Should Your Workbench Be Level?

[German_EE]

Most people would say yes, including me, but I just spent an interesting time with someone who built a bench with a 2 degree slope on it. On purpose. And it felt so weird.

His argument was that any liquid spill would quickly work its way towards the front of the bench then on to the floor, he viewed this as a better alternative than the liquid sitting there in a puddle and possibly damaging equipment. Thinking about this I can also see a need for a bench that slopes towards the back, which means no more tiny screws rolling off of the bench onto the carpet never to be seen again.

Thoughts?

[wilfred]

Why not use a shower base as a bench and collect both the spills and the screws in a cup under the drain?

I think it would be more annoying having round things roll around. Like batteries.

[Siwastaja]

It's hard to understand under which conditions you would have a spillage which goes unnoticed. If you drink something and accidentally spill, you can dry it with paper or a towel.

For ergonomy, a desk you can tilt (say, between 0 and 30 degrees) might actually make sense - think about drawing tables!

[GreyWoolfe]

I think I will stick with as level as my poor carpentry skills can make it.  I want to keep my screws and small parts from moving around and I certainly don't want any equipment sliding into my lap.

For ergonomy, a desk you can tilt (say, between 0 and 30 degrees) might actually make sense

[chickenHeadKnob]

It's hard to understand under which conditions you would have a spillage which goes unnoticed. If you drink something and accidentally spill, you can dry it with paper or a towel.

For ergonomy, a desk you can tilt (say, between 0 and 30 degrees) might actually make sense - think about drawing tables!

The very first 'workstation' desk I built for my self while still an undergrad at university was a draftman's style with about 20  degree slope. This was for a dumb terminal and modem to connect remotely to the mainframes at university when I was at home. The ergonomics were excellent.  It had a lip on the front edge to catch rolling pencils and such and it had a large extra width so that I could lay books and papers beside the keyboard for reference while typing. All documentation was paper based in those days so that was important. It all worked very well. I wouldn't want a sloped desk for a hardware workbench  though.

[chris_leyson]

You wouldn't want several 100s of kg of granite surface plate sliding onto your lap, ouch.

[joseph nicholas]

Funny question.  Would you not level your stove top?  How about the wheel alignment in you car?  I had a mechanic once tell me that front wheel alignment should be aimed a bit to the right so if you fell asleep at the wheel your car would go off the road into the service lane.  How stupid is that?

[Ducttape]

One's decision should be based on their perception of:

(Spill_P x Spill_N) vs (UCF_P x UCF_N)

Spill = Unintentional over-hydration of workspace
UCF = Unintentional Component Movement
P = Probability
N = Nuisance value

[soldar]

I always do my level best to leave the coffee in the kitchen and not bring it to the workbench.

[MarkF]

I believe the larger the slope the better.

It helps keep to workbench clean!   

[T3sl4co1l]

Can't imagine that being a good deal in the balance.

There is exactly one kind that makes sense: a drafting table.

Tim