Buy vs Build Workbench -- and a cabinet question

[paulrussell]

I was looking at this 60" Solid Oak Workbench currently on sale from Harbor Freight.

It is on sale for $139. I don't know if I could buy the raw materials for that price, especially if I included the vice, the finish, drawer hardware, and felt lining.

All the reviews are very positive, making me think this might be one of the occasional good values from HF.

Does anyone have any experience with this bench? Right now my shop is in complete chaos for lack of a good bench and storage. The next two projects on my list are a rolling SPT cart which will double as an in/outfeed table, and a modified under-SS cabinet that will work with my Lift Assist.

Speaking of the under-cabinet: I've two major approaches, rolling cart(s) that I can push under the SS, or a hanging-style cabinet. (Or if I got really fancy a hybrid that did both?)

The question I have is how much does a loaded hanging cabinet help with stabilizing the lathe? I am not having any problems with the small projects I'm now making, but am looking toward the future.

[dusty]

It is solid oak but in the image it appears to be a glue up of many pieces of solid oak. Now that is not bad if the glue up was a quality job!!!!

As far as price goes -- there is no way you can purchase "solid oak" to make your own for that price. Just calculate the board feet required to make the top and do a cost calculation for just that. You'll be close to running out of spare change and you are no where near finished.

Only an inspection of the item will tell you for sure. Good luck with your decision.

[paulrussell]

I'm sure it is a "butcher block" style top. I'm really leaning hard in this direction. If I find I'm less than thrilled or if I decide I need something else with more "features" then I'll pass it along to my daughter who is the likely heir to my Shopsmith dynasty.

[tom_k/mo]

As Dusty said, if the Glue-Ups are done well, there's nothing wrong with that, and honestly, a glue-up board might be more stable and warp less than a single piece of wood, but it you look closely at the photo, it looks as if even the drawer fronts are glue-ups.

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[flashbacpt]

Paul,

I purchased the workbench from HF earlier this year. I was always going to build my own to my own specifications, etc. However, as Dusty indicated, one starts comparing cost, and more important in my case, TIME, the decision became easier to make!
I was able to purchase the workbench on sale, plus use a special coupon, bring it home, and assemble same in a couple of hours! This was a big plus for me.
The workbench is solid, appreciate both the metal and wood peg stops, and the large shelf below. The four drawers are a big plus, although, like anything else, one wishes there were more, and that they held more.
I was able to immediately fill up the drawers and the lower shelf, which created more room for me elsewhere, getting things off the floor, and out of the way!
Would I do it all over again? A definite YES! It fills my needs, and definitely saves a lot of money from building one.

Hope this helps!:)

FlashbacPT
John

[paulrussell]

Ok, I think I'm on my way to HF. Buying local is $20 more, but after deducting shipping it is only an 8 dollar savings.

I've been almost overwhelmed by my shop -- to many tools, arbors, etc without a home, and they end up getting in the way so much as to make working less than pleasant.

I figure if the drawers are less than wonderful, they can be rebuilt/replaced. Honestly, it looks like I'm going to end up with an oak workbench for about the same price as the MDF and pine I was planning on building.

I posted here because as we all know, HF prices can sometimes be very deceiving. Other times they are wonderful values. For example I'll never regret my folding trailer. It stows away in about the same space as a Shopsmith and has saved me hundreds of dollars and countless hours.

I have to admit that the idea of buying woodworking tools only to then buy a pre-built workbench sort of goes against my personal grain, but in all honesty I didnt' buy my tools in order to build a workbench. Yeah, I'm heavy into rationalization 101 here, but I do think it is my best answer.

Thanks for the feedback !!

[heathicus]

MickyD bought this workbench and he's reported good things about it.

[pennview]

If you take the HF catalog to the store, they will match the catalog price. Also, there are 20 percent off coupons available in a number of magazines, Wood magazine being one of them. I don't know if the store will match a catalog price plus give you the 20 percent off with a coupon, but it's worth a try.

[JPG]

If you take the HF catalog to the store, they will match the catalog price. Also, there are 20 percent off coupons available in a number of magazines, Wood magazine being one of them. I don't know if the store will match a catalog price plus give you the 20 percent off with a coupon, but it's worth a try.

I believe they will give you 20% off the 'regular'(non-sale) price.

BTW $159(139+20) x .8(20% off) = $127.20 with NO SHIPPING! Almost $12 cheaper than the 'sale price'.

[pennview]

Perhaps HF store policies vary by area.

If I take a 20 percent off coupon to my local store, they'll give me the discount off whatever they're currently selling that item for. For example, the latest store flier I have now shows the 2 HP dust collector selling for 179.99 through June 24th. It's regular price is 249.99. With the coupon, I can get it for 144 plus sales tax.

Now regarding the work bench, this same flier has a "super coupon" price of 149.99, while the catalog and internet show the price as 139.99. To get the "super coupon" price, I'd have to clip the coupon from the flier and give it to the cashier for the sale price. Or, I could show the clerk the catalog and get it for 139.99. If I were interested in buying the bench, I'd take a 20 percent off coupon and try to get it for 112.

In any event, Harbor Freight has a wide array of prices in effect at any given time so it pays to check around before shopping there.