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<blockquote data-quote="John Halliburton" data-source="post: 43346" data-attributes="member: 8">Re: Work Bench HelpAlthough I typically have to press my bench into double duty, for both woodworking or electronics, I&#039;m not a fan of ultra large benches.&nbsp; Way back when I worked for Intersonics building Servodrive subwoofer cabinets and subassemblies, I built a bench that was essentially two sheets of 4x8 plywood braced out into an 8&#039;x8&#039; bench.&nbsp; I had put a large woodworking vise at one corner, and set up the other three corners as assembly areas.&nbsp; The thing is that I wound up 90% of the time at the corner with the vise, and most of the rest of the bench was cluttered with other stuff.My current bench is 26&quot;x 72&quot;, with two vises, one on the end, one in the middle of one of the long sides.&nbsp; More than enough space.&nbsp; I keep the test gear over on a large shelf, and can extend leads or set up a folding table as needed.The OP was describing what I&#039;d refer to as a tech bench for electronics work, and I made an effort to describe the features that I like and have found logical in setting up for this.&nbsp; Actually having multiple benches- a small one for soldering with a hard top, Pana Vise mounted, perhaps even a small exhaust fan, etc., on locking casters, and another larger bench for test gear, carpeted, for the gear being tested and worked on appeals to me.I&#039;m about to start in on a new bench for my shop, where the legs/frame will be double laminated 2x6 lumber trimmed down to square edges, so about 1.5&quot; x 5.0&quot; real dimensions, lap jointed or mortise/tenon construction, and the top will be three layers of 3/4&quot; plywood, laminated, edged with hardwood trim, and probably topped with a piece of sacrificial masonite.&nbsp; I&#039;ll be mimicing a solid butcher block style top, which allows work to be clamped to the top more easily than a single layer top supported by a lumber frame.&nbsp; Underneath, I&#039;m thinking of framing it out for some drawers and cupboard space to keep tools and supplies.&nbsp; The current bench just has a large shelf.I also have a 2&#039;x4&#039; low bench, about 15&quot; high, for larger cabinets to set on, to put the working area at a good height.Best regards,John</blockquote>

[QUOTE="John Halliburton, post: 43346, member: 8"] Re: Work Bench Help Although I typically have to press my bench into double duty, for both woodworking or electronics, I'm not a fan of ultra large benches. Way back when I worked for Intersonics building Servodrive subwoofer cabinets and subassemblies, I built a bench that was essentially two sheets of 4x8 plywood braced out into an 8'x8' bench. I had put a large woodworking vise at one corner, and set up the other three corners as assembly areas. The thing is that I wound up 90% of the time at the corner with the vise, and most of the rest of the bench was cluttered with other stuff. My current bench is 26"x 72", with two vises, one on the end, one in the middle of one of the long sides. More than enough space. I keep the test gear over on a large shelf, and can extend leads or set up a folding table as needed. The OP was describing what I'd refer to as a tech bench for electronics work, and I made an effort to describe the features that I like and have found logical in setting up for this. Actually having multiple benches- a small one for soldering with a hard top, Pana Vise mounted, perhaps even a small exhaust fan, etc., on locking casters, and another larger bench for test gear, carpeted, for the gear being tested and worked on appeals to me. I'm about to start in on a new bench for my shop, where the legs/frame will be double laminated 2x6 lumber trimmed down to square edges, so about 1.5" x 5.0" real dimensions, lap jointed or mortise/tenon construction, and the top will be three layers of 3/4" plywood, laminated, edged with hardwood trim, and probably topped with a piece of sacrificial masonite. I'll be mimicing a solid butcher block style top, which allows work to be clamped to the top more easily than a single layer top supported by a lumber frame. Underneath, I'm thinking of framing it out for some drawers and cupboard space to keep tools and supplies. The current bench just has a large shelf. I also have a 2'x4' low bench, about 15" high, for larger cabinets to set on, to put the working area at a good height. Best regards, John [/QUOTE]

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