I am really starting to consider building myself a decent bench for hand work and wanted to get some opinions. I have a general bench that was setup as an outfeed to the table saw and is the same height of the router table.
However, I no longer have a table saw and use the router table less and less. By my posting here, I am heading more and more down the hand tool path. My current bench work holdings are not ideal at all and it is too tall for hand work IMO. The one vise I have on it is on the right face and is beginning to sag. It is having problems disengaging. So every time I need to hand plane something I long for a better bench.
I am the exception to most and have a lot of space that I could occupy with a bench. I have read all the talk about a bench can't be too long, but I am just not buying it yet. Without question my bench will be at least 8' long with a sliding deadman. I have extra bench screws that if I make it long enough I may even turn the deadman into a sliding face vise. This bench will most likely be accessible from all 4 sides, with only a slight chance of going against a wall.
I should add I don't have any set type of work I like to do. Whatever strikes me that day is what I will end up doing.
If space were not an issue, how long would you make your bench?
Anyone work on a bench longer than say 12'? If so, what was your thoughts?
Thanks