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I remember years ago my dad had one of these and used it a good bit. The only other problem is that on one of the top pieces of wood its edge is only perfectly straight about 90% of the length. In regard to clamping force I really honked down on those clamps quite tightly last night and didn't have any indication that anything felt like breaking or giving way and looking at the construction of it--assuming all the parts go together properly (). It is made in China. I am not aware of anything better to clamp large surfaces like this. I doubt it used to be.The top wood is ply with a true bamboo at least on the top layer.Others have reported poorly fitting parts. I recently had the need to clamp some wood together why gluing planks into fatter ones for table legs so last night bought this (albeit locally). Close, but I plan on bringing it out in thickness with some layers of tape so that I can clamp more consistently.So, workmanship is not perfect, but I think it will do.To the table itself it feels quite sturdy.
Mine were fine except for one of the pins that refuses to go in all the way on the handles (somebody else said he bought cotter pins and that seems a great alternative). Still, it went in far enough that it's working. I doubt the thing would fail from over hand-clamping.Notice that each of the wooden join surfaces is ridged in the middle, this to assist if you want to hold something like a pipe.It's $30. I have quite a few large clamps but for my particular need--two feet straight of constant clamp force--this does the job.
The work bench required assembly & took me a while to study the very small. instructions and diagrams.Once put together and with the bolts tightened, this became a useful small bench for my power saw and light carpentery work. I own an earlier version of the workmate (for 12 years+) and this is an ideal portable addition.
I'm sure if I'm willing to spend far more money on a Black and Decker workbench, I can get something functional. Several more broke as I constructed the table (no undue force or pressure, just trying to put them in the slots they were supposed to -- but didn't -- fit in).All in all, this was a waste of money and time.
I tried hammering, sawing, and sanding the parts until they fit. Some did, some didn't.
I was unable to put the workbench together because several parts did not fit together. One piece was broken when I opened the box.
When the bench was mostly assembled, I found the vise was inoperable because the screws did not thread properly. I tried to disassemble the bench to see if this could be fixed, but found that none of the screws could thread properly, and the bench could no longer be taken apart unless I was willing to saw or break it apart.Many of the most crucial parts to this bench are made out of plastic.
I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy, and I don't even trust it to service me as a side table. But the bait and switch they pulled by selling me a bench with *no* working parts makes me leery about ever purchasing from them again.
What. Replace with good solid wood and drill new holes. Two things, this is not a play station for any age kids.
Not really that bad, but get a cup of coffee and lay all the parts out and read the instructions. Second, never leave the unit out in the weather. read the instructions.
Make it known up front. It goes together out of the box real easy. When done properly, this unit will probably be passed down a couple of generations.
The composite boards will crumble. Get smart and buy two, they also can make a table or serve as saw horses.
Per husband, was easy to assemble. Took him about 30 min. Seems very sturdy. Haven't used it yet.
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