The Altar, What do you use as altar Options

I was wondering what you guys use as an altar.

Currently i don't have a good altar and am looking in constructing one.
For the moment i use a big granite stone that is elevated a bit above the ground, but its to low and it doesn't work comfortable.

Also, do you place your ritual tools on the altar? I place mine at the margin of the circle at their corresponding direction. It helps me see where the border of the circle is.
If you place the tools on the altar, then how do you see where the circle is?
(Astral vision perhaps?)

These are just questions i want to hear another opinion about, so i can keep them in mind when constructing my altar... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/search.gif) just searching for new ways to view stuff, keeping an open mind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wandwizard.gif)

well, its large enough, the top is actually bigger than the classical double cube.

I actually like the rough edge, it show the natural grain of the stone and seems more natural. And since it is black granite the edge is hard to file away, it takes a diamond edged circular saw to saw these stones. I do have these tools, but i don't like using them, to loud and heavy. And i might make scratches on the polished top, and i don't have tools to repolish it.

The piece of white cloth contains the crowley toth tarot and the thing laying on top of it is my dagger wich i use for the lbrp and such.
In the back you kan see a small sword wich i use as an element for air.