Setting bench height

A bench set too low bends the back, and a bench set too high raises the shoulders and tires the arms. The right height is set by the person who works at it and by the kind of work done on it. This note gives a method that needs a tape measure and a flat floor.

Finding a starting height

1. Stand upright at the spot where the bench will be, in the shoes worn for work.
2. Let both arms hang at the sides, relaxed.
3. Measure from the floor to the crease of the wrist, on the side of the hand that does most of the work.
4. Use that figure as the starting height of the top, not as the final one.

The measure gives a start. Some people reach better with a bench a little lower, and some tasks need a different height. The next step is to check the height against the work itself.

Adjusting for the task

Fine work

Marking out, paring and fitting joints. It is often best done on a bench set a little higher, so the work sits close to the eye.

Force work

Chopping, heavy hand planing and mallet work. It is often best done on a bench set a little lower, so the weight of the body can come down through the arms.

A bench used for both kinds of work is set between the two. A fixed height is a compromise, and that is normal. Where the work changes a great deal, a second, lower bench may suit better than a single adjusted one.

Height in a tall garage

A tall garage gives room above the bench, but its ceiling height does not set the bench height. The height is set by the person, and the space above is arranged to suit. Overhead storage should not stand directly over the bench, where a head or a hand could meet it while work is held.

Levelling the top

1. Stand the frame on a flat spot of the floor, with the feet resting firmly.
2. Lay a spirit level across the top, first along its length and then across its width.
3. Turn each foot to bring the top level and to take up any rock.
4. Recheck after the first heavy use, since a floor can settle.