I've been thinking about making a new dedicated workbench for leather work since I am moving places. Previously I have just used my regular desk and office chair to work.
Are there any benefits to workbench at standing height?
Maybe some people here have some pictures of their current bench setup :)
Thanks in advance for any input!!
@smithdal @Johan Koelma @Fadi @Leathercraft Masterclass
Thank you all for your incredibly useful advice!! I think I will be planning a elbow height bench with a adjustable stool :)
I will be moving at the end of the month and starting a graduation thesis with a company so hopefully I will have some time in the weekends to get started!
Once again thankyou everyone!!
@lowlandsleathercompany You have been given great advice by everyone here, so nothing to add.
But I would also consider a solid wrist height table in addition so that you can bear down on projects that require more force.
This can save your shoulders and back. If you are only making smaller projects however, an elbow height table will work just fine.
Check out the following link, which offers a rule of thumb for finding a good bench height for working wood with hand tools, such as handplanes, chisels, handsaws, etc. (https://www.woodmagazine.com/workbench/rule-of-thumb-guides-best-workbench-height) In my experience, you need more body weight over such tools than over a ruler for cutting a straight line and other leatherworking tasks. So, a leatherworking bench could be a bit higher than a woodworking bench. The other issue, for me at least, relates to freedom of movement of my arms. A high-enough bench could cause you to raise your elbows up out of ideal position and create a little more difficultly in performing finer work accurately and repeatably. I'm sure people figure out ways to overcome such circumstances, but I think it's better to build a bench that lets you use your body as efficiently as possible in the first place.
I started working on a sitting workbench but I recently switched to a elbow high workbench. I prefer the high one as 1st it forces me to move around and not site on my #$@ all day, and second I find it more practical and easier to use specially for cutting, punching and such.
Also consider that everyone is built differently so it will be personal to a degree. i'd suggest a chair that is height adjustable AND has wheels so you can move easily from one place to another on your work bench. Ya gotta be comfortable!
I made mine myself. The height is depending on you own length.
The top of my workspace is from the floor to my elbow. Having my arm in a 45 angle. So I can work standing up or use a barstool to sit down. At that height is also perfect using my stitching clamp.
My strong preference is to build for standing work and get a chair that puts you at a comfortable height at the bench when sitting is the way to go. That's the best of both worlds, in my view. This setup has worked well in both leatherworking and woodworking.
I find that many tasks -- cutting with a straight edge, in particular -- are much more easily and precisely and reliably done while standing. For instance, while on your feet, you can get your weight over the ruler and position your body so the knife runs true and at 90 degrees to the work. In contrast, for detail work like painting edges, I sit, sometimes bracing my elbows on the bench or the like.
Good luck and let us know what you come up with!