Will I be happy with a 6' bench?

[mark kosse]

Howdy all,

I came on a 4'x4'x6' pallet of mostly QS white oak, mostly in 2x2 to 2x6 sizes but only 6' in length. Never having had a "real" woodworking bench I'd like to build one. A friend has some lovely old European bench over 8' long that is just a beauty to see. Is that necessary is the question. I have so much wood I'll build one anyway and I'm sure I'll find out if it is satisfactory but what do you think? Can anyone recommend a style in a short bench like that? I do have the workbench book somewhere. I'll have to dig it out.

Btw, this is a drive by gloat too. The cost of the 900+ bf of qswo? 40.00. No more milling my own for a while.

Tia, m

[Shawn Pixley]

I'd love to have a bench that long. Mine is 4 feet long. I favor simplicity - Good top / simple vises.

I'd like to build a bench - it would need to slide under the general purpose bench but I've figured it out. Me, I will build a 5-6' top (3-4" thick) split top with reversible tool trough / 1/2" planing stop, quick release face vise, dog holes, and maybe a end vise. It will go on an Adjust a Bench with wheels for mobility.

There are many good bench designs - find one that you like for the way you work.

[lowell holmes]

http://www.raintreeshouse.com/WoodWork/Woodworking.htm

Check out this workbench.

It is Roy Underhill's design and is in "The Wooderight's Apprentice", a book Roy wrote.

I built the folding workbench and used it for years. When I built my current bench, one of my son's took the bench and is still using it.

Check it out.

[Frederick Skelly]

My bench is 6 feet and does everything I ask of it. The only thing I'd like to have that it doesn't, is a split top. Mine has a tool tray that tends to accumulate junk.

[Nicholas Lawrence]

You can do everything on a long bench that you can do on a short bench, but the reverse is not necessarily true. I have had a real problem trying to surface 8' boards (for a couple of tables) on my smaller bench.

[Glen Johnson]

As long as you are going to glue the boards breadboard style, you can stagger shorter boards to get a longer length. For example if you wanted an eight foot bench, cut one board into two foot lengths and glue them alternately with the six foot lengths. Have every other row start or stop with a two foot length. If you are going to build a bench, you should feel happy with it.

[Frederick Skelly]

You can do everything on a long bench that you can do on a short bench, but the reverse is not necessarily true. I have had a real problem trying to surface 8' boards (for a couple of tables) on my smaller bench.

Well now that's a good point. It does matter what size material you usually process and what kind of stuff you plan to build. I do smaller funiture and use an electric jointer & planer to dimension my lumber. By the time it reaches my bench it's under 4 feet long. Good catch Nicholas.

[mark kosse]

Thanks for the replies folks. If I like it or lump it, I'm going to build a 6'er if for experience only. If I don't like it maybe someone else will. The only question is what type. Being a shop teacher I'm more of a machine type because it's what I teach. Being a being a flea/garage sale type, I have lots of hand tools. I have to bridge the gap.

[glenn bradley]

The bench I just finished is about 6'. This was a reduction to the prior 84" bench it replaced. The only thing I've noticed is that the bench is now used as a bench and doesn't collect fodder, no room. ;-) I find it big enough even with the bench-on-bench in play.

322992

[Rob Luter]

My five footer (27 x 60 top). No complaints relating to size yet.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2583/4103275307_f30a5080da_b.jpg

[Cody Cantrell]

Mark,
I am a shop teacher also and this is my "podium" that I built. It is from oak scraps that someone gave me and some square tubing and angle iron for the base. It is 60"x22" it handles almost everything that I that I need except planing long boards. It isn't exactly lightweight but it does move around a little. I read on the Benchcrafted blog that Jameel puts swade leather under the feet and it almost locks it in place. Gonna try it. Build it, if you dont like there is someone out there that doesnt have much space and would be interested.
Cody
322998

[Prashun Patel]

You can be happy with a 6' bench. I am happy with mine and it's only 5'. However, I am space-constrained.

Personally, I'd let the space dictate the length. Even if that means gluing up boards bowling alley style. (I have another bench made like that, and it works fine.)

[george wilson]

It all depends upon how large your work is going to be. For years I used only a 4' bench at home. I had no room for a larger bench,and only made infill planes,flintlock pistols,fancy brass drills and other things like I have posted here. At work I was making musical instruments every day,and welcomed the break.

My current bench is over 7',but,except for building our large dining table,I really haven't needed that length. But,when you DO need the length,it is indispensable.

[john zulu]

I guess it depends on your future projects. Some are fine with 6' or 7'. Chris did mention that the length is not the mistake one will do but the width. Reason is that you can access the entire bench with you arm and not move around the entire work bench just to get your tools. In this aspect he is pretty much right.

There will be a case that common practise will not work. I need to work on 4x8 ply wood hence I will build a table of that size. A workbench is an organic tool. It changes as your work changes.

[Rob Luter]

Mark,
I am a shop teacher also and this is my "podium" that I built. It is from oak scraps that someone gave me and some square tubing and angle iron for the base. It is 60"x22" it handles almost everything that I that I need except planing long boards. It isn't exactly lightweight but it does move around a little. I read on the Benchcrafted blog that Jameel puts swade leather under the feet and it almost locks it in place. Gonna try it. Build it, if you dont like there is someone out there that doesnt have much space and would be interested.
Cody
322998

Even though my bench weighs a ton, it would slide on the concrete if I got too aggressive with a plane. I used some shelf liner from Walmart under each leg and it's like it's glued to the floor.

https://tw-projects.s3.amazonaws.com/twduckbrand/prod/images/products/5e26a09329f6eed1f6632936a332c1b09f8233b7.jpg

[John Kananis]

Build your bench at six feet (plenty for most things, no?). Then, all you need is one long 2x4 of lumber (of an appropriate longer length, 8', etc) glued to another shorter length with dogs bored into it. Clamp the piece in the vise across the front of the bench with the glued piece to the left (forming a continuation of dog holes to whatever length you chose)... Voila, longer bench when needed. When you finish, detach the false front you've created and store wherever is convenient.

[Brian Holcombe]

If you build a lot of case goods you may find the length helpful. You can think of a bench, especially a roubo as a giant planing beam.

[Mike Brady]

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee300/finefettle/newbench008.jpg (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/finefettle/media/newbench008.jpg.html) 6 ft. and lov'n it.

[mark kosse]

I do have a 10' planning form for bamboo rods but that has always sat on the cabinets/bench and won't be used on a ww bench. I've been searching the net for ideas but I guess I need to look for a vise. I have 6-7 different ww vises but if I make the top more than 2"s I don't think they'll work. I haven't looked at them in a while but I believe they were designed for a 2" top.

Thanks again.

[Bill Houghton]

That's all I've had for well over 20 years, and it's served me OK. I'd have a larger bench if I had a larger shop, but I don't, so I don't.

[Cody Cantrell]

Rob,
Just tried some regular liner and it is awesome! Great tip.

[glenn bradley]

I do have a 10' planning form for bamboo rods but that has always sat on the cabinets/bench and won't be used on a ww bench. I've been searching the net for ideas but I guess I need to look for a vise. I have 6-7 different ww vises but if I make the top more than 2"s I don't think they'll work. I haven't looked at them in a while but I believe they were designed for a 2" top.

Thanks again.

Vise hardware is more versatile than a metal vise but, I have hogged out the underside of benches before to make room. I have also mounted vises under a 3" top, recessed the rear metal jaw into the apron and used a wooden chop to bring the height to the top surface.

323051

[David Carroll]

I've been using a 4-foot long Sjobergs "hobbyist bench." I got it when I lived in a College apartment and vowed to build a larger bench just as soon as I had a free weekend. That was in 1984. Still have it. I use hand tools pretty much exclusively and it has always answered my need. I do store chain, old sash weights and other heavy things in the little cabinet under the top, and it's anchored in the floor. I've replaced many of the pulpwood panels it had with plywood or solid panels to stiffen it up, over the years. The few times that I needed something longer I managed with sawhorses supporting the long end of the work piece. But mostly it is just fine for the smaller stuff that makes up the bulk of the work that I do.

But as soon as I have a free weekend...

David.

[Daniel Rode]

I have a 21" x 60" bench. It's large enough but it does get crowded. I added an 8" tool tray and that helps a little. As I'm working on a project, I might have chisels, planes and a shooting board and/or a bench hook and/or a moxon vice, etc. all in use. While I would prefer to leave them all at hand, I need to constantly take tools out and put them back. It's a small thing and not too much bother. Assembling larger pieces can be a challenge but I've made some fairly large projects.

At some point in the future, I'll build a new bench. I think 24" x 84" is about right for me but even 72" would be enough. There are lots of opinions about tool trays. I love mine and the new bench will have one as well.

[Jim Koepke]

There are lots of opinions about tool trays.

Some people do not like them and think of them as a place for tools and stuff to collect. My feeling is that is why it is there. Better in a tool tray than on top of the bench. It also helps to keep things from getting knocked off the bench if you keep it in the tool tray.

When things get too cluttered, it takes less than 5 minutes to put everything away.

jtk