I noted in Paul's bench build that the projected height was 39 1/2". Is that correct Paul? Either you are close to 7 foot tall, or this bench is not to be used with handtools.
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Mine's 33 1/2" (edited - I've just measured it!). I can raise it on blocks if necessary. I have done this in the past but I can't remember why I needed to. I keep the blocks handy and regularly rescue them from the firewood box.
Just had a look at Schwarzy's book. He has the "English" bench on page 21. More or less the same as Seller's example referred to above. It has splayed back legs, which seems an unnecessary detail to me. He says it has a "thin" top but this is entirely up to the maker - mine has a thick top. He also thinks the lack of dogs makes wide panels difficult to hold, but he is wrong - there are plenty of ways of holding a wide panel, and you can add as many dogs as you want. If you don't have an end vice then wedges against dogs will do the job. But in fact it's usually perfectly OK to work a panel against one dog at the vice end without holding it at all. Wider panel ditto but with a lath against the dog, nailed or screwed at the other end to make a long planing stop. I think you shouldn't be inhibited about a workbench - nailing and screwing into it are perfectly OK. If the bench is polished and precious then it's no use as a
work bench.
He also suggests that aprons limit holding somehow, but I don't see this. The opposite in fact - the apron is handy to G clamp a workpiece to, when the other end is in the vice, or to nail/screw a block to to support a piece, or drill holes for pegs or holdfasts etc
He's also wrong about the Record vice; "guide bars interfere with clamping boards to work on edges and ends". In fact boards are easily held either way in the edge of the vice, which is usually extended with wooden jaws in any case.
Five essential accessories;
a pair of bench hooks,
a pair of saw trestles - a lot of work is more easily done at knee height, or a trestle can support the end of a long piece held in the vice,
an ammo box measuring 12 x 18 x 24" which works as a three height prop, and you can sit on it or carry tools in it.
PS Schwarzy's book is very good BTW. It's full of practical ideas - not that you need to take notice of all of them, or their details e.g. the planing board; I've been doing this for years but much more simply - basically nail a few laths to a piece of chipboard to work a panel against. The chipboard can have a batten under, to be held in the vice, or just have it up to a bench stop, or both. You can lay a cloth over the whole board if you want to plane a panel best face down.
