I have seen several magazine articles about benchtop benches over the years.  These little benches go on top of your workbench, to raise your work to a more comfortable height.  When I first read about these benches, I really had no interest in them.  They seemed unnecessary.  Now that I have been cutting more dovetails, I find that my back is getting tired from bending over.  Maybe I’m just getting old, I’m also having problems seeing my line too ☺.  I thought if there were a solution I would give it a try.
I looked at a few designs I found out on the Internet and in magazines and came up with my version.

It’s about 24” wide and about 14” deep.  I haven’t decided on the height yet.  I will have do a mockup to see what height will work best for me.  I suspect it will be around 10” or 11” high.  The large round things on the front of the vise represent the hand wheels I will use.  When I designed the bench, I wanted the top these hand wheels to be below the top of the bench.  I didn’t what them getting in the way while I was sawing.

The bench will be camped to the benchtop when in use.  You will see some short “stubs” on the base that sticks out the front.  This small stubs can be used to clamp it to the benchtop, along with clamping between the legs.  The front of these stubs are inline with inside face of the vise.  I wanted to be able align the beach easily with the front of my bench.  If I’m working on a long board, I wanted to be able to take advantage of the clamping surface on the rest of my main bench.

I designed in a few mortise and tenon joints in this little bench.  I could have designed a slightly simpler bench that bolted and screwed together, but I wanted to practice on my mortise and tenons.  I will hand cut and chop these joints, when I build this little bench.

I plan to order my hardware from McMaster-Carr or Carr Lane.  They both carry the Acme threaded rod I will use.  Along with the nuts and hand wheels I need too.  I priced them out and it’s not really that bad.

This will most likely be a Spring project.  I still have to work on those Silverware Trays and the small hall table I started.