In the shop, it’s pretty easy to construct durable benches at optimal height, but at the job site is another story. For years, I used plywood or an old door resting on sawhorses, and I have even turned garbage cans upside-down for a work surface­—disappointing solutions at best.

Fortunately, better options have come along. I’ve used Festool’s MFT, a great portable bench, for several years now. The ability to accurately line up a saw track perpendicular to a fence was a game changer, and the 20-mm grid simplifies almost every clamping or work-holding task. But without buying additional leg braces, the bench is rickety and has a small work surface.

I have also tried torsion-box benches like those championed by Ron Paulk. Unfortunately, they are a little unwieldy to move, and you have to build a fence and figure out a way to make the guide rail perpendicular to it. While researching solutions, I stumbled across the Dash-Board, carpenter Rob Schumacher’s solution to portable workbenches. After using this bench for the last eight months, I would not want to work without it. It’s better than the Festool and Paulk benches in the following ways:

• The 25-in. by 92-in. table has a 20-mm grid and a replaceable strip for the track-saw kerf. Despite its size, it weighs about 60 lb., so I can set it up myself.
• All four legs are adjustable for uneven terrain.
• It won’t wobble or flex. You can even hand-plane.
• It’s easy and foolproof to square the guide rail every time.
• The optional guide-rail hinge and front support are precisely machined marvels. The optional door/panel support makes it easy to place doors and panels at an ergonomic height.
• The optional fences are 48 in. (left) and 16 in. (right), and include a precise flip stop.

The Dash-Board isn’t just a workbench­—it’s an elegantly-designed, ergonomic solution to the problems faced by finish carpenters working outside their shop. With its easy setup and functional design, the Dash-Board has significantly improved my job-site efficiency and comfort. With all of the accessories, the Dash-Board costs about $2150, which may give sticker shock to some, but to me it’s worth every penny.

dashboardpws.com

Arthur Henderson, MD, ER doctor and remodeler

Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Henderson

From Fine Homebuilding #296