Work table height

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So I'm getting a little work table. And it's custom built, yadda yadda, little modular thing from Storables, but I get to choose how tall it is, which is the main point, since, as some of you may know, I am on the tall side, and the counters in my apartment were made for shorter people.

It'll be mostly used for rolling things out but possibly also chopping. Any idea what the best way is to figure out how tall it should be? I have been stacking hardcover books and rolling my pin along them to guesstimate it, but if there's any science as to how much my back should be bent (if at all, which I'm assuming not) while rolling/kneading/chopping or what the ergonomics of the situation are, then I'd appreciate any advice.

(Sorry if this is vaguely incoherent, I am tripped up on DayQuil.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 04:17 (twenty years ago)

For me, the perfect height would be a surface I could stand next to with my upper arms at my sides and my forearms at an approximate 45 degree angle with the surface. Does that make sense? Basically, I could stand completely upright, yet get enough leverage to roll or knead or chop at the closest edge of the surface with only mild leaning over to reach the far side. I'm 5'6" and standard counters (36") are too tall for this - something around 33" or 34" would be more ideal. A standard desk or table (29"-30") causes far too much leaning over.

None of the ergonomic sites seem to focus on kitchen work vs. desk work. Bah.

― Jaq (Jaq), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 13:53 (twenty years ago)

I went with 42". I made a pie and some bread on it already, and I am pretty happy with it. Goodbye back pain!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 28 January 2006 09:07 (twenty years ago)

N.B. I have had constant low-level back pain since I was about 19 and am not likely to lose it any time soon. But this will help!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 28 January 2006 09:08 (twenty years ago)

How big is the workspace? I'm forever clearing off a corner of the dining room table, just enough room to lay out an 18"x24" flex sheet of poly.

― Jaq (Jaq), Saturday, 28 January 2006 22:20 (twenty years ago)

It's an 18"x48" butcher block. I am liking it.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 29 January 2006 00:46 (twenty years ago)

i always thought it'd be good to have it higher up too - around workbench height.

i'd agree with jaq - about 45º to the surface. but i guess it's a moot point by now. hope it's working well chris!

― AaronK (AaronK), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 15:56 (twenty years ago)

That's more or less the metric I went with (I stacked up hardcover cookbooks on my counter and rolled my rolling pin over them until it felt most comfortable). So far it's great!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 18:49 (twenty years ago)

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