Reply by ShannonRogers

First off if you are using this for hand work, then I think you should cut the height down below 36” unless you are really really tall. I’m 6’4” and my bench is just under 35”. You want it low enough that you can use your legs for planing and not your upper body. However for purely joinery work like dovetails it is nice to have it higher. That is why my bench is about 35”. Secondly, you will probably want to have the top flush with the legs instead of overhanging. With this configuration you can use your legs to aid in clamping by running a board down the front and using clamps or holdfasts to secure it.

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