Workshop setup checklist
Layout plans, bench recommendations, and dust collection tailored for hand-tool work.
The atedai (当て台) is the traditional Japanese floor workbench: trestle-style sawhorses with a solid wood slab. Typical size ~90×30×15 cm. The narrow top allows tools on the trestles without interfering. A triangular notch near the planing stop holds kanna for sole dressing.
Use a woven reed goza mat or soft floor covering. Low profile conserves space and increases stability. Some use multiple atedai for different tasks. Good hip/knee flexibility helps for seated work.
For standing: 12–14 inch (30–35 cm) bench height lets you use body weight when planing. Add bench hooks, shooting boards, saw benches. Natural light from the left (right-handers) reduces shadow. Sharpening station: flat stone holder, water supply. A bench brush and shop vacuum suffice for hand-tool dust.