My new seated hand sanding bench

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I built a new short bench for hand sanding and I thought I’d share. There’s nothing super special about it in terms of its construction. Just 2x4’s, 4x4’s, and a 1” thick board on top. A few nails hammered in on the sides to hang tools from. I made a little paper towel roll holder for it yesterday. Most importantly, it’s very rigid and solid. IIRC the bench is around 19” tall. Roughly a couple inches shorter than my knees. I’d recommend making it shorter than you think you’ll need because you can build it up with 2x4s. I clamp a 2x4 to the side of the bench to place my knife on. That is my “sanding board.” In order to “build it up” to raise the height, you would just add a second 2x4. I haven’t had to do this though as it’s perfect height for me. Also, in regards to my sanding board, I have two methods of holding the blade in the pics below. One is with a screw down c-clamp and the other is this little clamping mechanism I got the other day. It has a red handle and a black rubber stopper that clamps the blade to the surface it’s attached to. I’m still kind of testing it. I really like the c-clamp method though as it works for me and I’ve been doing it for years. I also put on the vises. I don’t know if I’m going to leave them there like that or not yet. I will probably figure out a way to fit them underneath the bench and free up space on top. Eventually I’d like to add a hand sanding mechanism that pushes the blade back/forth and allows me to just hold the sandpaper in one position. IIRC there’s a gentleman on here named “Pablo” I think who has a cool design for that. Which is what I’d like to do.

The main reason it’s unique IMO is it’s height. I suffer from neck and back problems. I have a herniated disk in my back and got a neck injury from a recent car acc. My neck especially starts to hurt when working for long periods at my taller benches, while looking down. In order to do this I have to bend my neck, with my chin moving towards my chest, to look down at whatever I’m working on. So I decided to build the small bench to address this.

I’ve had my 2x72 on a military foot locker for years now. It allows me to grind while seated and makes for a very stabile position. I can rest my elbows on my knees and move the blade across the belt by turning in myself with my feet. I sit in a swivel/rotating office chair which allows me to do this. MOST importantly, it allows me to view my work while keeping my neck in a neutral position. Instead of bending at the neck, I bend forward at my waist, and keep my neck straight. It works amazingly well. I can grind for hours this way and keep fatigue to a minimum. So I figured, why the hell not make one for hand sanding. Because after all, everything you can do to make things easier for you, allows you to focus more on your work and make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

If you guys have advice to how I could make it better or other ideas for a bench like this, please share. Without further ado

 

[Richard338]

Nice setup. I just got a marble board to help flatten (hand sand) some pieces that don't fit my platen.

 

[john april]

very cool ! i recently converted to a sit-down 2x72. i have some back problems as well ( mechanical misalignment) and now i don't get sore at the grinder after a half hour of standing there.

 

[KnuckleDownKnives]

Nice.. I don't have a table, but I made my vice so I could sit down and use it for about the same reasons.

 

[LCKT707]

That's a sweet little set up! Everything you basically need in one little bench.

 

[rjedoaks]

Both setups are nice. My back starts to feel it too after a short time at the grinder.
What do you guys use to hit the spine after the knife is completed. Something to clamp onto the handle in a horizontal position. Basically a knife vice that would hold the handle secure as you give a final touchup on the spine.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Tha Japanese call it a togi bench. It is for sanding and such while seated. I made mine from an old folding sit-up bench. I sit straddle the bench while sanding on the blade in the clamp/jig.