Benchwork Height?

[CoolRuehle]

I have the playroom above the garage available for a train room. The dimensions are roughly 22 x 17, but the issue is the north and south walls --they are only 33" vertically, then slant to a peak. This is basically attic space, built-out as a playroom.

It has central air and heat, insulated, and has a "hardwood" floor. Dust conditions in this room are less than that of the rest of the house, I do not know why, but it is nice.

The garage is basically a 4 car, attached to the house, the play room covers part of the garage. There's a door leading into the playroom from the upstairs hallway.

Attached is an elevation of the room, and a floor plan view. Both show the proposed benchwork from the side, then from above.

The issue is that I am 6' tall and I like tall benchwork. The taller I go on this project, the more compressed the benchwork becomes between the north and south walls because of their slant. Click on the image below to view a larger version of it.

View attachment 15484

If I set the bench height at 48", I'd need some sort of contraption almost like a deck lounge chair to roll around on under the bench work, when working on it. I have a crawler for use under my cars when I work on them, and that arrangement does not bother me too much, as I have never had the opportunity to work under a car standing up, while the car is on a lift. I don't know what I am missing!

The question is this? How high to set the benchwork so that I can work on it (assuming I can find something to roll around on in a reclined or low-sitting position)?

It almost seems like I'd need to find a happy medium between "6' tall man" and "6' tall man under his benchwork", in this particular room!

Anyone else "been there done that"?

 

[maczimb]

Bench height.

Hi Cool.
I am 6' 1" and I set my bench height at 44" to the underside.
I purchased four 4" swivel casters with rubber wheels, and screwed them to the four corners of an 18" X 12" board, I have taped a couple of pieces of 2" thick Styrofoam to the board for cushioning purposes. A few minutes on the foam and it will mold to your rear end.
This gives me comfortable access to the underside for wiring etc..
The negative is that my wife would prefer to be able to look down on the layout. I will have to build an elevated platform for vertically challenged people.
By the way, WOW!!! I wish I had that much space.
Hope this helps.
Mac.

 

[Selector]

Your configuration suggests that reaching things could be a challenge in some places, so allow yourself some bending room to reach further as you need to. That means you may have to settle for something low...but maybe mock it up and see how you get along. Set a six foot folding table up on some blocks at the preferred height and see how reaching the back goes for you. Remember that you won't have a clear reach in many cases...power poles, trees, buildings...something is sure to force you to reach around them.

-Crandell

 

[CoolRuehle]

44" to the underside . . .

Excellent idea with the folding table!! Mock it up. Good stuff, I will do this. Thanks!

--Jon

 

[CoolRuehle]

Hi Cool.
I am 6' 1" and I set my bench height at 44" to the underside.
I purchased four 4" swivel casters with rubber wheels, and screwed them to the four corners of an 18" X 12" board, I have taped a couple of pieces of 2" thick Styrofoam to the board for cushioning purposes. A few minutes on the foam and it will mold to your rear end.
This gives me comfortable access to the underside for wiring etc..
The negative is that my wife would prefer to be able to look down on the layout. I will have to build an elevated platform for vertically challenged people.
By the way, WOW!!! I wish I had that much space.
Hope this helps.
Mac.

A good idea, build my own -- I can do this easily, so it is then custom suited for me and the height of my benchwork. I like it! Thanks!

We don't have basements in Houston, TX, so we have to commandeer other rooms in the house, or add-on!

 

[maczimb]

Bench height.

Hi again,
Regarding the reach question, I use a step stool and yes there are a few p;aces that are difficult to reach, but I manage.
The 4X4 square balloons could be a problem with HO, that will restrict you to an 18" turning radius. Mine are 5' wide with access from both sides.
Having fun yet??
Mac

 

[maczimb]

Bench height.

I was half asleep when I last posted, note the time of the post!!!!
A 48" wide bench would restrict you to about a 22" radius, not 18" as I first stated.
Sorry for that.
Mac

 

[DaWolf85]

I was half asleep when I last posted, note the time of the post!!!!
A 48" wide bench would restrict you to about a 22" radius, not 18" as I first stated.
Sorry for that.
Mac

22" isn't that bad, though if you intend to run passenger equipment or modern freight cars a broader radius would be good.

Benchwork height... You could have it be a low layout and taller people (read - you) would use rolling chairs. You could build your own rolling bench (or buy one - I know Micro-Mark sells one, as well as one that hangs over the top for layouts with long reaches) to go underneath the layout. I think that would work, as well as give you a way to do your yard work in comfort

Mac - Why on earth were you on this forum at 6:45 AM? Me, I have better things to do at 6:45 in the morning- like wake up, shower, have breakfast, and catch the bus!!