Building a new bench - stand or sit?

jjman · Post by **jjman** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:53 am

I have a bad back and it will hurt if I stand anywhere for more than 20 minutes w/o leaning on something. But sitting usually is not good since I'm grabing various tools that I didn't expect to be using. I have another shorter bench but no overheard light there. If I want to sit I work at my computer table area.

amplifiednation · Post by **amplifiednation** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 1:58 am

I have three standing benches, a 3'x6' tech bench for sitting, and a kitchen table for sitting and standing all in my shop.

I think its cool to have a couple chairs that have adjustable height, then you can sit down if you want to. If I'm working on a live amp there is no way I will stand, I'm filmly planted in a wooden stool. Too much can go wrong!

Phil_S · Post by **Phil_S** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 1:40 pm

No one has mentioned anti-fatigue mats to stand on. Is anyone using them? Do they work? Certainly, we all should using some sort of rubber mat.

Prairie Dawg · Post by **Prairie Dawg** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:24 pm

I used this guide to build a workbench for the garage and one for my shop. After you see how it's built you can change the measurements as you like. It is seriously stout.

http://artofmanliness.com/2012/04/04/ho ... ork-bench/

Kagliostro · Post by **Kagliostro** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:48 pm

This was posted by PRR, a member of EL34world forum

and comes from an old manual

used in the Los Alamos Laboratories from 1943 to 1945

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9633.0

K

rp · Post by rp » Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:12 am

Phil_S wrote:No one has mentioned anti-fatigue mats to stand on. Is anyone using them? Do they work? Certainly, we all should using some sort of rubber mat.

I cater chef'd for a couple years. We'd spend 12hr days standing, sometimes just prep and in one spot for all that time. One place had 6 stations but only 5 mats. We'd fight for the mats - was like musical chairs. Even had a 5 minute rule. Could get mean. The mats work big time.

I sit 'cause I live in tiny spaces and my workspace was my old desk and now my kitchen table. I also sit 'cause I'm becoming a lazy old fart with reading glasses and need to stick my head inside the amps to see what I'm doing.

FYI

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/techn ... asics.html

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... read-this/

dorrisant · Post by **dorrisant** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:11 pm

I'm 6'1" and found that a bench at 42" from the floor to the top surface works perfectly for my height. Even the shorter guys seem to love that height for a bench top... I also have a rolling chair that I can sit in when I'm not standing. Most of my tools and parts are within arms reach with tools and components right behind me... all I have to do is just spin around to grab something I need. I love this setup!

Rubber mats will keep my feet from hurting even when sitting!

Tony

gait · Post by **gait** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:03 pm

My "Lab" is aprox. 6 by 6 by 6 feet and I prefer sitting down when
the head scratching part starts. Or for designing on paper or enjoying
the fruits of my labor. Or sniffing solder.

My "Lab" is built like some sort of cockpit with stuff in front, to the left
and behind and above me, all within arms length. Had to because
otherwise it wouldn't fit. Of course it's the usual mess and there's
only entrance and room for one person: me.

Big stuff like welding, bending, sawing or column drilling is done in
the big shed some 40 meters away so it takes some planning.
My wife owns the house but the "Lab" is mine. Perfect situation.

Gait

rp · Post by rp » Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:54 pm

gait wrote:My "Lab" is aprox. 6 by 6 by 6 feet and I prefer sitting down when the head scratching part starts. Or for designing on paper or enjoying
the fruits of my labor. Or sniffing solder...My wife owns the house but the "Lab" is mine. Perfect situation.

Lab, huh? Is that this year's term for Man Cave?

And this reminds me, if you sit you get to do a spazzy little dance when you see solder heading for your crotch.

LeftyStrat · Post by **LeftyStrat** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 2:14 am

Pricey, but adjustable:

http://www.geekdesk.com

Prairie Dawg · Post by **Prairie Dawg** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:01 am

rp wrote:
gait wrote:My "Lab" is aprox. 6 by 6 by 6 feet and I prefer sitting down when the head scratching part starts. Or for designing on paper or enjoying
the fruits of my labor. Or sniffing solder...My wife owns the house but the "Lab" is mine. Perfect situation.
Lab, huh? Is that this year's term for Man Cave?

And this reminds me, if you sit you get to do a spazzy little dance when you see solder heading for your crotch.

That's if you solder naked. After digging a chunk of solder out of a burned crater on my leg I gave up on anything except heavy denim long pants.

Kagliostro · Post by **Kagliostro** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 7:10 am

My "Lab" is aprox. 6 by 6 by 6 feet and I prefer sitting down when
the head scratching part starts

I hope you are sufficiently small to enter and move inside

However there are peoples that in a small space and with rudimental tools are able to do incredible things

The important thing is the passion and the desire to do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnv0DAR_ ... r_embedded

K

rp · Post by rp » Thu Sep 27, 2012 11:53 am

Kagliostro wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnv0DAR_ ... r_embedded K
other than for walking around I have not been using my feet to the fullest

stelligan · Post by **stelligan** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:07 pm

Kagliostro wrote: However there are peoples that in a small space and with rudimental tools are able to do incredible things

The important thing is the passion and the desire to do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnv0DAR_ ... r_embedded

K

So bench height for this dude is 2"? Not to mention great eyesight and foot skills.....

Phil_S · Post by **Phil_S** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:23 pm

rp wrote:
Phil_S wrote:No one has mentioned anti-fatigue mats to stand on. Is anyone using them? Do they work? Certainly, we all should using some sort of rubber mat.
I cater chef'd for a couple years. We'd spend 12hr days standing, sometimes just prep and in one spot for all that time. One place had 6 stations but only 5 mats. We'd fight for the mats ...

Wow! I really should get a mat. There are times, particularly in the winter, when I might spend a whole afternoon at the bench doing whatever or actually building an amp and it always leaves me very sore. Some of this is age I'm sure having managed to survive into my 6th decade.

So, I started to look at mats on line. I'm confused by what I see. Some mats are dirt cheap and others run up to over $200. I willing to reject the cheapest out of hand just because it suggests you get what you pay for and I don't want to end up buying a mat that isn't good enough. I can't imagine for occasional use I need the $100+ mat. Based on what I saw, I'm thinking $25-$50 is a reasonable budget for a 2'x3' or 1.5'x3.0'. A 4' mat would be nice but not needed.

So, if you know, please tell me/us what fits. Does brand matter? Materials? A little bit of education can go a long way.

Thanks.

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