How much clearance needed under MFT type top?

[GarF]

I bought a CNC cut MFT top which up to now has just been resting on top of my tool chest. I use a Benchdogs fence and secure my track with their rail-dogs. The regular dogs present no challenge but the rail dogs protrude below the top which I have to hang off the edge of the chest underneath. My long term plan is to build a frame to support the top which will locate onto the top of the tool chest as well as potentially mounting on my saw horses.

I don't want to add too much height above the chest since it's a fairly comfortable height to work over, so something like the depth of the Paulk bench would be excessive for my needs, and I'm not too fussed about the tool storage side of it. So my question is what's the minimum useful clearance to leave below the MFT top to be able to make convenient use of the common accessories- clamps, dogs etc?

Cheers
G

 

[Peter_C]

Your hand needs to be able to reach back and work under the top. How much clearance does your hand/arm require? You could build the frame, put the top on, and use some books/magazines to figure out what is comfortable. I doubt the clamps will take up anymore space than your arm as they go in at an angle. Rail Dogs do not take very much space under a table either. You do need to be able to put thumb screws from underneath to things like Clamping Elements or other accessories.

 

[GarF]

Good point. I'd initially thought of something fairly low profile and hence light enough to lift up to reach underneath but still enough space to fit a clamp in. Thinking again I can clearly see that would be a royal pain in the backside midway through a process.