osage outlaw-thanks-that firepit sees a lot of use. had a nice fire going yesterday and sat there for a few hrs working on arrows. using the fire to straighten the cane. it was about 35, damp, even spit a few flakes now and then. i was toasty!
bevan-yup easy cleanup of those shavings! tho i gotta watch myself sometimes i get so lost in what im doing bout catch my pants legs on fire!
youngboyer-i think this setup would work regardless of height. wayne, our bowmaking guru, has about 8 of em at the shop now where we have class on wed nites. there is a gal, jenna, who a tiny wisp of a woman(prolly not much over 5'). it works for her just fine. they are all basically the same dimensions. made of scrap or whatever is handy(as my old one is). tho i have to say all the ones at the shop are 2 x 6s and this one is 2 x 8(as is my old one) that 8" wide board is much easier on this old arse than the 6" board...
as for awkward-this is how i learned and it just seems natural now. you can make the box where the bow is clamped as high or low as you prefer so there is no bending over. the stave can be positioned on either side of you while you work near the middle. tho i have also stood at the workbench with the bow in a vice. works real well too.