THE MEXICAN Report post Posted July 12, 2012 (edited) I'm planning on building a work station but just can't make up my mind on which of the two types to choose from. Could you guys provide some Pros & Cons of the two. Hopefully it will help me make my decision. I for got to mention that I have a 15"x20"x4" piece of granite that needs to either go on top of inside of this work station. Edited July 12, 2012 by THE MEXICAN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted July 12, 2012 If it is not flat all of your tools will fall on the floor. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cem Report post Posted July 12, 2012 Drafting tables are for drawing not sure why you would want one to do leatherwork, go with flat as I can see it would be extremely awkward to cut leather on an angle. Clair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shtoink Report post Posted July 12, 2012 I would think that a flat workbench would be more versatile and durable, and if you really felt the need to have a slight incline while cutting, there is nothing stopping you from raising the back edge of a removable platform. You can easily build a workbench with your desired features in mind. A designated cutting area, special tools holders for your current project, built like a bomb shelter, you name it. Drafting tables were not built with the intention of withstanding the type of repeated abuse that comes with beating leather into submission. Any drafting table would most likely have a short and miserable existence being treated like a workbench, anyway. Drafting tables tend to on the big side and most likely not available in the dimensions you want/need. It might be easier to make a list of the features you want and then figure out if you have space for them in your design. It might even help visualize it all with a few sketches or a cardboard mock up. It may seem silly building a pretend work area from cut up cardboard boxes, but a full scale model can really give you a sense of how it will all go together. Not to mention the flexibility of making changes without having to spend a bunch of money on lumber. Can tell that my opinion is in favor of the workbench... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tucson Rick Report post Posted July 12, 2012 I'm planning on building a work station but just can't make up my mind on which of the two types to choose from. Could you guys provide some Pros & Cons of the two. Hopefully it will help me make my decision. I for got to mention that I have a 15"x20"x4" piece of granite that needs to either go on top of inside of this work station. Drafting tables are pretty weak in design and construction for leather crafting. You must have a firm, solid, immoveable bench/table to properly craft leather. If your table is too lightly contructed, it will vibrate and bounce when you are stamping and carving your leather. Go with a solid flat bench table and place your granite on top of it for a working surface. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 12, 2012 (edited) Work bench definitely. With that said, if you plan to draft your own patterns manually.... or draw a lot of your own artwork to put on leather a draft table feature integrated into your workbench might be advantageous. You don't say how large your work station will be... but assuming you have a good amount of space, you could design a drafting table feature into your leather bench. Maybe something that can fold out of the way when not in use? If you have the engineering ability, you could build a couple uprights off the back of the bench and have your drafting surface slip down and catch in adjustment slots and tip out from those up right pieces when needed... then be tipped back up and out of the way when you are ready to do some serious leather work. I would think that it would be fairly easy for a wood worker with some good tools to create. , In fact... if you built it similar to a murphy bed, it could tip down and then you could use another height adjusting mechanism to adjust the angle of tilt of the writing surface. Here's a vid that shows a murphy bed and how to build your own. Edited July 12, 2012 by Sylvia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pablo27 Report post Posted July 14, 2012 . Work bench definitely. With that said, if you plan to draft your own patterns manually.... or draw a lot of your own artwork to put on leather a draft table feature integrated into your workbench might be advantageous. You don't say how large your work station will be... but assuming you have a good amount of space, you could design a drafting table feature into your leather bench. Maybe something that can fold out of the way when not in use? If you have the engineering ability, you could build a couple uprights off the back of the bench and have your drafting surface slip down and catch in adjustment slots and tip out from those up right pieces when needed... then be tipped back up and out of the way when you are ready to do some serious leather work. I would think that it would be fairly easy for a wood worker with some good tools to create. , In fact... if you built it similar to a murphy bed, it could tip down and then you could use another height adjusting mechanism to adjust the angle of tilt of the writing surface. Here's a vid that shows a murphy bed and how to build your own. Just thought I'd throw in 2 cents here. I just set up my drafting table to use for layout and cutting, the top is 4'x6' and about 2" thick I still have a desk that I plan on using for tooling but this big table should be a good cutting/layout table Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
