> Thanks for the photo. Question for you folks that have and use a saw bench, Is
the V area adequate for long ripping tasks or do you wish for more area to rip
before adjusting the wood?
>

Archie,

I'd forgo the V end and design in some long gaps, instead.

Mine is shown below.  Note the slats in the top, and that the
cross-braces are low enough that the tip of the saw doesn't hit them
when ripping.  An alternative would have been to put them very high.

It's a totally different approach than splayed-leg style, like this  --

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E28YaFhFpzI/SlH5ppdJ8nI/AAAAAAAAAEA/vB2g_JIbeb4/s320/Saw+Bench.JPG

Mine has straight legs, which allows letting the board stick out over
the side and sawing without hitting the legs; it also allows clamping.

The top is intentionally slatted (1" x 4"), to allow clamping in between.

I made it about mid-thigh, as that's still high enough to use my leg
to hold it down, but also allows it to be used like a WorkMate.

I have a hook on the tail end, which I hang ballast (jugs o' sand) --
which makes it sufficiently heavy to not "kick up" when I use it for
planing.

Here's the end, with the jug o' ballast --
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uOqjGF8npTk/TuQ7nobb4rI/AAAAAAAABBY/dCP2gZ9m0Wo/s1600/weight.JPG

Clamped a piece of wood on the end, as a planing stop (or in this
instance, a whetstone stop) --
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1A5GqLkom64/TuQ7xeIRaBI/AAAAAAAABBw/pI0Jmbo9Fjw/s1600/stone.JPG

Clamped a cleat, to edge-plane a board (in the kitchen!!!) --
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4WmgAF_6MdU/TuQ71jZd7QI/AAAAAAAABB8/5NfrEdYkkHE/s1600/using.JPG

So: my design advice would be to have it be **taller** than knee
height; perpendicular surfaces; with many gaps to allow flexibility in
clamping.  You then end up with something that can be a sawbench
**and** a mini-workbench.

(NOTE:  No magic dimensions.  My (above) sawbench was made out of six
pieces of wood that I found by the side of the road.  The design
challenge was to make the largest sawbench that I could, while
minimizing waste yet maintaining sturdiness.)

--Travis (Brisbane, AU)
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