On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:43:47 -0500, Conan the Librarian
wrote:

bugbear wrote:

Hand planing involves quite a lot of downward pressure; this
is more easily done on a (slightly) lower bench. Detail work
is easier if closer to you eyes; modellers tend to use
very high benches.

Hand sawing need the work so low that most people
use a completely separate workpiece support,
either saw horses (duh!) or a 2 level workmutt in "low"
mode.

Ideal height varies with individual AND task.

Exactly. I built my bench for planing, and it works nicely for
that. However, when I'm doing carving, I wish it was much higher. I've
even been thinking about building a small carving benchtop that I can
place on top of my regular bench to ease back and eyestrain.

For sawing (especially ripping), it's best to have a sawhorse that's
low enough so you can stand above it

put your carving benchlet on the floor and stand on it to lower your
main bench?

I suppose ... *if the heights were right... *if you didn't do much
hand sawing... *if floor space was at a premium.... it might be the
right thing....



and bend one knee and have it rest
on the horse. That way you are above the work and can get your weight
behind it, as well as using gravity to your advantage. (Just be careful
you don't make it so low that your saw hits the floor on your
follow-through.)

BTW, welcome back, Paul. Where've you been? :-)


Chuck Vance