Stuart91 Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I've recently moved house, and am converting a small outbuilding into a workshop. Just getting to the stage of putting a workbench in. I have a fair amount of flexibility in how I fit it and lay things out. The work I tend to be doing is general soldering and wiring work. Things like making up socapex cables and adaptors, building XLR multicores and looms and wiring the front panels for amp racks. I had a similar layout in my previous house, and put the workbench at roughly waist height on me. However I often found that I was hunching over the work and making my back uncomfortable. But if I make the bench much higher, I fear it's going to start looking a bit ridiculous and I might just be exchanging one kind of ache for another. I figure that this is the kind of ergonomic problem that will have been studied properly, so I'm curious if anyone has come across any guidance or policies on it. I imagine institutions like universities and the BBC will have a proper way of doing it, as opposed to my guesswork. Anyone got any ideas? Do I raise the bench? (I never seem to be able to sit at a workbench - as soon as I get comfortable I'm up on my feet to get something, or bending down to pick up a dropped screw, or whatever. Even with a good stool I always find myself standing in front of it rather than sitting on it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Yes there is a lot of thought about bench height, Big firms do put the effort in but shops just sell bench. My liking is for a high bench, probably elbow height, however if there is a big (high) job then it's too high! For me 4" too low causes upper back pain, so high or higher is my preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 It is personal since what works for onr doesn't for another. The first "her indoors" was nearly six foot so I built the kitchen units 3" higher than tne norm. For a computer suite we used plywood tops and cut out deep curves rather than have a block-like bench or desk. One of my friends does hours of soldering and fine electronic work so from a seated position his workbench is ribs high and almost surrounds him. I found it best to "assume the position" then build to that so for sawing, filing and bashing then waist high, for delicate close work either lower the seat or raise the worktop. The main thing is to be able to "get at" the work in a comfortable position avoiding stretching and over-reaching. Your choice of seating is probably more important since it directly affects posture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Having suffered with a duff back for years (RTAs, possibly work related) the occupational therapists all bang on about freedom of movement. This equates to arranging your work station (sorry for jargon) so that you are obliged to move so your posture is not fixed for hours on end. This might mean you have the connectors, say, on one level to either side and cable drums elsewhere so you can never stay in the same postural position for too long. The other essential is good lighting, which might mean having a strip light above and one, or possibly two, "anglepoise" type lamps either side of you. This is so that you are not bending forward to peer at something in dim light. The seating is considered very important and I gather in the workplace your employer is obliged to supply one for you (...and you might have to confirm this but I understand you get to take the chair with you when changing jobs). The seating is supposed to allow you to sit in comfort and ensure your back/spine is curved as nature intended. It could be that you could lower the seat for some tasks and raise it for others. Suggest therefore you do a bit of googling on this subject...you only have the one back... (Anecdote alert) Ref the BBC and chairs, in all the stations I worked we had the "standard" BBC issue bent chromed tube and black leatherette seat, with matching backrest and armrests. Designed, possibly, so you could never get too comfortable and doze off on night shift. (But if you took the duty position's logbook and stuffed it between your back and backrest then it was tolerably comfortable...) Then the BBC (well Ext Services that is) saw fit to do the ergonomic thing and issue "fabric" upholstered executive style seating with full adjustable everything...but...only for the Shift Supervisor. Took about five minutes after its arrival for the local Union Chairman (no pun) to hear about this blatant discrimination, ahem, and all the duty positions got one. The electrical maints workshops were equipped with stools, some backless and some with very low backs, designed to swivel, with a high footrest. The only problem with those was that the blokes all resembled perching vultures and doubtless did cause backpain to some folk. Curiously I never heard any complaints though. (Slightly OT; another issue can be in your hands; I have just been diagnosed with De Quervain's syndrome...affects the tendons which work your thumbs, and can be quite painful believe me. Not thought to be caused by work per se but working with your hands can make it more obvious. We all have had to wire plugs and sockets at some time so complex tasks such as soldering fine wires to small terminals could become quite a chore after a bit. Having a suitable arm or wrist rest when you are working might help. G-I-a but the condition can require surgery to alleviate the pain = time off, physio and no income for self employed perhaps.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 If you don't have space for a sitting-height bench and a standing-height bench, then fit a sitting-height bench and have a movable shelf unit which you can use to bring work up to standing height. Adjustable-height benches / desks are expensive new, but you may find them on ebay cheaply if you are lucky enough to find one in local area for collection, eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150809510557 The more expensive ones have electric lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 Thanks for all the replies - especially RamDram's very comprehensive offering. The room I have set aside is roughly 4.5m by 3.5m. I need to devote some space to storage, but I'm planning on having two workbenches. One will be essentially a wiring station, whilst the other will be the "bench of bodge" for sawing, hammering, etc. I will definitely spend more time at the wiring station, and since the bench of bodge will used for occasional small jobs I'm not so worried about it. I'm roughly 6ft tall, so if I put the bench at elbow height, that will mean the work surface at 4ft. (I've just gone and measured) At the moment the occasional stiff back is more of a niggle than anything else, but I'm hoping that I'll be using this workshop for many years to come so I figure it makes sense to get it right first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revbobuk Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Just been and checked. I'm 6'4", and I built a custom workbench for general use. It's 1m high (39"), and if it was just for close work I'd want it a bit higher. But I think 48" might be a bit too high for me - I would often be working on something that was either a few inches high - an amp, a turntable - or something in some kind of holder that raised it up a few inches. So if you already have a general purpose workbench, then maybe go for something at around 44", to allow for the height of the work itself? After all - it's easy to raise an item up a few inches. But you can't lower the bench once you've made it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 A friend of mine had had a few purpose made work benches over the years, and he told me that raising the height rarely worked, as he'd just adjust his stool height, and still lean. He felt the problem was actually that his back ache was caused by working 'down', so your back arches to get your head over the work. What he did on his last one was fit hinges to a section (about 600mm wide) at the FRONT, so he could raise the back just a little - 100mm ish, and even though he had to add a bit of batten at the front, to stop losing things that rolled, it meant he could sit more upright, and really helped his back. He was doing pcb work mostly, and just this small tilt worked wonders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul TC Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 When I was working on mobile radio we often had Base Stations in 5U - 7U Cabinet's, if wiring or working on these as an assembly a mobile trolley (with locking wheels), at same height as bench that can "dock" with the work bench was useful. Also seen a TV workshop (in the 1970's where TV's were large) where the same principle was employed. If making up looms or preping flight cases, gives you a means of easy access all round, and can be done off the work bench at a resonable height. Also handy for the test kit as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Hah! It's amazing how we do forget stuff and don't make a connection, ** laughs out loud **. If any on BR did Technical Drawing, or perhaps Engineering Drawing, at school they will instantly recall the drawing boards/desks, where you used those paper clips to hold the paper and thus allow you to draw at perhaps 45 degrees to the horizontal. Doubtless draughtsmen down the decades discovered 'dis and not being obliged to prevent pencils pouring into the parquet provided personnel with an almost ideal solution. I would not be surprise if a significant weight of your upper body is borne by the board and eases the strain of bending over. Perhaps as Paul remarked this would not suit all tasks but if you were to use a "third hand" with lens contraption or have your own set of old socket/plugs as the "last" as in support then with some practice it might be worth cobbling up a raised board specifically for the soldering thing? (You can take it from me that as you age you really do spend a bit more time getting yourself comfortable before starting a desk bound task...when it is not desk bound then you spend even longer finding someone much younger to do it for you...I know these things. And if you do have to stand on a rung, either treat yourself to a standing platform add-on, or, buy steelies with shanked soles.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I'm spoiled by having a number of workshops. Here's my 'mechanical' one. The bench it 33" high which means you can lean over things to work on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Love the mirror ball! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Going to try the adjustable angle thing on one of my benches, sounds like a great idea :-) Found anglepoise style illuminated magnifier a useful electronics bench accessory and a flexi drive from dremel lives beside the soldering iron. Toolsatan do a good value line in slimline T5 strip lites that make great bench lights. Hard to have too much light on the bench. CPC 6 way switched trailing sockets are rewireable and mountable, can`t have too many sockets around a bench. As well as height, depth can be handy, inherited one of my benches from an upholsterer its 4` deep, which for large assemblies has proven to be very useful, when its not collecting tools at the back 1/3.... Flush panel doors, fire doors for solidity, can make good premade bench tops, at desk height Ikea do 700mm legs for 2.25 each, unfortunately their adjustable 900mm legs are 9 quid each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 I'm spoiled by having a number of workshops. Here's my 'mechanical' one. The bench it 33" high which means you can lean over things to work on them. How long did you spend tidying before you took that photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 How long did you spend tidying before you took that photo? Not long. It's something I'm quite careful about. There's nothing worse than needing to do a job and having to spend an hour clearing up first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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