[Woodcarver] Proper bench height

[Edwin Brookman]

Hey Jean,

 your comment on moving legs and positioning struck me curious... so this 
morning I  had to make a special trip out to the shop!  Took a piece I had 
been working on and did a few minor cuts and adjustments I had been thinking 
about... but did not notice any changes in the position of my feet to my 
work.  The light bulb came on this afternoon after lunch ....as I worked, 
when I realized, that yes in fact there is a whole school of body language 
you go through when working.  I'm sure a motion study technician would have 
a field day trying to catalog them all.

What next "Ergonomics of Carving"?  Now that I'm conscious of the whole 
posture thing will it effect my work in the future?  Should I even worry 
about it or just continue doing what works for me?

Oh darn more decisions, LOL!

Be well,

ED B.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Dillett" <jdillett at thecarvingshop.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Proper bench height


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>
> Hi Jean,
>
> The bench height of one hand width below your elbow is for relief carving
> with the board lying flat on the bench, typically grain running 
> horizontal,
> with a thickness being of an inch or two. Woodworkers benches are 
> typically
> lower to give the proper leverage for pushing hand planes or placing a 
> piece
> of furniture on top without being too high, however that height is too low
> for carving because it does not allow you to stand erect while you carve.
> Carving arms are designed to position the work so you are carving, 
> typically
> at eye level, so you are standing erect without bending or stretching.
> Standing while you are carving allow the feet to interplay with the force
> and control of your tool especially if you are pushing a chisel by hand.
> Some of us need to sit because of health reasons or because of the unusual
> size of the carving. When I sit I still find myself moving my feet to gain
> additional leverage for tool control.
>
> Proper carving height is when you can stand or sit in an erect position
> without bending or stretching. Putting your body in a comfortable position
> is the key to carving for longer periods of time with fatigue and develop
> less health problems.
>
>
> Joe Dillett
> The Carving Shop
> 645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
> Somonauk, IL. 60552
> (815) 498-9290 phone
> (815) 498-9249 fax
> http://www.thecarvingshop.com
> jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
> http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
> http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
> http://www.citizenactions.org
> **************************************************
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jean Athey" <atheyjm at yahoo.com>
> To: "Woodcarver MailList Submission" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 4:47 PM
> Subject: [Woodcarver] Proper bench height
>
>
>> To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular mail, 
>> click
> this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>>
>> Hi Joe,
>> Regarding the bench height you mentioned, I noticed
>> one Lister talked about relief carving on his bench.
>> Hence a question....does the "one hand below elbow
>> height" measurement refer to then laying a board flat
>> on that benchtop, as in a relief carving, or do you
>> need to put your benchtop height even lower than your
>> suggested measurment if you are using a carving vise,
>> such as the Veritas rotating vise I use? Once a
>> carving, say a figure, is mounted on that vise, it
>> makes the cutting range a lot higher. I think my bench
>> must be too high--it's at elbow height, but I usually
>> use my vise for 3D carvings, which must jack it up
>> another 6" at least above the base of the vise-mounted
>> carving. Any advice?
>> Jean
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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