey]

I believe that 30-32" is standard for computer desks and the such, and for power tool stands as well. That's a bit low, though. What you're going to want is a height comfortable for both sitting and standing. I think that 36" might be a good height.

What you could do is search for workbenches by various brands, and see how tall those workbenches are to use as a baseline.

 

[Torque1st]

Make the legs adjustable or replaceable. Maybe use 1-1/2" pipe with flanges to hold up the top? Suspend any cabinets and drawers from the top. There may be plans here:
http://www.plansnow.com/

 

[Kevin54]

No standard for a garage. Build it for what is confortable to you. Everyone's size varies. When I was doing remodeling, I used to build porch railings to satisfy the customer. **** cheek height!!!!! Reason being, that when they had company over for a cookout, most would sit or lean on the railing. Build it to accomodate. And yes there are codes as far as a kid sticking their head through, but wher I am, things are kind of lax, but if you build it with safety in mind it is usually overkill anyways. There is no steadast rule for a garage so build it as to whay YOU like. Same as a bathroom in a house. What used to be standard height for a bathroom vanity has now started leaning towards 40-42" for height.

 

[bomber]

I read, in a wood working shop design book (great source of info, btw) . . . . .

Bend your dominant arm 90 degrees, so your forearm is parallel to the floor.

Measure from your elbow to said floor.

Your vice should hold a workpiece at about that dimension from the floor.

Since I do a fair amount of metal work, and saw/file/chew things in the vice a great deal, I foolowed this advice -- it's work out great for me!

Another thing to take into account is your eyesight -- if you're rebuilding Weber Carbs all night long, either make the bench a height you can focus on, or get a stoll that'll place your eyes the right distance from the benchtop.

 

[buening]

I would try the advice from bomber about the elbow to the floor measurement. I would then find a desk and a chair that is adjustable. Adjust the chair to a height that feels like a comfortable height sitting at the desk. Subtract the desk height from the chair height (to the seat), add that to the total height of the stool. That height would be a fairly comfortable workbench height while sitting, and then compare that to the height measured in bomber's suggestion. Unless you are really tall they should be pretty close.

I prefer about 8" from the seat to the top of the bench, so that 28" stool + 8" = 36". If your bench top is relatively thick I would want more than the 8".

 

[number9]

Thanks for the help guys. It took 2 evenings of my and my 3yr old working to get it done. I built it 6'L x 2'W. My garage has block around the floor, then steps back about 3.5" to the sheetrock so the legs aren't against the wall - didn't want it to be anyway. But, I cut the 3/4" plywood top an extra 1.5" deep and let it extend beyond the frame of the top for extra bench surface and to not have such a wide gap between the backstop and wall. I also cut the plywood an extra 2" long and let the right end of the top over hang so I can clamp something to the top should I need to cut some lumber or whatever.

I ended up cutting the legs too short. I used 2x4's screwed together to make the legs. The outer 2x4 is cut 3.5" short to allow the leg spreader to rest on top of the board, then the inner 2x4 goes up behind it to the bottom of the plywood top. I got screwed up doing this and got the legs too short. Ended up just cutting 4 "riser blocks" and screwing to the bottom of the legs to raise it back up 1.5" - may add another after I use it some and decide it aint tall enough. Right now it is 37.5" to the top and 33.25" to the underside of the leg spreader. Also only made the bottom shelf 15" deep to allow room for my legs/feet to sit under the bench. Worked out real nice.

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[Lloydthumper]

I just built mine and I made it 41" total that seems tall but but I have a bad back and I can't stand working on something bent over so even when I set down my legs are free and what I am working on is right at me so I am not slumping over. I haven't taken a picture of it yet but I will post it when I do.

 

[Yonnee]

Nice work. I see you didn't get the flame stool.

Two observations...

Instead of adding to the legs of the bench, you could have cut down the legs of the stool...

It looks like you have a power outlet above the bench that your compressor is plugged into. Could I suggest getting two more power outlets and put one in the front of your bench, and one in the left side, wired to a flexible lead to plug the bench into the power outlet in the wall. This way, you can plug the compressor into the side of the bench, and any power tools you might use on the bench, can be plugged into the front of the bench, and won't have their lead lying across your workspace.

 

[number9]

Thanks for the replies guys. Actually, the compressor is plugged into an outlet directly behind it - can't be seen in the pic. The cord you see is an over head power cord reel - the cord is pulled out and running down beside the compressor and across the floor to 2 battery tenders plugged into my streetbikes. In the outlet that is hidden behind the compressor, I have the compressor in one plug and a feed going up the wall along with the red air hose - both go to over head power cord and air hose reels.

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[Torque1st]

Now you just need a vise! Then, like was mentioned above, a power outlet in the front on whichever side you are "handed". Put it on the right side if you are right handed, -left if left handed. A regular power strip will do.

 

[Vernmotor]

My are 36 1/2 other 2 " would not hurt my feeling..I am 6' tall..