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08-04-2009, 01:14 PM #1

Whats the "perfect" work bench size?

Bearcreek
in deus nos fides
Whats the "perfect" work bench size? I have a 700 sq ft shop and was thinking about
putting in 2 4x8 end to end benches in but was thinking it might be over kill

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08-04-2009, 01:23 PM #2

Perfect is relative
woodnthings
where's my table
saw? I use 2 solid core doors 36" wide x 78" long x 1 3/4" thick on folding saw horses for
outfeed tables and assembly work. Strong, heavy, relatively cheap and flat. Works for
me. bill
A different support system would be wooden cabinets, steel file cabinets, or just typical
bench legs made of solid or laminated wood. Grizzly sells steel bench legs reasonably.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/sear...px?q=workbench legs

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A jointer is as important for preparing the work for the table saw as the table saw is for
sawing it. Straight and flat is where it's at!
Wood "rocks", except on the table saw, not good...

Last edited by woodnthings; 08-04-2009 at 01:40 PM.

08-04-2009, 01:25 PM #3

GeorgeC
Senior Member
The "perfect" workbench size is the bench that fits into your shop and has the
Join Date: Jul 2008 space to do the jobs that you want.
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 4,758 Personally I would think that taking up almost 10% of the shop with work
My Photos benches is overkill.

08-04-2009, 02:36 PM #4

sweensdv
Senior Member

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Whats the "perfect" work bench size? - Woodworking Talk - Woodworke... http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f2/whats-perfect-work-bench-size-11536/

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeC

...............

Personally I would think that taking up almost 10% of the shop with
Join Date: Mar 2008 work benches is overkill.
Location: WI G
Posts: 442
My Photos
I agree unless you're the type that has a few projects going at the same time. If
that's the case then the more working space you have available the happier
you'll be.
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08-04-2009, 02:46 PM #5

Bearcreek
in deus nos fides
Quote:

Originally Posted by sweensdv

I agree unless you're the type that has a few projects going at the same
time. If that's the case then the more working space you have available
the happier you'll be.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NE Georgia
Posts: 249
I know that I have a 4x8 surface now and some of the large projects takes up
My Photos
all of my table. (I have a bad back also, so I dont like doing anything on the
floor)
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08-04-2009, 05:52 PM #6

Jim Tank
Worker of woods
I gave up work benches a long time ago for assembly tables. I use three 4x12.
nova-ply tops on 2x10 frames. top overhangs 3" for clamping along all edges.
plenty of room under for tool bins and router tables. I love this job.

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08-04-2009, 05:57 PM #7

Bearcreek
in deus nos fides
Quote:

3 of 6 10/10/2012 12:05 PM
Whats the "perfect" work bench size? - Woodworking Talk - Woodworke... http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f2/whats-perfect-work-bench-size-11536/

Originally Posted by Jim Tank

I gave up work benches a long time ago for assembly tables. I use three
4x12. nova-ply tops on 2x10 frames. top overhangs 3" for clamping
Join Date: Jul 2009 along all edges. plenty of room under for tool bins and router tables. I
Location: NE Georgia love this job.
Posts: 249
My Photos
Do you have any pics?
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afternoon on the golf course. ~ Hank Aaron

08-04-2009, 06:39 PM #8

red
Wood Poor
My old shop up north was 1,600 sf. I had a work bench/assembly table that was
a 4x8 sheet of 1" MDF. It was perfect for what I was doing. I guess the size of
your work bench needs to match the projects you work on.

Red
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08-05-2009, 11:26 AM #9

Gerry KIERNAN
Senior Member
Put your work benches on locking casters. 4 by 8 is a good size, as long as you
Join Date: Apr 2007 can reach across it.
Location: Powell River British
Columbia, Canada Gerry
Posts: 2,226
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08-05-2009, 09:20 PM #10

scribbles
Chief pencil holder
4'x16', with a 32"X16' back bench. That was the size of my old bench, and by
Join Date: Mar 2009 the end of the month my bench in my new shop.
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08-06-2009, 09:34 AM #11

mmwood_1
Senior Member
Perfect? Perfect for what? Isn't that a silly question? What's perfect for one
Join Date: Oct 2007 application may be awful for another. What works for one person in one space,

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Whats the "perfect" work bench size? - Woodworking Talk - Woodworke... http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f2/whats-perfect-work-bench-size-11536/

Location: corvallis, Oregon could be horrible for another. Ask your own self, what do YOU want from a work
Posts: 550
bench? What will YOU be using it for? How will it fit into YOUR space and shop
My Photos layout? Determine your use, then the size should be obvious.
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http://markmeyerwoodworking.com

08-06-2009, 09:41 AM #12

Bearcreek
in deus nos fides
Quote:

Originally Posted by mmwood_1

Perfect? Perfect for what? Isn't that a silly question? What's perfect for one
application may be awful for another. What works for one person in one space,
could be horrible for another. Ask your own self, what do YOU want from a work
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NE Georgia
bench? What will YOU be using it for? How will it fit into YOUR space and shop
Posts: 249 layout? Determine your use, then the size should be obvious.
My Photos

I know there isnt a perfect table for one and all....I quess I should have asked what do
"you" define as perfect. We have got a lot of different responses that have give me
different ideas into making my "perfect" table

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the golf course. ~ Hank Aaron

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