Hey everyone! I'm right-handed and I'm in the market for a new workbench. I'm a bit unsure about where to place the vice. Should it be on the left or the right side? I've read that having it on the right might give me room for my saw and longer pieces of wood. Then again, I've seen videos suggesting the left side is better for planing and chiseling. What have your experiences been? Any tips would be really helpful as I don't want to make the wrong choice! I mostly work on small sculptural items and do a lot of hand sawing. Thanks!
2 Answers
Traditionally, for right-handers, the vise is usually placed on the left. It allows you to saw long pieces with support from a dead man or a free-standing support. Some benches even have an end vise on the right which is great for sculptural work. If you’re looking for more tips, check out Rex Krueger on YouTube or anything by Chris Schwarz for workbench insights.
You got it right about the left side for planing! I also use my face vise for tasks like dovetails where it doesn’t matter as much. For longer cuts, I like using a bench hook; they work anywhere on the bench face and are super handy!
Thanks for the tip! That sounds really helpful!