>I want to go deeper that 24", but how deep and this
>is the question for you people out there who have shop benches.  If
>you were to do it again how deep would you go - 32" or 36"?

I redid my work bench last summer and debated about the same issue.
My old bench was 36" deep. I ended up making my new bench 48" deep and don't
regret it at all.
The downside is that it is a long reach to get stuff at the back, but it's
not a problem really. The upside is that there is lots of space!

If you are welding, get as thick a top as you can afford and or move.  1/4"
is the minimum.

Gary Lee