Workbench Heatmap
Not my workbench or workspace! But, it’s the archetype British style workbench.
I started noticing something on workbenches. It was one of those ‘Aha’ moments. I began to notice how there's about a 12” wide strip down the edge of most workbenches that seems to have the overwhelming amount of wear and tear. This wear increases the closer you get to the planing stop and vice.
So I thought to myself, is this perhaps why the British style workbench evolved a central tool tray? After all, what’s the point of painstakingly making and maintaining one large flat area when you can maintain just one section that's between 9” or 12” wide?
A 12” working space seems the standard
I'm not saying that a central tool tray is the ideal solution for everyone. Once there's more than one way to do anything, people will argue about what's right and best ad nausea. I'm very much more interested in exploring and experiencing what works for me and what clearly worked for other people too.
I checked our benches at work, and while we're not using hand tools all of the time, the battle scars still build up just the same as I noticed on the older benches I'd seen.
A completely different bench, but all the work is happening on the first 12”
I feel a little uncomfortable mentioning Japanese woodworking, but I think I'm correct in saying they would traditionally work with a planing beam. I don't have any knowledge that they would regularly use a 20” wide, long and thick beam, something similar to a slab to for instance. Most examples I've seen, and admittedly I’ve not seen many, look the size of lintels or joist that would be used in construction projects. If anyone has experience of using, or even better, the dimensions of these planing beams are I'd appreciate your comments.
So here's my distilled thoughts on the subject. British style workbenches evolved a central tool tray because;
The main wood commonly used for workbench construction during the late 19th and 20th century was softwood deal in widths between 9” and 12” wide.
Just about all the work for most projects happen on the 9” to 12” strip running down the edge of the bench closest to the worker.
Construction is easier and faster. Preparing an accurate piece of wood, which in some cases is a third narrower than other designs is a bonus.
It makes it easier for one person to make a workbench due to it being lighter. Working with slab tops is hard work, I've made a couple and they are very heavy!
Reduced cost. Tool trays are made from anything from 3/4” thick tongue and groove to solid 1 1/4” material. This is a substantial cost saver.
Maintaining a work surface is easier as it's much narrower. What would you prefer planing an 8’ long 12” inch section or an 8’ long 27” section.
Seasonal movement. Having three separate sections allows any changes of moisture to be distributed between the surfaces.
As always, plenty of speculation but perhaps these reasons aren't far wide of the mark?