Critical piece of information needed: Your work include significant use of handplanes?

 

Common rule of thumb, belt height for most hand work but its more convenient to have it be able to double as an outfeed or extension table - hence same height as tablesaw 34-35"

 

I have a work table (not what I would call a bench but a large table) that is my outfeed table as well as my assembly table. It is the height of my table saw and I do well with it. I am 6 feet tall and my belt is 44 inches from the floor. A standard kitchen cabinet is 36 inches tall in the USA. If the 34 inch table is too tall for you then I might consider a large sturdy box that I could slide up to the side and stand on. An 8 inch lift would be a significant difference but surely you wouldn't want to work on something 24 inches tall. Even a 2 or 3 inch lift would change things. You really want a table that doesn't hurt your back from stooping. I think it is all preference.
Welcome to woodworking!

 

The general rule is half of your height + 2" (i've learned that at school, so i assume it's right).

 

@Smitty_Cabinetshop - No sir, I'm a total newbie. I had a No.5 plane as a gift at Christmas….still in the box, can't even set it up.

@Weetabix - That's the kind of thing I'm looking for, I'm off to measure my belt height from the floor.

 

I'd suggest you design your bench so that you can cut the legs down later if needed - in other words, avoid trestle feet. If you end up using mostly power tools a higher bench is great, and you get an outfeed table. If you get into hand planing, you'll want it lower. If you get into wooden hand planes you'll want it lower still. I'm building a bench now; I'm 6' and I'm aiming for about 32 1/2" height. I'm using a lot more metal hand planes than I thought I would; I've caught the bug.

 

I am a short person. My bench is 1" lower than my table saw. When I need to use it as an outfeed table I have a reclaimed table top that I put on top to make the height equal. I like a cutting bench to be lower when I use power skill saws ,etc. (28" works for me) Then when I am hand planing I like it higher. I have a portable bench that I mount on TOP of bench to get the height I want.
Like jmos said. be able to adjust the height later if you want to without rebuilding everything. Use it for awhile and find a COMFORTABLE height for YOU !
Best way to learn how to use that #5 is to GET IT OUT OF THE BOX….....then make shavings….you will like it.

 

Gareth, Welcome to Woodworking!

Then I'd have to say John ^ has it right: Make the workbench the height your thinking, to fill the role of outfeed table, but keep the leg design such that it can be lowered. I say that because you may find your bench being no where near your tablesaw when and if you ever get into hand tool woodworking… For me, the tablesaw gets stuff (raw material) into dimension. Other tools make projects. But your results can (and likely will) vary. So stay flexible, make it the way you want it, rules of thumb are good for that!, and have fun!

 

Ok, just figured I'd piggyback on this thread with my own related question.

I'm 5'10" and I got mixed results using different approaches listed here. If I were to make a bench at the height of my belt, I get 40 inches. But If I take the approach of dividing my height in half then adding two inches, I get 37 inches.

And yes, I plan on doing a fair amount of hand work. Using a bench as an outfeed table would be nice, but I can always make a flip-up extension attached to my table saw instead if need be.

What say you folks?

 

I'm just shy of 5'10" and my bench is 34" high. Only do hand tool work on it. Why that height? It's within an inch of my table saw, radial arm saw and assy bench. And less seemed too short. With legs, it could be cut shorter if needed, but it's fine for me. For what it's worth.

 

The general rule of thumb I always used is standing relaxed the work bench for hand tools should be to the hieght of the knuckle of your pinky finger and your hand. Power tools at about the waist. I'm 6' 4" tall and my hand tool bench is 34". That puts my knuckles pretty close to the floor. So it really depends on your comfort and what type of work you want to do.
Regards, Richard

 

This is all terrific feedback and just the kind of input I was looking for. I now recognise the need to incorporate bench legs that can be shortened later. I'd have never come up with that for myself. Thanks everyone for commenting and for the warm welcome.

 

How good is your eyesight? :^)

 

Gareth: Now get that bench built and get out that #5… You've got work to do!

 

I'm a shade over 6' and I prefer ~34" for hand tool work and ~37" for general work bench / power tool work.

I've never cut dovetails by hand, but I believe the general theory is that for chissel work, you want to take advantage of your body weight. by positioning yourself more over the work, with your arms straight, you can transfer gravity forces down onto you workpiece more readilly. The same goes for hand planes.

This kind of hand work benefits from a lower work bench. And guys who do it all day long will tell you that they fatigue less quickly.

 

Isn't the optimum working height supposed to be wrist height? Don't go off belt height - look at Simon Cowell.

 

I'm 5'-10" and I followed advice in Chris Schwarz's book on Workbench Design and Theory. My bench is 34", determined by what height I can stand beside and place the palm of my hand flat down on the top without bending my knees or elbow. Works for me.

I plan to build a bench on a bench for dovetail work and other things I need to see close up.

 

schwarz's formula is as crank says. it only matters if you'll do a lot of hand work. if not 34" is a nice off fall table from the table saw. i'm 5'8" and mines at 33"

 

I'm 6'4" and my bench top is 38", my router table top is at 48" and both are just right for me. I raised most of my tools to make things easier on my bad back. My bench top is 3/4" lower than my tablesaw top to clear the miter bar as it serves as my outfeed table.

 

Planing with a dull bade? Wow, harsh…

 

I edit, get over it. Implying that anyone with a shorter bench is compensating for dull blades is harsh. I stated my opinions above. They were supportive and encouraging.

 

I think it's time for me to 'unwatch' this thread. I thought this only occured on non shop topics. Lets try to all get along, huh?

 

Stand with palms flat on work surface. That's your bench height. Or any other formula ya want…......
Palms flat is the classic rule of thumb.
Bill

 

Workbench for power tools =>taller
Workbench for traditional hand tools => shorter.

Adusjust accordingly to type of work you are more likely to encouneter.
I do believe Schwarz' suggestion for workbench height for traditional hand tool work should be around the palm of your hand.

 

My sincere apology to all. I was clearly in the wrong frame of mind when reading Chipmunk's comments, a by-product of time spent getting aggravated at the total lack of civility in the non-shop threads. I've sworn off of them before, but like a moth to flame, it's so very hard to turn away from.

Good luck, and good shavings to all.