Workbench: Freestanding or against wall?

[Dan Kraakenes]

If you have the room to choose... do you prefer a Freestanding Workbench or against a wall?

[glenn bradley]

I have had both. The free standing is much more versatile/useful to me.

[Bill Houghton]

I wish I could find out whether a freestanding bench worked better than my bench up against the wall; but my shoplet is too small, so it must be against the wall, where it's firmly bolted in place. It at least has the virtue of rigidity.

[ken hatch]

I have had both. The free standing is much more versatile/useful to me.

Same here, against the wall benches work best as a flat storage surface. I currently have two freestanding, two against the wall but one of those is a sharpening bench and the other against the wall bench ends up being a storage surface. I guess you could say I have three against the wall benches because right now a Moravian bench is apart and standing in a corner and is not much use :D.

ken

[Jim Koepke]

My woodworking bench is free standing. Until recently it did have a bunch of boxes blocking the area behind it. Moving the items stored behind the bench was done to work on some larger timbers recently. It has helped me to decide on making my new bench to be somewhat ambidextrous in design.

There are three other benches in my shop that were there when we moved here and another built by me to hold my power sharpening equipment. All of these are against the wall. Only the benches used for sharpening have not become horizontal storage facilities.

jtk

[Scott Winners]

I prefer freestanding, but I agree with Bill about rigidity. My first choice would be freestanding and rigid. Second choice against the wall and rigid, last choice not rigid.

[Norman Pirollo]

Definitely free-standing. I have 2 large workbenches and they are placed away from walls to be able to work on both sides of the benches. If your workbench is designed to be against a wall however, this might not be a good option. I have seen workbenches with a tool well running the length of one side which defeats any use of that side. My workbenches have a small tool well running along the center with dog holes on either side. The versatility of having such a workbench away from the wall cannot be emphasized enough. So definitely in the "away from a wall" camp.

Norman
WOODSKILLS

[ken hatch]

Definitely free-standing. I have 2 large workbenches and they are placed away from walls to be able to work on both sides of the benches. If your workbench is designed to be against a wall however, this might not be a good option. I have seen workbenches with a tool well running the length of one side which defeats any use of that side. My workbenches have a small tool well running along the center with dog holes on either side. The versatility of having such a workbench away from the wall cannot be emphasized enough. So definitely in the "away from a wall" camp.

Norman
WOODSKILLS

Ain't necessarily so. A well designed tool tray will not interfere with most operations, about the only one that is a problem is clamping something to that edge. That said, I can use both hands for most operations and that could also have an effect. BTW, the "stuff" workbench that is against the wall had a double slab of equal size, both 280mm (11") which is not optimum. The next bench had an asymmetrical split slab with the main work side 381mm ~ 15" that is almost perfect. With each build the benches get better with fewer thangs that make you howl at the moon. Only two of the benches have split slabs, the last three builds have tool trays.

ken

[Pat Barry]

I like freestanding because of 360 access. Unfortunately that also makes 4 sides things can fall off.

[Jason Kamery]

I currently have mine against a wall. I hope to clear out more space in the garage at some point to make a freestanding one. I should honestly get rid of some of my powertools, they take up a lot of space and I don't use them much.

[Michael Bulatowicz]

I have both a freestanding workbench and one against the wall. I very much prefer the freestanding one; I have many more options for workholding and better access to the work without having to move it around once it's properly held in place. Longer pieces preparing for assembly can be arranged across the bench rather than needing to be set up along it or on the floor (thanks to the wall being in the way). My freestanding bench is still a work in progress, but ever since I had the freestanding bench finished well enough to use it at all (meaning: laminated top clamped to the leg assemblies), I find that I use the feestanding bench for all my woodworking and the against-the-wall bench mostly for my sharpening station and temporary tool storage for frequently-used tools rather than for woodworking.

[Tony Mize]

I have a free standing bench in the middle of my shop. It buts up to my assembly/ finishing table along the back side of it. My A/F table is roughly 4” lower so I can still clamp across the top if needed. It also works as tool an parts over flow when I’m working at my bench then when I’m ready to glue up I just walk around an all my pieces are there an ready.

[William Fretwell]

I have seen workbenches with a tool well running the length of one side which defeats any use of that side. My workbenches have a small tool well running along the center with dog holes on either side.

Norman
WOODSKILLS

The tool tray along one side of my bench IS the use of that side. Very easy to argue that a small tool well in the centre mucks up the main bench by reducing the work area. You can only stand on one side at a time so trying to do different operations on each side at the same time seems pointless. A lot of moving and tools. It is easy to have a second row of dog holes on the far side for large panel work. A second freestanding bench behind you makes more sense so you only have to turn around to do something totally different, not many of us have that kind of room however. My aim for a deep tool tray is keeping the main bench work surface clear to maneuver things.

[Steven Mikes]

Freestanding! I could not consider putting my bench against a wall and losing the freedom walk around it.

[Jim Koepke]

The tool tray along one side of my bench IS the use of that side. Very easy to argue that a small tool well in the centre mucks up the main bench by reducing the work area. You can only stand on one side at a time so trying to do different operations on each side at the same time seems pointless. A lot of moving and tools. It is easy to have a second row of dog holes on the far side for large panel work. A second freestanding bench behind you makes more sense so you only have to turn around to do something totally different, not many of us have that kind of room however. My aim for a deep tool tray is keeping the main bench work surface clear to maneuver things.

There is a wondrous variety in benches with or without a tool well. There is also different reasonings behind the placement of a tool well. Many folks do different types of projects in many different ways. Often there is more than one project taking place at the same time. Sometimes mid project one sees a need for a modification and needs some open bench space to work on it. If one is cutting a lot of parts for a project, the space on the other side of the well can be a great space to store them or other work in progress.

Your point on a tool tray deep enough to have it clear for maneuvering the work also has me thinking on making it wide enough or tall enough so any one of my planes can be in the well but not get whacked if something slides over the well.

As far as standing on both sides at the same time, part of my planning is to have one side a right hand bench and the other side a left hand oriented bench.

jtk

[Kurtis Johnson]

The ability to extend workpieces off the back side would add versatility and would be a nice luxury. So I think I’d prefer freestanding. But that’s just from my mind’s eye. I’ve not worked that way.

[William Fretwell]

So you are ambidextrous Jim?
My tool tray is just over 6” deep so any plane will stand up if needed, that was my aim. It does complicate the top stretcher which became very large but that just adds weight where you appreciate it as part of the top.
From left to right I have shoulder vise wracking fillers, blue tape, squares, ruler, plane mats, block plane, marking knives pencils and plane screwdriver. That is when the rest of my tools are not being used.

All our preferences are as individual as our work projects. Most of them are designed to enhance our productivity.

[John K Jordan]

I think both the size and position depends a lot on what you make, how you work, and your shop size/layout.

I have had both freestanding and against a wall but prefer the bench where I can get all the way around it even though I rarely make furniture or something even medium large. I have a several benches in the shop but the one I use the most is small (about 24"x60", laminated maple top, vise on the end), positioned between two lathes. In use here holding up some turning blanks!

409447

One advantage of freestanding is I have more flexibility and access for storage - that tiny bench has three wide shallow steel drawers, a couple of shelves, a rack for some woodturning tools, and a spot to keep face shield, safety glasses, and hearing protectors handy.

A narrow bench against the wall does allow for hanging tools within reach. I have one bench with shelves above and below. If my shop was larger I'd certainly have another, larger workbench, freestanding.

JKJ

[David Dalzell]

I have both. The freestanding bench is my main workbench, the "against a wall" bench is an auxiliary bench. It gets a lot of use also, but freestanding is much more versatile.

[Jim Koepke]

So you are ambidextrous Jim?

Somewhat, also there are times when rabbeting or cutting molding the grain direction is more advantageous for the work to be done left handed.

jtk

[James Pallas]

I have 2 benches. One has a tool tray the other does not. The one without the tool tray is the one I use. It is freestanding and is set up right hand one side, left on the other. There is a QR vise at each corner. I work all around the bench. I use all four vises. i would not want to have a bench against a wall. I work at both sides and both ends depending on the task.

[Tim Janssen]

My bench is freestanding and with a removable panel between table saw and the bench, it serves also as an outfeed table.

409508

Cheers,

Tim

[Derek Cohen]

If you have the room to choose... do you prefer a Freestanding Workbench or against a wall?

Dan, my bench goes close to the wall, so you might include it in the "against a wall" category. I could pull it out further, but I prefer it close to the wall. This position enables me to access hand tools more easily. There are tool cabinets above, and a tool wall at the rear. I also have a tool tray, although it is not attached to the bench, and is instead attached to the wall. I can and do pull the bench out further when needed, but 95% of the time it remains close to the wall.


https://i.postimg.cc/PqW8kYt5/6a-bench.jpg

The tool tray is behind the bench ...

https://i.postimg.cc/d0dMrzYz/2a-zpsr3knvswv.jpg

I have rarely found a need to work both sides of a bench. I do find it more helpful to have a small second bench to the left for shooting and a sharpening centre to the right. These are just a step away - no negotiating a passage around the bench to get to them. The shop is much simpler this way.

An oldish photo ...

https://i.postimg.cc/fyX08D1z/Overhead1.jpg
Regards from Perth

Derek

[John Isgren]

I plan to have both. A joinery bench against a wall and a free standing main bench in the middle of the shop.

[Alan Schwabacher]

If you have a large enough shop to consider both options, the next question is whether you have a window. If you put the bench against the wall under the window, you can work in natural light.

If you must work with a lightweight bench, you can brace it against the wall for stability. Otherwise, free standing is nice.

One reason I like to get at both sides of mine is that I use it for various kinds of work. For working with lots of small parts, I have one side of the bench without dog holes or holdfast holes -- just a clear surface so nothing will fall through. The other side has both.

[Jerry Olexa]

freestanding is my choice...Access from all sides a big plus...

[Mike Allen1010]

Interesting practical question. Thoughts:

Struck by how many on this thread have multiple benchs (I do), maybe more of a neccesity than luxury.

For me ability to access all sides is most helpful with reversing grain in large panels. Easier to move my fat butt than moving/reclamping work piece.

My experience is you can't have too much bench surface - between finishing, clamping glue ups, and actual work holding must be some universal law "crap that needs place will expand to consume all available horizontal surfaces".
Cheers, Mike

[Jim Koepke]

My experience is you can't have too much bench surface - between finishing, clamping glue ups, and actual work holding must be some universal law "crap that needs place will expand to consume all available horizontal surfaces".

The work benches back in high school shop class were about 7' square. How nice it would be to have that much space.

jtk

[John K Jordan]

The work benches back in high school shop class were about 7' square. How nice it would be to have that much space.

jtk

Ours were like that in Jr High shop class too, with a vise on every corner. Four kids could mangle four boards with four planes at the same time.

JKJ

[William Fretwell]

A work ‘bench’, a take off ‘table’, an assembly ‘table’, a sharpening ‘bench’, a drafting ‘table’, a lunch ‘table’, a sanding ‘table’, a router ‘table’; and more...